Is Freedom really free in this generation By: Alan Henry Zeedyk II
In this generation do we really have our American constitutional right of freedom? If you answered yes, please think again…
Freedom can not exist without equality, and if you take a look at all of the freedom movements going on in our country, it is easy to understand that not everyone is equal, as we should be.
Think about the Black lives matter movement and you might think “Well shouldn’t all lives matter?”
Think of the gay love movements and you might think “Shouldn’t we all be able to love freely?”
I’m sorry readers, but it’s not that easy.. You see, as an American citizen, you are given constitutional rights that ensure freedoms, but don’t think that you can live freely! You might have noticed that I just contradicted myself there. Congratulations! You finally understand our society. Still confused? Let me elaborate.
How do we live in a country with “equal opportunities” and people still have to fight and create violent movements to prove their worth? Simple, because our society has made degrading people an acceptable thing. When people are being oppressed by racism and judgment they feel the need to fight harder to regain respect and equality. You might not understand this if you have not walked in the shoes of these people. Well if you don’t understand, then you must be ignorant. Wow, you weren’t expecting to be insulted were you? Do you feel like less of a person because of my condescending remark? Not my intention, I apologize. I am only trying to help you understand the power that words can have on people.
As an American, we are entitled to freedom of speech, but don’t think that your free speech won’t offend people or create drama. You can not say whatever you want without consequences, free speech is becoming a thing of the past. You think I’m being dramatic? Then why do derogatory terms and racial slurs hold so much hate in their context? Why can a single word or phrase make a whole group of people feel unequal? It’s not right that we are currently dealing with so much hate and judgment in a place that should be the “land of the free.”
Black lives matter, so why should violence have to arouse in order to get that point across? Gay lives matter too, so why should they have to fight so hard to be equally respected? We are not born with the ability to choose the color of our skin or the people we will grow to love. So why should we judge the people that surround us and pump blood through the same red, white, and blue veins that we do. As the American people, we need to focus more on equality within the nation. With all of the terrible events and mass murders occurring throughout the world, it is very damaging to face these events as a divided nation. We need to come together now, more than ever. Let’s make America free again.
