Re: About "rights" again

From: Dehede011@aol.com
Date: Mon Jan 13 2003 - 20:00:12 MST


Lee
       I have been heavily influenced by two forces. First, I am a Christian
and Second I have read Robert L. Humphreys. As it is unlikely many of you
are Christians let me use Robert L. Humphreys as my basis.
       Mr. Humphrey came to young manhood during the 30s. He rode the rails
and lived in the hobo jungles for a while. He also fought as a professional
welterweight boxer. When the 2nd World War began he was qualified for
officer training by one means or another and became a 2nd Lt. in the USMC.
In the course of time he was an infantry platoon leader on Iwo Jima. After
the war he graduated Harvard Law School and became an attorney. As time went
on he developed an expertise in settling conflict between large groups of
civilians and others. If he was or was not a member of any church I am not
aware of that.
       As a law student he got interested in the field of "Natural Rights" or
"Natural Law." I believe one proceeds from the other. As a peace maker he
felt there was one natural law that was absolutely universal and vital --
break it and you have the beginning of conflict. He said we must always
remember that the poorest most down trodden person in the world loves their
spouse (& children) as much as we do and is as interested in seeing those
dear ones happy & successful -- natural law number one.
       I won't try to go into everything he said about natural law as it took
him two books to cover the subject and can't hope to do it in less space.
       However I have to ask this. If we do not recognise natural law and
natural rights then why do we have a republic or try to place restraints on a
government as to what it can or can or cannot do to its citizenry.
       I think we restrain governments because we intuitively feel there are
natural laws and natural rights -- that it is wrong for a government to
violate those laws. If we do not believe this then why is it wrong for a
constitutional democracy to change its constitution to remove all restraints
and then treat its minorities as it wishes?
Ron h.



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