| I think the mistake some people here are making is the difference between "rights" and "guarantees". You have the 'right' to vote, but you're not obligated to. When arrested, you have the right to remain silent - but if you want to confess right away without a lawyer, go right ahead.
You have the right to life - or, rather, you have the right not to have your life forcefully taken away from you by someone else. If you're drowning in the middle of the ocean, your right to life doesn't mean that someone is obligated to save you. However, if someone is swinging a hammer at your head, you do have the right to not be killed by it.
Doesn't mean you won't die anyway.
You have the right to liberty - or, at least, the right to do what you want as long as it doesn't stop anyone else from doing what they want. Just because you want it doesn't mean you'll get it.
You have the right to pursue happiness - but not the guarantee that you'll ever get it. You may attempt to make yourself happier, at least in ways that don't harm others, but nobody has to try to make you happy if you're not. |