Comparison Of Human Rights And American Exceptionalism

Human rights refers to the idea that humans are entitled to a set of fundamental or basic rights when they are born. These rights often include a right to life, property, equality of opportunity and under the law, privacy, and autonomy. Human rights exist because they are the basic rights that ensure a person can live with dignity and respect. The basic understanding is that these rights are protected by the government, organizations, and the law. The United States is sometimes criticized for its belief in American Exceptionalism on both an individual and collective level. American Exceptionalism refers to the belief that America is exceptional not only because it has a democratic system of government but also because each individual citizen is entitled to a set of inalienable …show more content…
A focus on human rights, freedoms, and liberties made the nation unique during the 18th century when these rights were established in the Constitution of the United States. In some instances, America continues to enjoy an admirable status by other nations in the world, as many countries still censor, control, and infringe upon citizen’s human rights. On the other hand, there are some countries, such as Italy, that extend certain rights to humans after death, whereas the United States has mostly limited human rights to citizens that are living. While most developed countries protect basic human rights, there are some significant differences in the rights and protections afforded to the deceased by some countries (Italy and Germany) when compared to the United States. Ray Madoff, in “Immortality and the Law,” explores how Italian law provides more protections for interests that cannot represent themselves (deceased and minors) when compared to the