Inalienable Rights: Being a Person

I recently came across a video that was being shared on Facebook.  In these times of  rampant fear, hate crimes against Muslims,  and reactive stereo-typing, it is a balm to the soul to know that there are people who hold on to remaining persons of heart and integrity, and will stand up for the inalienable rights of others in the face of brash, harsh scorn of small minded bigotry.

The news coverage and even some of the videos on YouTube have been truncated to focus mainly on the admirable (nameless) soldier who stood up and spoke up for another human being.

This video below shows more of the whole episode – which is from the ABC series, “What Would You Do”.

“What Would You Do”  is one of the highest rating undercover, hidden camera TV series in recent years.  It is hosted by John Quinones and run by ABC.  The TV series secretly films how ordinary people would behave under certain situations.  It is very entertaining while cleverly throws up ethical considerations that make us question how we ourselves would behave in similar situations.

While almost exclusive focus and thanks has been given to the American soldier (and he does deserve every bit of credit for his unwavering humanity), there are others in the video that also deserve praise and credit for their humane, honourable, and clear-intentioned responses.  In these days where many of us find it easier to avoid confrontation compounded by  labouring under the heavy belief that nothing we can do could make much difference anyway, it is doubly applaudable for anyone who will stand up for what is Right and Good.  To all of these people and everyone like them, I say “Thank You” for your bravery and your beliefs.

Thank you to these honourable people

Inalienable Rights

The soldier in the video, when commended for his heroic actions, disclaimed that it was heroic.  Rather, he said that what he did was “just being a person. And standing up for someone else.” And that he was only defending “everyone’s inalienable rights”. And then he added “everyone’s inalienable rights in this country“.

If there is one thing I would add to his commendable actions, words, and stance, it would be that our world would grow in even more positive ways if we could all stand up for everyone’s inalienable rights, everywhere – no matter what country.

The soldier’s words and actions do the American public proud and it was heart warming to hear his definition of what being a soldier means to him and what he fights for.

The phrase “inalienable rights” is perhaps most made famous by Thomas Jefferson in he 1776 United States 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 …”

Definition: Inalienable
That which is inalienable cannot be bought, sold, or transferred from one individual to another. The personal rights to life and liberty guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States are inalienable. 

Source: The Free Dictionary

This uplifting and affirming video has reminded me again to the truth in the quote:

“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

Someone once said about the Holocaust: “Never again. Never again.”  In the hurly burly of our lives, bombarded by news of atrocities around the world, fearing for our safety and the safety of our loved ones, it is understandable to sometimes forget that we ARE the good men and women and that it is necessary for us to remind ourselves and each other that we must not just do nothing.