Why Is It Important?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

I was teaching my history class last week about the Constitution of the United States and our textbook asked a question about where our rights came from. I couldn't believe that they asked.

That is probably the most relevant question that I have seen in the book. Of course, the students didn't know and came up with the usual answers such as the government, the laws, judges, and most commonly, "I don't know". But why is the answer critical to understanding our country?

I believe that the answer refects a person's worldview and certainly defines their politics. If the government is lower in importance than the "Creator" and those "unalienable rights" then any subsequent laws become very important. The question that has to be answered by that citizen is, "To what extent are our political decisions inhibiting our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?" If there is no God then rights are irrelevant, vapor decided upon by the government (even a democratic government), some dictator, or whatever is currently seen as the authority.

What isn't given by men can't be taken away by men. That is what makes our concept of government different than any out there.