Is Equality in the United States any Better than in Other Countries?

     In America today we enjoy many freedoms, freedoms that were not easily won. Sometimes it is hard to see any evidence of past ideals and struggles in our country, but there are other times when these issues once again arise to the surface, painfully reminding us of what we cannot afford to forget. One of the major issues we as a country have faced is equality.

     When one thinks of the struggle for equality, whether it be racial or of gender, they usually think of the Civil Rights Movement that occurred from the 1950's through the 60's. Both African Americans and women fought for their rights as full, equal American citizens, and it was not an easy road to take.

     Opposition rose against the ideals of desegregation, equal rights, and the blessing of freedom being available to all, not just those who thought they were entitled to it. Their long-fought victory brought to pass what Martin Luther King said in his memorable “I Have a Dream” speech, and it also presented an opportunity to “…live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”[1]

     But the question still stands. Is equality in America any better, promising, and hopeful that the equality found anywhere else? I believe the answer is yes. Looking through our long human history of battles, conquests, and victors, only one nation stood against the bloody tide of slavery and inequality and changed its course. We live in a country where slavery has been demolished, unlike others where this problem still remains.

     Is America perfect? No. We have had our share of regrets. Plenty of stains mark the record. But what makes America different is our stand against what is wrong, and our willingness to do something about it. Some focus on those stains in our history and claim we are no better than any other country. I respectfully disagree. This country has done good not just for ourselves, but for others, and because of our unique foundation and beliefs, equality is possible. We just have to press forward, work hard, and never slack off on the responsibility we all have to make certain it remains that way.

     As Richard V. Reeves said, “Equal opportunity must and will remain the quintessential American ideal. The challenge is to live up to it.”[2]

[1] Staff, “The Numbers”, National Journal, February 16, 2008, 2/22/15
[2] Reeves, V. Richard, “Equality, Opportunity, and the American Dream”, National Journal, August 20, 2014, 2/23/15

The Prejudice Problem

In America, we are blessed with many freedoms and rights. It is no wonder that many left their own countries to find new lives on America’s promising shores. As time has gone by, many good things have occurred, securing those rights so that everyone in America can live free prosperous lives. Jokingly known as ‘The Great Melting Pot’, people of all nationalities make their homes here in hopes of living better lives.

While there has been great progress, not all is as wonderful as you would like to think. Major issues plague our nation, one of them being prejudice. Prejudice is a form of prejudging a person before you even know them, and it is a very dangerous fault we all deal with to some degree. Whether we think about it or not, we all deal with prejudice…we tend to ‘judge a book by its cover’, a dangerous thing to do. When you have so many people from different nationalities living together, it is easy to misunderstand or be misunderstood. Cultures can vary majorly between ethnic groups, leading to distrust and even fear. Many times in history this has occurred, sometimes leading to vile deeds and inhuman treatment. Prejudice is dangerous, and it must not be overlooked.

Even though the differences between cultures can be huge, that does not give any reason to treat others wrongfully. I admit, I have fallen under prejudice before, judging others because of how they looked, talked, or acted around others. Who am I to judge another? How do I not know they are judging me? Do you like it when someone prejudges you? I sure don’t! People are so quick to judge, reacting first and thinking later, leading to many problems we deal with on a regular basis. Humans fear what they cannot understand, and prejudice is an ugly reaction we would do well to rid ourselves of. Prejudice, along with bullying, has infiltrated our schools causing pain and lack of self-confidence.

You will always find a child or young adult asking the age old question, “Why am I here? What worth am I?” Many suicides could be stopped if we reached out to these and showed them love. You see, love breaks all cultural and ethnical boundaries, shatters all forms of bondage, and gives hope and comfort to the lost. Instead of immediately judging, we should think about what we are about to do. Are our thoughts right? Are we being fair? If not, then we should consider changing our view of that person. You never know what someone else may be dealing with or going through, and your words can either damage them more or give them a glimpse of hope.

It is your decision, as well as mine, and we must choose wisely.
           

Misunderstandings lead to trouble, and so do prejudgments. Basing your opinion on somebody because of certain attributes is wrong, it does not give them a fair chance. Prejudice is running rampant across our nation, and it is up to us to stop it. You may say, ‘that’s all nice, but how do you stop prejudice? Isn’t it always going to be here?’ or ask ‘Why can’t we all just get along?’, and those are all good questions. Why is it so hard to get along? How come we can’t live together in peace without racial hate and distrust?

First things first, let’s address the race issue. I am certain you have heard the different cultural groups referred to as ‘races’. It is quite common wording that is often heard and used, but is it correct? In the animal kingdom, there is a difference between the word ‘species’ and the word ‘kind’. For example, when the word species is used to describe the cat breed, it refers to the different sorts of cats that exist in the feline family. When the word kind is used, it is referring to that specific sort of animal. There are many variations in the feline species producing lots of different cats, but there is only one cat kind. This may not seem to have anything to do with the race issue, but in fact it does. God created man in His own image, separated and different from the animals. There are not different races of humans, there is only one race. As it says in 1 Samuel 16:7, In God’s eyes we’re all one race. God does not look at outer appearances, He looks at the heart. So when you hear someone talk about the ‘White race’, ‘Black race’, or ‘Hispanic race’, they are wrong. Whether you are white, black, red, yellow, or purple you are a human being. One race, period.

Another issue commonly heard today is tolerance. Many groups speak of intolerance, shouting that they should be treated equal. Equality is marred when prejudice gets in the way. For years people have believed that there are different races of people, leading to thoughts of superiority. One of the best examples of this is in World War II when Hitler spoke of his ‘superior race’ destined to rule above all others. These beliefs led to the murder of millions, all because of an evolutionary mindset, racial hate, and plain nasty deception. Even though this is very wrong, tolerance also can be dangerous. Those who cry tolerance are the most intolerant of them all. We are all one race, and we are all equal! There are no better words to describe this than those of our Declaration of Independence.

"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."

When these famous words were penned, they were inspired by the Word of God. Many scriptures can be found in the Bible speaking of equality, and prejudice is clearly spoken as being wrong.

So let's get to the root of the problem...why do we deal with prejudice? If you believe that the Word of God is true, the answer is easily acquired. Even if you don't, let's take a moment to look at prejudice through a Christian perspective. When God created the world, everything was good. There was no violence, death, and pain. When man sinned, darkness fell on creation, altering and corrupting it. We must understand that we live in a fallen world, and it was never intended to be this way. Problems such as prejudice exist because of the sinful nature of man. Sin is an ugly thing. All the violence, greed, murder, and horrors of the world exist because of man's decision to disobey God. It may sound hopeless, but that is when God's plan of redemption became reality through Jesus Christ. 

Jesus died on the cross for every sin that had ever been committed in the past and the future. If you think about it, that's a lot! There have been many attempts to stop prejudice but the only way it will ever be truly stopped is when we live Christian lives and walk according to the Word of God. It points back to the beginning when man sinned and fell short. In His mercy, Jesus saved us. Yes, we still deal with sin because of our fallen nature, but through Christ we are restored.  

Prejudice is a terrible thing, but it will be stopped. When Jesus returns to right all wrongs, all the darkness in the universe will not be able to lift a finger against Him. When you think in this mindset, you can look prejudice in the eye and be victorious! We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, and we can overcome prejudice by living our lives according to His Word.

Piercing the Darkness, a Young Adult’s View of our Culture

When the culture we inhabit is mentioned in conversation, it usually takes a dark tone. If the youth of our generation are brought up, that mood will usually get darker. “Let’s face it,” they’ll say, “things have gotten worse and they’ll probably continue to do so. Why are we fooling ourselves with any other fantasy?”

I’ll be quick to admit that like most people, I have fallen for such a conversation. Just look around; it won’t take long for you to see some of the many problems that are festering in our society. Racial violence, drug abuse, premature pregnancies, fatherless homes…the list goes on and on. The tide of lawlessness is ebbing ever closer, and sometimes you can’t help but wonder if there is anything we can do to stop it. Is there a chance for things to ever get better, or are we simply prolonging the inevitable?

The answer to that question is clouded, and it certainly depends on whom you ask. Gloom and despair are more commonly evoked than optimism and hope, and given recent events that have continued to ravage our country, it shows no signs of slowing, and even less of stopping. Anger is a more common emotion than any other, and it is more than a surface issue. After all, anger is an outward expression of an inward problem, and it is a problem that must be dealt with, and soon.

In this case, if you were to ask me, my response may surprise you. I’ve been a Virginia native all of my life, and I am well aware of the problems that plague our country and our city. I’m also a Christian, an occupation that is becoming increasingly unpopular, not to mention “intolerant” in the eyes of others. You may be wondering why this is important, and I’ll explain. We live in a faulted culture, one that is crumbling at the edges and breaking at the seams. Those who wish to see order restored fight tooth and nail to do something about it, and there are those who fight equally hard to see it destroyed. It is a battle of sorts, but not one fought with physical weapons. It is a battle of ideas, a battle that is not so easily won. Amidst the clash of ideals and political correctness a small voice calls to any who will stop and listen, any who yearn for more.

What exactly is more? Deep down inside of every person, there is a longing for more than what this life can offer. A longing for justice and righteousness to prevail. I’m not simply talking about governmental justice, even though that does play a part. I’m talking about true justice that can only be brought by the Creator of justice, and the universe at large. 

            Yes, there are problems in this world and in our culture, but I have hope. There is indeed evil in this world, and there are bad people who do bad things, things that make us cringe in despair, unable to understand how such things can be committed. But there is also good, and it is that light that pierces the darkness and gives me hope for the future.

            Last summer I, along with hundreds of others, traveled to Detroit to help those who have less than myself. While not in Richmond specifically, I saw many issues that are the same as our own, and it felt liberating to be able to do something about it. After seeing so many people touched by our acts of kindness, I am convinced that there is hope, and that all is not lost. Those people saw the light of Jesus and were forever changed. They will never be the same, and neither will I. 

            I firmly believe that there is hope for this world, this country, and our city. This hope is only found through Jesus Christ, for it is only through Him that we have any hope at all. I have witnessed people my age and older rise up and make a difference in the lives of people they don’t even know, I have seen the love of Jesus change them and restore lives that have been abandoned. I have seen the loving arms of Jesus reach out through us and forever impact the lives of people I may never see again, and yet I know are as dear to His heart as anyone else.

            That is the light that pierces the darkness, and that is the hope that I hold on to. It is a change of perspective that once you have, you never can see things the same way again. I have hope for our culture because I have hope in God, I know that all will be made right, and while we are on this earth, it is our responsibility to bring the change. So next time, instead of standing around and talking about our problems, make the decision to step to the plate and do something about it yourself. Even the smallest act of kindness can make the biggest impact in someone’s life, and that is what it is all about.

            It is time for us to get off of the sidelines and be actively engaged in the bettering of our country. If we don’t like what we see, than we must be the ones to do something about it. If we do not, than I do fear what may come. But I will not fear, because I know that whether it comes today or tomorrow, change is in the wind, and it is a true change that is for good, and not ill. That is the prevailing light I hold on to, and it is a light that no darkness in this world can destroy.