The Homeland of Human Rights

In this book, the authors examine why, starting from declarations that were, all things considered, similar, the United States guaranteed citizens' rights as early as 1791 through constitutional review entrusted to a Supreme Court, whereas France waited until 1958 or even 1971 to establish a judicial mechanism ensuring compliance with the famous 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Consequently, if France proclaims itself to be the birthplace of human rights-which have become a veritable civil religion-is not the true birthplace of these rights actually the United States? In any case, have the systems established in the 18th or 20th centuries fully preserved the freedoms of thought and expression? What can be said in this regard about the USA Patriot Act or French-style memory laws?