"This foundational principle - that human beings derive their rights from God, rather than from the State, or any other source - is what made America different"

Ernie Fletcher's quote emphasizes a foundational tenet upon which the United States was constructed: the belief that human rights are intrinsic and divinely approved rather than bestowed by federal governments or other human institutions. This principle is deeply rooted in the philosophy of natural rights, which holds that particular rights are beyond the authority of federal governments to grant or revoke. Instead, these rights are intrinsic to all people by virtue of their humanity.

Fletcher underscores this ideology by contrasting the American system with those where the state is seen as the ultimate source of rights. In many governmental structures, rights can be perceived as benefits approved by the judgment entity, subject to changes, suspensions, or retractions based upon political impulses or shifts in power dynamics. Such systems can result in abuses of power, where rights are delighted in just conditionally and can be controlled by those in authority.

On the other hand, the United States' foundational documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, reflect the belief in fundamental rights. The Declaration notoriously asserts that "all guys are developed equivalent" and "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights", highlighting the concept that these rights are God-given and can not legally be removed by human action. This doctrinal underpinning offered a moral and philosophical reason for the American Revolution and the facility of a government designed to protect these fundamental rights.

By associating the source of rights to a magnificent authority, Fletcher suggests that America's distinct nature depends on its dedication to a higher ethical order that transcends human laws and institutions. This belief in divinely-derived rights acts as a safeguard against tyranny, fostering a system where governments are designed to serve the people, protecting their God-given liberties, rather than managing them. Eventually, this concept has been main to the American identity, forming its legal structure, cultural values, and nationwide principles throughout its history.