what rights or privlages should we value the most as U.S. citizens?

Question

i cant decide between freedom of reilgion or speech, help me or some other suggestions

Answer 1

Tough question because they are both important. I suppose if I were forced to pick one, I'd pick speech, because many of our other rights (including freedom of religion) wouldn't amount to much without free speech.

Also, remember that the religious guarantees expressed in the Constitution are twofold:

1) freedom from government mandated religion (establishment clause); and

2) freedom to exercise our own religion.

Answer 2

The right to be left the @#$*^ (expletive deleted) alone. The Constitution doesn't, and was never intended to, confer anything other than procedural rights. It lists certain rights, primarily in the "Bill of Rights" that are very common for governments to infringe upon to make extra certain (well, at least they TRIED to make extra certain) couldn't be taken away. Amendments 9 and 10 tried to make that very clear. Unfortunately the fears of several of the founders have come true, that a Bill of Rights could eventually be construed as the only rights people had or that they were limits on citizens not on the government.

I know it has no legal standing, but remember that the Declaration of Independence 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"

Governments have powers, people have rights.

Answer 3

Robert, I am with Matthew on this. It is impossible to separate our freedoms and rights. One supports and enhances the other. Why have freedom of religion if denied freedom of speech? To try to place more importance on one over another is truly impossible. If you want to make a mouthwatering cake to really impress someone, which critical ingredient would you omit ? The eggs? The flour ? The sugar? If just one is omitted, the entire cake fails .

Answer 4

I would say that all the rights guraneteed by the Constitution, including speech, religion, due process of law, and others are equally important.

Answer 5

Personally I think the most basic and fundamental right is "human" rights. Without a basic principle of regard for "human life" the other societal attributes or privileges you mentioned are meaningless. Look at what happens in societies that display a flagrant disregard for the rights of its people to exist.

Answer 6

I go with einar, definately the right to bear arms. Don't get me wrong all of our rights are very important, and we deserve every one of them. But remember no one will tell you that you can't speak a certain way or about a certain topic, and no one will say you can't believe or worship a certain religon if you have a firearm in your hand.

Answer 7

I'd say freedom of speech- which inadvertantly leads to freedom of dissent

Answer 8

the right to bare arms!!!!!!!!!!!!