(no subject)

[pen_grunt]

Help solve the current great work debate with very fuzzy researchable online information. Bonus: it's timely and 4th of July appropriate!

[Poll #1014793]

So which is it--do we have Unalienable rights, or Inalienable rights (e.g. All men are created equal, life liberty and all that jazz...etc.)?

Edit: it looks like, so far, my boss will end up owing me money on this debate-turned-bet.

Comments

[irishinmn.livejournal.com]

Excerpt from the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

So unalienable would be the correct answer.

However - in legalese - inalienable and unalienable tend to be freely exchanged.

Example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inalienable_rights

The term inalienable rights (or unalienable rights) refers to a set of human rights that are fundamental, are not awarded by human power, and cannot be surrendered. They are by definition, rights retained by the people. Inalienable rights may be defined as natural rights or human rights, but natural rights are not required by definition to be inalienable.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

World Wide Words says that Unalienable, though the quote and colloquialism, is actually incorrect. The origin of the philosophy and word would suggest that inalienable is the correct term.

[irishinmn.livejournal.com]

The national Archives reports its as 'unalienable'

So you are wrong.

[liquid-siftings.livejournal.com]

Well, I am pretty sure it's inalienable, but unless Jefferson was a poor speller, he used unalienable in the Declaration of Independence, referring to the fact that we had certain inalienable[;-)] rights...

Here's a visual of the DofI: http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/readings/declaration_image.jpg

[irishinmn.livejournal.com]

Definitely says UNalienable

[gwangi.livejournal.com]

Of course, Jefferson also was convinced that Lewis & Clark would find living mammoths because he didn't believe in extinction. So it's not as if he's Ken Jennings or something.

[irishinmn.livejournal.com]

Actually - Ken Jennings not as smart as he may appear.

If you examine his track record on Jeopardy - most of his wins came from lucky bets rather than a large number of correct answers

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

Bwahahaha...so this is not so clear after all, though everyone seems to think inalienable...

[irishinmn.livejournal.com]

Its perfectly clear ....

People think its inalienable - therefore "people" are dumb.

The Declaration of Independence clearly states unalienable.

Just because "people" don't recognise the truth - doesn't negate the truth