The Right To...

The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.  ~9th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

There are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. ~ John 20:25

A man hears what he want to hear and disregards the rest. ~ Paul Simon

Amidst the cacophony surrounding certain "rights" given in our constitution's Bill of Rights, I decided to pick up my pocket copy of the constitution and actually read it. My first reminder was that we tend to "cherry pick" those parts that serve our vested interests and emphasize those over others. Our selectivity even goes so far as to focus on short phrases without keeping them in the complete sentences and thoughts of which they a part.

Our selectivity is nothing new or unique. We approach our holy texts in the same way. We also choose literature, music, art, recreation, religion, and so many other things in our lives according to our needs and desires, often reframing them as "rights" or "truth."

The 9th amendment in the Bill of Rights comes at the end to remind, or warn, us that the previously stated rights are not exhaustive.  The final verse in the Gospel of John does the same. What we know from scripture about Jesus, his life, and teachings is not exhaustive.

The beauty and truth of much law, art, and religion is that within their particular perspectives and prescriptions lies an expansiveness that extends beyond individual needs and desires. They reveal rights, beliefs, and values held by all people that embrace the fullness of human dignity. In order to know this we must be open to this expansiveness and not "hear what we want to hear and disregard the rest."

Perhaps a simple way to say all of this is that even though individuals have needs and desires, true "rights" extend to all people.

I may need or desire to say something harmful, own an assault weapon, and make exclusive religious claims, while disregarding others' needs and desires, but is it really my right to do so?

Maybe the only true "God given right" we have is the last breath we took in.