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Civil Rights And Civil Liberties

Decent Essays

Civil rights are not the same thing as civil liberties … but they should be. Throughout American history the line between civil rights and liberties has been drawn in the sand. American citizens’ civil liberty issues have improved, but not been resolved because people won’t turn back to help the less fortunate, when civil liberties were improved upon the means in getting them were different for each person, and America has a history of preying upon minorities. People who are not brought down by civil liberties or lack thereof do not go out of their way to help out the underprivileged. Because “men do not . . . assume the task of opposing their [government]” it is impossible for minorities to have their voices heard (Source A). This quote uses logos to inform readers that those who are supported by the current state of the government do not oppose it, most likely in fear of not having the most or the same amount of civil liberties. Throughout America’s history, the government has favored the same core group of people through their process of making laws. Because this group of people is, for the most part, never changing, it is near impossible to resolve issues regarding civil liberty. During the Independence Day Speech of 1852, Frederick Douglass says that “. . . above [the people of America’s] . . . joy, [he hears] the [despair] of millions” (Source C). This quote incorporates pathos because it compares the pride those hearing the speech are feeling to the sorrow those

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