As Americans, all of us living under the same constitution, we all have certain “inalienable rights,” as mentioned in the Declaration of Independence. Inalienable is an important word, though it’s not used much in everyday speech anymore:

INALIENABLE. This word is applied to those things, the property of which cannot be lawfully transferred from one person to another. Public highways and rivers are of this kind; there are also many rights which are inalienable, as the rights of liberty, or of speech. - A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States. By John Bouvier. Published 1856.

Among those rights which are non-transferable or that cannot be taken away are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Of these, the pursuit of happiness may be the most vague, for what brings happiness to one person may be absolute hell to another.

Some people find happiness in faith - faith in a god, in a universal force, even faith in the inherent good of others, however misplaced that may at times seem to some. But we all have those same inalienable rights.

Nowhere does it say that those rights are granted on condition. We ALL have the right to life, not just those of your skin color. We ALL have the right to liberty, not only those of your political affiliation. We ALL have the right to pursue happiness regardless of who we may be attracted to.

Just because you don’t believe in a god, for instance, doesn’t mean that it’s okay to make fun of others who do (and vice versa). It also means that if some want to pray for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris, they should be allowed to do so without criticism.

I am a believer in positive thinking. Most prayers, I think, would fall under that category, so if you’re so inclined, go for it. I believe that prayer and positive thinking should be backed up by positive action whenever possible, but live and let live/pray. If you don’t believe in the power of prayer, that’s okay. It’s your inalienable right. But don’t make fun of those who are exercising their inalienable right to believe in it.

We all have the freedom to believe anything we like. But we need to allow others that same right.