Of course it is; woefully inadequate.
Ronald Reagan can not presently reason or use rational argument to defend his rights. A baby in the womb can not. Terri Schiavo, who is about to die by 'legal' starvation, can not. There are FReepers who are incapable of rational argument or reasoned thought. And yet each of these persons has been "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights...among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."
Our Founders acknowledged "THESE TRUTHS to be self-evident, that all Men are CREATED equal, that they are ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR with certain unalienable rights." These are primary among "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's GOD" and entitle all men to liberty and justice, regardless of their intellectual abilities, and regardless of their theological views, though that entitlement must always be vigilantly protected and sacrificially fought for, as at our inception. Every man or woman who has ever picked up the sword or the pen, or bowed in prayer on behalf of the battle for truth and justice and liberty, has fought on behalf of those who are incapable of fighting for themselves. The founding of America gave rise to the French Revolution. America downed the Nazi menace and the Wall of Socialist Russia. America brought freedom to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.
THESE TRUTHS, as so simply but eloquently stated in our Declaration of Independence, entitled America at her founding to the separate and equal station which she assumed among the powers of the earth. We are a City on a Hill, shining the bright light of freedom, hope against tyranny, in a dark, oppressive world. We are so because of the truth which our Founders acknowledged: Christ has set us free.
Main Entry: dog-ma-tism
Pronunciation: 'dog-m&-"ti-z&m,
Function: noun
Date: 1603
1 : positiveness in assertion of opinion especially when unwarranted or arrogant
2 : a viewpoint or system of ideas based on insufficiently examined premises
As to your later request for me to debate the atheists position on rights, I already told you that I am not an atheist. Go find your own atheist to debate. I suggest one of the Objectivist websites. If you find one, let me know....I'd like to watch them whup yer butt in debate.
Regards
J.R.