OUR RIGHTS COME FROM THE CREATOR, NOT THE CONSTITUTION

Sherry Hearn's story, as told by Nat Hentoff, is worthy of a tale of terror
by Stephen King ("Teacher defends constitutional rights," Sweet Land of
Liberty, Op-Ed, April 10). So many of us have forgotten that our rights were
not written into the Constitution by the Founders, who made a point by their
resistance to the Bill of Rights. Many of the Founders believed that our
rights were granted by the Creator and could not be listed so easily.

The Constitution was written as a restricting document against the federal
government. Whatever power was not granted to the federal government
remained with the people. We, the people, formed our government, granting it
some of our rights. We must not forget that the power remains with us, or we
will find ourselves with the horror of an absolute government that believes
itself to be our creator instead of our creation.

Beware of the chant: The government giveth, and the government taketh away.
Blessed be the name of the government.

ANTHONY PASSANITI
San Antonio