Editor, OBSERVER:

American freedoms are not fundamentally being lost because they are rooted in the foundational principle of inalienable rights — endowed by the Creator (as stated in the Declaration of Independence) –rather than granted by government.

These God-given rights, including life, liberty, free speech, religion, and self-defense, are inherent to human dignity and cannot be legitimately surrendered or revoked by any authority.

Governments exist only to secure and protect them; any infringement is illegitimate and can be challenged through the Constitution’s checks and balances, courts, elections, and public vigilance. Recent Supreme Court rulings (e.g., on gun rights and speech) and institutional resilience demonstrate that core liberties remain robust and adaptable, even amid challenges like regulation or cultural shifts.

This inalienable nature makes American freedoms resilient: unlike government-conferred privileges in other systems, they endure because they transcend human institutions.

Historical recoveries from temporary erosions (e.g., post-9/11 surveillance reforms) and ongoing defenses–through litigation, federalism, and cultural commitment to liberty — ensure they persist.

While debates about declines continue, the eternal, divine origin of these rights empowers resistance and self-correction, preserving America’s exceptional framework of freedom.

JIM GIATAS,

Fredonia