Glenn Beck - Wrong on Rights

I don't watch a lot of television, and I no longer have the stomach for political shows, but I caught a few minutes of Glenn Beck yesterday, and I have to say something; it's true... he really is full of crap.

At least where human rights and the Constitution are concerned. Beck - and a bunch of other people, apparently - hold the crazy opinion that the rights we enjoy as citizens of this country are granted by the Constitution.

No, no, a thousand times no!

See, Beck was talking about the Times Square bomber and very generously decided that the bomber should not have his privates wired to a car battery in order to obtain information because after all, he is a U.S. citizen and U.S. citizens have this extra special happy right ('cuz of the Constitution) not to be tortured (the lucky bastard!).

Let me say this plainly - our rights as Americans DO NOT come from the Constitution. The Constitution - via the Bill of Rights - only recognizes rights we are understood to already have, by virtue of our being, ya know... human beings created by God. The ninth amendment explicitly states that "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people".

In other words, our human rights exist prior to and independent of whether or not they are written on a piece of paper and ratified by our political leaders (for what Caesar gives, Caesar may take away).

The foundation for the Constitution can be found in that other founding document, the Declaration of Independence, which states;

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. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Our fundamental rights - like the right of assembly, freedom of religion, free speech, the right to bear arms - and the right not to be tortured - are self-evident truths, endowed by our creator, not special goodies reserved for card-carrying Yanks.

The founding Fathers only recognized that these were the rightful freedoms of all human beings, and that governments exist only to ensure these rights. The government cannot claim to grant these rights as if they were handing out candy.

So, to be clear: Faisal whats-his-name has a right not to be tortured because he is a human being, not because he is a U.S. Citizen.

All that said, he should never again see anything but the inside of a U.S. prison.

Comments

[Der Wolfanwalt]

I blame the Puritans for this, like everything else. They brought Sola Scriptura to our shores, and when they turned secular they turned their focus from the Bible to the Constitution - while continuing to ignore the unwritten fundamentals. Urgh.

[Dave Morgan]

On a couple of earlier shows, Glenn Beck has made the point rights come from God. This was shortly after he let us know that we should run from our church, if it mentioned "Social Justice" on its website.

Occasionally, he goes on a rant and I continue to listen, but discern with a critical ear. I think that the point that he was trying to make was that some one in Congress wants to strip him of his citizenship and treat him as a terrorist. I do agree that citizenship cannot be revoked at the whim of a Senator or member of the House of Representatives.

[M. B.]

I don't like GB all that much, but I hear him from time to time as he's usually what's on the radio as I get home from work -- my wife likes to keep the talk on while she does some afternoon housework.

But let's give credit where due... at least he's defending a citizen's right to be Mirandized and not be tortured, even if he gets the source of such dignity wrong. That's more generous than many of our other fellow conservatives have been.

Plus, I only caught a few minutes, but today he was heartily endorsing homeschooling. Big points in my book.

Now my usual afternoon radio listening, though, is Catholic Answers. Much better for the mind, soul, and blood pressure.

[Tim J.]

"Now my usual afternoon radio listening, though, is Catholic Answers. Much better for the mind, soul, and blood pressure."

Yea, verily.

The thing is, a lot of what I've heard Beck say, I like (though I only catch his show on accident). But, then he'll come out with a real howler and just wreck my opinion of his brain.

I do hope his current investigations into the Founding Fathers might bring him around. Then again, a lot of them were staunch anti-Catholics.

[c matt]

Only problemis he is not even right on the Constitution. The basic rights belong to all persons, not just citizens (non cistizens were created by God too, much to many Yanks' surprise). The right not to be tortured, due process, etc. those belong to anyone under our jurisdiction whether or not a citizen. Other rights, such as voting, do belong to citizens.

People keep writing/saying Constitutional rights apply to US citizens, but if you actually read the thing it says otherwise.