This Fragile Piece of Paper

Where do the ideals of freedom come from?

We have that sweet little document resting in a bulletproof case at the Archives that tells us that we have rights. Freedoms. Of course, those rights and freedoms exist without the document. The document itself just points it all out for us in ink.

So where do the rights come from? Where do they stem from?

Growing up in the United States, we seem to think of this issue as an undebatable. We don't even question them. It makes sense. Why question something that's so advantageous for us? I'm guessing the only reason is because I like throwing everything into question.

The concept of things we owe has been floating around, and it naturally comes to - what are we owed without earning it? And why?

One has to wonder if their has to be a Creator in order for these rights to be bestowed upon us. It makes sense - for something to be given, there must be an entity to give it.

In fact, I find it difficult to find a strong argument for human rights without a Creator. One is even mentioned in the document that points out our rights.

One argument, I think, is to say that the rights aren't a natural birthright, but a manifestation of how we've evolved as humans. We've come to a certain point in our history where we believe we deserve these rights, and simply because we believe (and therefore demand them) we deserve them. A self-fulfilling manifesto of sorts.

Of course, it's not the case that these basic human rights have to be granted. There are cases all of over the world where people aren't given these rights. What's more, it's only one mindset - there are people that don't think they way Americans do, don't think that there are basic human freedoms granted to us simply because we're born and exist.

I don't think the argument comes close to fully explaining the existence of human rights, but I don't see a problem in calling into question whether they really exist outside the human social construct or if they are intractable and unalienable rights like our country's founding document claims.

And if they do exist outside of us, what are they exactly, and what are their limits? And why are we owed them?