Letters: 'Inalienable' rights don't include abortion

'Inalienable rights' don't include abortions

The letter-writer who would disqualify jurists who abide by the need for certain human rights to be declared by legislatures, might ponder the fundamental principle regarding the source of our “inalienable” rights upon which this country was founded. The Declaration of Independence avows that such rights are endowed by our Creator, and while I am no theologian, it would seem incomprehensible that among the rights with which our Creator has endowed us, is the right to extinguish human life.

Whatever right might exist in that regard is derived solely from the formulations of human beings assembled as legislatures, which establish and determine the extent of such rights, regardless of whether they pertain to the taking of human life in a matter of self-defense, as punishment for a crime, as assisted suicide, or abortion of a fetus.

Alan D. Lewis, Jupiter

Ambiguity gets in the way of solutions

I whole-heartedly agree with the writer's "distaste" for any government agency, including ICE, having unrestricted access to our personal data and few restrictions, if any, on how they use it. I have found though, that quoting absolutes from the constitution is a frustrating and slippery slope that often reflects only our interpretation and wishful thinking. Our framers were human beings with different interests and agendas. Our constitution is rife with compromises and ambiguities that need interpretation.

For instance, the writer cites Article 1, Section 9, Article 5, and Amendment 10, as proof that ICE is illegal, but fails to mention Article 1, Section 8, Clause 4, which gives the federal government exclusive power of naturalization.

As one would expect from big government, over the years, several Supreme Court decisions have been used to refine and expand that power. This, for better or worse, has brought us to the point where the federal government now has the power to "legally" control almost every aspect of immigration, including the creation of ICE. As prescient as our framers were, they had no way of knowing that the simple, innocent idea of immigration as they knew it, would morph into the political tool that it has become today.

Francis Brousseau, Wellington

When opinions sound authoritarian

To my neighbors who insist only their views are the right ones; thank you for reminding us that America welcomes the ‘different.’ If you assert that all identifying as LGBTQ or their supporters are child molesters, you clearly don’t care for statistics or facts. So convincing you otherwise is pointless. Likewise, bias is only problematic when left unacknowledged. Conveniently, social media has given you the place to congregate, but an overwhelming majority of citizens recognize the wrong-spirited and narrow-minded. Do you expect us to think that only these groups commit such crimes?

Why make such broad heinous accusations? Because it shuts people up. Other complex subjects get treated similarly. Immigration – people in Central America are victims of drought, violence and seeking safety, not ‘replacing’ us. And we need a labor force now that our teens don’t work and Americans want livable wages. Disrespect eases consciences when ignoring other’s humanity. Look up “authoritarian,” as it describes your opinions.

John Cavallo, Delray Beach

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Letters: Abortion isn't covered under our 'inalienable rights'