Spring Break
Be the change you want to see in America
Sarah Zeeck
Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: Opinion
We wanted equality. We wanted no segregation. We wanted fairness.
But as we move further and further in time, we are again slipping away from a nation of near equality. Granted, nothing ever was truly "equal" in a sense of complete utopia, but that is not realistic either. We were, however, hyperbolic - getting closer and closer, maybe never truly achieving it, but almost touching it.
Now we are segregated in a new way. After this election, the stakes of "conservative" and "liberal" are drawn to such extremes that families, friends, and lovers have been torn apart over something as trivial as an election. Some political enthusiasts will argue that the election was not trivial and was a great influence on our nation's history, but in the greater scheme of things, the election was just another little puzzle piece. In one way or another, a person is judged if they are labeled - or blacklisted - as Republicans or Democrats.
The election is not the only culprit in this matter. The same can be said about things like religion, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. Some of those are more obvious than others, but some unfair judgments are made. People judge one another on the basis of appearance too quickly. It is okay to think ill of somebody, but at least wait to judge them until you know their personality and other elements that make them who they are. Don't base judgment on unfair qualities. Just because someone doesn't share your beliefs on a subject doesn't mean he or she is a bad person.
We are backpedaling. Instead of being equal, we are finding new ways to judge people. We still judge obvious qualities, like race and gender - and each race and gender judges the others across the board - but now, we have also added belief to the mix. And instead of moving away from a segregated society, we are moving back toward it.
You wanted change? You wanted equality? Start developing a mature mindset. Stop the name-calling. Stop the blacklisting. Be the change you want to see. Only the perfect can judge, and I don't see any spotless among us.
But as we move further and further in time, we are again slipping away from a nation of near equality. Granted, nothing ever was truly "equal" in a sense of complete utopia, but that is not realistic either. We were, however, hyperbolic - getting closer and closer, maybe never truly achieving it, but almost touching it.
Now we are segregated in a new way. After this election, the stakes of "conservative" and "liberal" are drawn to such extremes that families, friends, and lovers have been torn apart over something as trivial as an election. Some political enthusiasts will argue that the election was not trivial and was a great influence on our nation's history, but in the greater scheme of things, the election was just another little puzzle piece. In one way or another, a person is judged if they are labeled - or blacklisted - as Republicans or Democrats.
The election is not the only culprit in this matter. The same can be said about things like religion, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. Some of those are more obvious than others, but some unfair judgments are made. People judge one another on the basis of appearance too quickly. It is okay to think ill of somebody, but at least wait to judge them until you know their personality and other elements that make them who they are. Don't base judgment on unfair qualities. Just because someone doesn't share your beliefs on a subject doesn't mean he or she is a bad person.
We are backpedaling. Instead of being equal, we are finding new ways to judge people. We still judge obvious qualities, like race and gender - and each race and gender judges the others across the board - but now, we have also added belief to the mix. And instead of moving away from a segregated society, we are moving back toward it.
You wanted change? You wanted equality? Start developing a mature mindset. Stop the name-calling. Stop the blacklisting. Be the change you want to see. Only the perfect can judge, and I don't see any spotless among us.
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