On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which in the second paragraph states “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” The United States of America soon went on to be founded on the principle of equality, and while it has faltered with women’s equality and race equality, it has always been the idealism that has helped some of the greatest social workers help expand human rights. Today there are several equality movements continuing to progress towards a nation where there is truly equality for all, but one movement in particular stands …show more content…
But despite all of these accomplishments, there are still many people who oppose the LGBTQ community and many LGBTQ community members who feel they must suppress their feelings. Many people who oppose the LGBTQ community align with the Republican party, and this often makes it very difficult to get any laws protecting their rights to be passed in Congress. Even though the Republican party presidential nominee Donald Trump supports the protection of the LGBTQ community, the party platform adopted an anti-LGBTQ plank. Some people believe being gay can make men more feminine and women more masculine. This stereotype further brings a negative connotation to the LGBTQ community and causes many people to fear coming out, which can then create the problem that there are fewer LGBTQ role models creating a sort of an unstoppable reaction. The LGBTQ community needs an increased acceptance before they will be able to have much more social equality. This means there needs to be a change in the way many people view the LGBTQ community or at least an understanding that many people will live differently than the so-called conventional way of life without effecting everyone
The Declaration of Independence, since July 4th, 1776, has continued to always become a guideline to protect those who are oppressed. “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, “that all Men are created equal,” that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,”” (Doc. A) sets the standards on what the United States of America is all about; equality. From the Report of American Horse by D.F. Royer on November 27, 1890 to the “Reminder Day” for Homosexual Rights on
The principle of equality in 1776 meant the most to white rich American males. Our government has changed so much since 1776 that equality means both men and women alike. “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal.” Women and men stated at the Declaration of Sentiments
Equality is something Americans strive to provide and maintain. It has become an integral and necessary part of our mosaic culture. Even now to the point that when people think of America, they naturally think of freedom and equality. People of many different races, disabilities and creeds have come to the United States seeking the impartiality upon which this country was founded. The institutions of this country have relied upon it, just as it was the created by the events in the laying of moral foundations. The expression of America's citizens plays an extremely significant role in the history of equality in American society. In the pursuit of equality and the "American Dream," people have authored inspiring
One of the most important parts of the Declaration of Independence is its preamble, and, more specifically, certain phrases contained within the preamble. Thomas Jefferson does an excellent job of explaining why the colonies are doing the things they are doing, and is very clear in stating what he and his associates think are the “unalienable rights” of the American people. Among these are “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Probably one of the most famous lines in American history, I have chosen to focus on this phrase and what those three things might have meant to Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers as they prepared this document, as well as what they mean to us today.
The United States criminal justice system have been known to be one of the most injustice system in the world. Criminal justice is known as the system of law enforcement, involving police, lawyers, courts, and corrections, used for all stages of criminal proceedings and punishment (Dictionary.com). One of the most heartbreaking things that happen in the United States every year is innocent people being condemned for crimes that
With the advancement of suffrage to equal pay, over the last century, women’s rights have progressed immensely. Through historic marches and demonstrations across the United States, women protested for their equal place in politics and social progress. Despite the fear-mongering components used in achieving these rights, women’s rights are still thoroughly debated within society today. Over the last century, incredible and unreachable goals have been fulfilled for women, such as the right to vote and a sense of equal state in the “Free World,” and can only improve in the years to come.
Life… Liberty… and the pursuit of happiness. The 3 things that we, as Americans all share, and that itself, cannot be taken away from us, unalienable rights, as you would put it. But, what are these things, and what do they mean. Today, I will go in depth of what they actually are.
The struggle for equal rights has been an ongoing issue in the United States. For most of the twentieth century Americans worked toward equality. Through demonstrations, protests, riots, and parades citizens have made demands and voiced their concerns for equal rights. For the first time minority groups were banding together to achieve the American dream of liberty and justice for all. Whether it was equality for women, politics, minorities, or the economy the battle was usually well worth the outcome. I have chosen articles that discuss some of the struggles, voyages, and triumphs that have occurred. The people discussed in the following articles represent only a portion of those who suffered.
In Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville’s memorable claim that there is an incredible tension between liberty and equality in America is certainly true. His secondary argument is equally justifiable—that Democratic nations, especially American, will grow to love equality more “ardently and enduringly” than liberty (Tocqueville, 202), and can be proved by observing current American political patterns and events.
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Mother Jones stood up and fought for workers’ rights for mere children, marching with some all the way to the president to talk to him. Cesar Chavez was a well-known immigrant workers’ rights activist who had lived through the conditions he was trying to prevent. Emma Watson is a young feminist who is adamant about her cause and speaks out to the world. These chosen individuals may have campaigned for different things, but they all fought for enacting simple equality for everybody using a drive of passion and courage.
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, somethings that is this country's foundation found in the Bill of Rights. It entitles you to your choices and the way you want to pursue your life through your own means. This is why we should be in control of our eating, not the government. Your choices pertain to you and only you, whether some may enjoy unhealthy foods, and some may enjoy maintaining a healthy diet, this should not be decided by the government but instead ourselves, this is why it is such a controversial topic.
Looking in a different mirror is looking from the inside out. How does it feel to walk in certain people shoes? Looking in a mirror is realizing that everyone is created equal. Looking the mirror is being true to yourself. By looking in the mirror Takaki meant “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable right, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. Back in the day if you weren’t white in America you wasn’t right. If American looked in the mirror they would realize the reason they declared their Independence from Great Britain is because they were getting treated like property and that their voice did not matter. The King of Great Britain did not allow Governors to pass
“One nation, Under God, Indivisible with liberty and justice for all”. For many of us, this line from the Pledge of Allegiance is ingrained into our memory. The most common place in which this pledge is recited is at schools. It is said casually before the morning announcements, school assemblies and graduations, just to list a few. I find it ironic that this pledge is declared by students all over the nation due to the fact that it is a lie. The United States of America has yet to deliver “liberty and justice for all” persons. The White supremacist nation which was built to protect and defend whiteness would crumble if this promise was actually taken seriously. This notion of whiteness is engrained in all
Liberty, equality and justice. Those three words are the values the United States was founded on. Over time the United States has struggled to abide by these values. However they try to promote them in schools, in court and in work. An African American and women do not have the same treatment as a Caucasian. In 1955, there was a trial for the murder of Emmett Till. The United States highlights these values but, fail to follow through with them.
Eighty years later another renowned president, Abraham Lincoln, also spoke of equality in the Gettysburg Address. In the 1950’s as the civil rights movement kicked off and again during the 1960 feminist movement the fairness and equality of our nation was tested. It is safe to say that equality is the foundation of the United States. Knowing our past difficulties with equality, one might think that by now we would have figured out that