George Carlin on rights...

[SavageEagle]

I got a copy of George Carlin's last DVD before he passed away. He may have been in his early 70's, but this was far from his best work. BUT...

It came to the end and this really got me thinking. Now, I don't agree with his religious belief's. So in this video, please skip ahead the the time frame of 4:25 in this video to get to the point where he talks about RIGHTS.

First, let me say that what if he's right? What if these "Rights" are really just privledges? If God were to give us rights, wouldn't they fall along the lines of the Ten Commandments? The BoR doesn't resemble anything of the ten commandments. So should our Bill of Rights actually include more than what is stated? I know some have said the BoR should actually be called the Bill of Restrictions, but either or. If our Constitution was to get thrown out, how would you rewrite the Bill of Rights?

Anyway, here's the video. Let me know what you think. Hell I could just be up too late and need to go to bed.

remember, 4:25 on is what I'm talking about. Watch the rest I guess, but it's not that great and not the point of this thread.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaa9iw85tW8]YouTube - George Carlin -Rights and Privileges[/ame]

 

[Hiram Abiff]

He makes some excellent observations, however I too have the "right" to disagree with him on his religious views. He was a comedian that's what they do.

 

[closer]

Well whatever one thinks of Carlin "in my opinion'" he's spot on about the role and control of government over it's people. Just look at what's going on today. As for his views on religion he didn't single out just one. Of course he could have been right about that too. Sure been a lot of killing and trouble through the ages in the name of 'religion.'

 

[Denny347]

It's all pretty funny.

 

[zimzum]

First, let me say that what if he's right? What if these "Rights" are really just privledges? If God were to give us rights, wouldn't they fall along the lines of the Ten Commandments?

The Ten Commandments aren't rights. They're moral guidelines to live by.

The Constitution was written under the premise that we all had the rights written in it given to us by God, based on our founders interpretation of the Bible and mans' right to free choice. They did this under the guise that if our rights are God given then they can't taken away by another man. Back in those days, most people were religious, even if only outwardly. Not too many were openly secular due to the risk of becoming a social pariah.

 

[smokingman]

Thanks for the post.

 

[SavageEagle]

The Ten Commandments aren't rights. They're moral guidelines to live by.

The Constitution was written under the premise that we all had the rights written in it given to us by God, based on our founders interpretation of the Bible and mans' right to free choice. They did this under the guise that if our rights are God given then they can't taken away by another man. Back in those days, most people were religious, even if only outwardly. Not too many were openly secular due to the risk of becoming a social pariah.

Yes they are moral COMMANDMENTS from God that we are COMMANDED to live by. They also spell out certain rights that people have. "Thou Shalt Not Murder". That says that you have a right to life unless you seek to deprive others of such. "Thou Shalt Not Steal". You have a right to be secure in and of your property without fear of it being taken away by ANYONE. People OR Government as governments are made up of people. "Iminent Domain" is theft by government, and therefore, wrong.

Unfortunately, God didn't say anything in the Ten Commandments about having the right to a fair and speedy trial of your peers. If I missed that please point it out. So by my thinking, and I'm probably wrong, but by my thinking, the Bill of Rights leaves out some things and adds somethings.

Now, George talked about other Countries having more or less "Rights" than we have. While it's funny and fun to think about, their Governments were established on belief's far different than ours.

 

[Bill of Rights]

Yes they are moral COMMANDMENTS from God that we are COMMANDED to live by. They also spell out certain rights that people have. "Thou Shalt Not Murder". That says that you have a right to life unless you seek to deprive others of such. "Thou Shalt Not Steal". You have a right to be secure in and of your property without fear of it being taken away by ANYONE. People OR Government as governments are made up of people. "Iminent Domain" is theft by government, and therefore, wrong.

Unfortunately, God didn't say anything in the Ten Commandments about having the right to a fair and speedy trial of your peers. If I missed that please point it out. So by my thinking, and I'm probably wrong, but by my thinking, the Bill of Rights leaves out some things and adds somethings.

Now, George talked about other Countries having more or less "Rights" than we have. While it's funny and fun to think about, their Governments were established on belief's far different than ours.

I have not yet watched the video. I will do so. That said, other countries do not have rights at all, nor does this country. The people of those countries do, however. All people have the right to speak as they wish, the right *and responsibility* to defend the lives (and for that matter, the prosperity) that God has given them. All people have the right to be free. Many of the world's countries infringe improperly upon those rights and many others. It matters not upon what beliefs the governments of the world were established- the rights exist.

Ryan, you're also correct as far as I know on the issue of a speedy trial. Over the years, the terms "right", "privilege", and "power" have improperly become somewhat synonymous in usage: There is no right to vote. That is a privilege of citizenship. Rights are present from our birth as a consequence of our humanity, as is the responsibility to use those rights without infringing upon those of others.

These are my views. Others are welcome to disagree or to share them, but not to infringe upon or deny them.



Off to view now.

Blessings,
Bill

 

[Bill of Rights]

OK... George wasn't paying attention, apparently. Amendment #9 clearly states that we, the people, have many more rights than are explicitly specified in the preceding eight amendments. I can see where he's coming from, in that the concept that our rights are God-given is found in Jefferson's text of the Declaration of Independence ("...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....")

Does this mean that Jefferson made that up? I think not; rather, I think that Jefferson stated a commonly held belief, which still does not make it true (nor false) but it does make it the founding precepts upon which he and his contemporaries started a country. Carlin was incorrect that all we've ever had has been privilege.
I like Carlin's comedy. I share his view that organized religion is nothing more than a control mechanism. That said, I fully support individual religion. A personal relationship with one's Deity is a GOOD Thing(tm), IMHO.

Thanks for posting this, Ryan.

Blessings,
Bill

 

[LuckyBrush]

I agree with George in that the government (meaning a select few who have power to govern the many) have givin us priviledges and called them rights. The government yearns for more power and hence has to slowly take those "rights" from us by making billions of new laws! They go to work every day to do so!

 

[SavageEagle]

OK... George wasn't paying attention, apparently. Amendment #9 clearly states that we, the people, have many more rights than are explicitly specified in the preceding eight amendments. I can see where he's coming from, in that the concept that our rights are God-given is found in Jefferson's text of the Declaration of Independence ("...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....")

Does this mean that Jefferson made that up? I think not; rather, I think that Jefferson stated a commonly held belief, which still does not make it true (nor false) but it does make it the founding precepts upon which he and his contemporaries started a country. Carlin was incorrect that all we've ever had has been privilege.
I like Carlin's comedy. I share his view that organized religion is nothing more than a control mechanism. That said, I fully support individual religion. A personal relationship with one's Deity is a GOOD Thing(tm), IMHO.

Thanks for posting this, Ryan.

Blessings,
Bill

I agree that most "rights" are just that. But I believe that most of the "rights" granted by the Constitution are really just privledges as George states. Yes we have many rights that are not stated in the Constitution, but things like the repeal of Prohibition and Slavery/Involuntary Servitude and the right to be able to vote without regard to race, gender, or age are pretty much privledges in that if we continue down this road of Socialism they will be, in effect, taken away.

You make good points though. I cannot agree on his views of God, but I do agree that Religion IS a control. But then again, if you believe that religion is a control, then so is Government in general.

I agree with George in that the government (meaning a select few who have power to govern the many) have givin us priviledges and called them rights. The government yearns for more power and hence has to slowly take those "rights" from us by making billions of new laws! They go to work every day to do so!

Not everyday, but pretty much. Most of the "laws" in place that are dictated and enforced by agencies such as the ATF, CPS, NSA, etc are illegal laws and therefore shouldn't be followed. Montana, Texas, case in point. BUT, you do run the risk of illegal lock up that can't be fought for NOT following the illegal laws. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.