Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Re: What the hell is going on at theNewYorkTimes?

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Wed, 10 Nov 2004, Edward Terry wrote:

>> I'm sure Ryan didn't mean that.  A law against murder is not just based 
>> on the immorality of murder, it is based on the right of the individual 
>> not to be murdered.  We have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit 
>> of happiness, and to take away those rights must be illegal.
>
> Where do such rights come from?

>From us.  We make them up.


> They can't be logically deduced or proven.

They are "considered to be self-evident."  Read the Declaration of 
Independence for more on this.


> We believe, based on emotion rather than logic, that people should have 
> these rights.

Not really.  Logic and historical analysis tell us what life is like with 
and without basic human rights.  We prefer freedom to slavery.  Is that a 
purely emotional choice, not logical?  Perhaps, but it that seems a bit of 
a stretch!  Is it not logical to design a government that agrees with 
human nature?

Am I the only one who thinks we shouldn't have to argue about the merits 
of the rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness?


> We want the government to legislate morality by guaranteeing these 
> rights.

What?  You just lost me.

Mike
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