American Values
On the 240th anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence being adopted by the Continental Congress, the values instilled in the first official American
document need to be readdressed more than ever. It’s 2016, and the United
States of America has adapted a new form of tyranny. Our oppressors are no
longer royal figures sitting on a throne, but our very own carrying sentiments
of hate and skewed political views.
Independence being adopted by the Continental Congress, the values instilled in the first official American
document need to be readdressed more than ever. It’s 2016, and the United
States of America has adapted a new form of tyranny. Our oppressors are no
longer royal figures sitting on a throne, but our very own carrying sentiments
of hate and skewed political views.
When the Declaration was signed, times were different and
values were not the same as they are now. However, the words remain pure and
simple….”All men are created equal.” There it is. This one phrase says it all.
There were no specifications to this statement. It never said white men and
women following a sect of Christianity are entitled to these unalienable
rights. ALL MEN. Then why, as Americans, have we forgotten our first ideal
identifying our core values? We have been classified as a melting pot country,
but in light of recent events, we can no longer classify ourselves as such.
Differences in culture and religion should be celebrated and respected, but a
large portion of our population use these differences to promote hatred.
values were not the same as they are now. However, the words remain pure and
simple….”All men are created equal.” There it is. This one phrase says it all.
There were no specifications to this statement. It never said white men and
women following a sect of Christianity are entitled to these unalienable
rights. ALL MEN. Then why, as Americans, have we forgotten our first ideal
identifying our core values? We have been classified as a melting pot country,
but in light of recent events, we can no longer classify ourselves as such.
Differences in culture and religion should be celebrated and respected, but a
large portion of our population use these differences to promote hatred.
If we continue to feed into this hate, we will be igniting
the arsenal that will destroy the country. Our recent history proves that a
Muslim man who commits a crime will, without even an investigation, be
considered a terrorist. A white man who commits a similar crime will, off the
bat, be considered mentally ill. The truth is anyone who commits a crime where
a group of innocent people are unjustly harmed are mentally ill. Radicalization
is a sign of mental instability, and people who allow for it to plague their
minds have issues beyond the comprehension of a normal individual. So, when
radicalized individuals commit these grave crimes, they are not the representation
of the Islamic religion. They are categorized under all mentally ill
terrorists. Terrorism is always carried out by godless agents. By using these religion and ethnic classifications for these groups
of men and women, we are spreading this abhorrence.
the arsenal that will destroy the country. Our recent history proves that a
Muslim man who commits a crime will, without even an investigation, be
considered a terrorist. A white man who commits a similar crime will, off the
bat, be considered mentally ill. The truth is anyone who commits a crime where
a group of innocent people are unjustly harmed are mentally ill. Radicalization
is a sign of mental instability, and people who allow for it to plague their
minds have issues beyond the comprehension of a normal individual. So, when
radicalized individuals commit these grave crimes, they are not the representation
of the Islamic religion. They are categorized under all mentally ill
terrorists. Terrorism is always carried out by godless agents. By using these religion and ethnic classifications for these groups
of men and women, we are spreading this abhorrence.
As the election inches closer, we must not forget our
founding patriotic ideals. Our nation was not created to harbor notions of
racism, sexism, and phobias of certain religions. Albeit, times were different
and these aforementioned threatening acts of hate may have been more prevalent,
but they were not factors implanted in the Declaration. Moving forward, let’s
as a whole dispel anything hindering our American ideals. Because “all men are
created equal”, and that’s what it means to be an American.
founding patriotic ideals. Our nation was not created to harbor notions of
racism, sexism, and phobias of certain religions. Albeit, times were different
and these aforementioned threatening acts of hate may have been more prevalent,
but they were not factors implanted in the Declaration. Moving forward, let’s
as a whole dispel anything hindering our American ideals. Because “all men are
created equal”, and that’s what it means to be an American.
Happy 4th!
