Individual Rights

Individual rights form an important theme in the novel “The Circle” by Dave Egges. Individual rights, in the Judeo-Christian American tradition, come from God, are declared as such in the Declaration of Independence, and are codified and protected in law by the United States Constitution. Individual rights are those gifted to individuals naturally, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. American citizens have the right to personal freedoms, including privacy, that American political philosophy contends may not be taken away by fellow men, governments, or any institution. The importance of individual rights comes in the protection of the individual to be free and do as he or she wishes, even if it is unpopular, unconventional, or in the minority, so long as it is moral, sound, and ethical, and does not violate the rights of others. Value is placed on the individual, not on...