For us Americans, the word democratic carries a special meaning that is of the utmost importance for our system of government. A democratic system of government;, also known as a Democracy, is a system in which the collective majority selects the system of government to maintain civil authority. More specifically, the elected officials within the government pass and enforce laws. In the United States, this system is maintained by checks and balances across three branches of government. Abraham Lincoln brilliantly characterized a Democracy as a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people” (Johnson, M. P., 2013). The composition and functionality of the three branches of American government are defined by the Constitution of
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Bigotry can be characterized as intolerance of certain faith groups, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, political views, or other cultures. Bigotry can be manifested through thought processes, words, and actions. Moreover, there can be varying degrees of severity of bigotry. The severity of bigotry in its least extreme form may include stereotypical ideas and verbal insults and slurs. An example of a bigoted slur that comes to my mind is the word faggot, which I have personally be called on occasion. In extreme cases of bigotry, people may be physically attacked resulting in serious physical injury and even death. In the case of sexual orientation, bigotry has resulted in negative perceptions of LGBT people. Those negative perceptions are often based on personal insecurity, stereotypical views, interpretation of religious texts, and state sponsored discrimination. For example, until 2003, homosexuality was effectively criminalized as sodomy in fourteen states. This meant that these jurisdictions could prosecute homosexual couple for participating in consensual sexual activity. In 2003, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Lawrence v. Texas, that such laws are unconstitutional (Lawrence v. Texas, n.d.). Despite the de jure implications of the Court’s ruling, many still hold the beliefs that homosexuality is a violation of God’s natural law. …show more content…
Specifically, many societies (including our own), treated women as chattel; or property belonging to their husbands. As a result of this thought process, women were denied suffrage, among many other rights, in the United States. Women were not granted the right to vote in America until August 26, 1920 with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (By 1890, seeking to capitalize on their newfound, n.d.). The feminist movement is a social and political movement that advocates the interests of women. Moreover, the movement seeks to challenge societal attitudes towards women’s rights and to establish gender equality. More specifically; feminists seek equality in wages, equal consideration for position within the military, and respect for their reproductive rights. Opposition to the feminist movement has argued that gender equality has caused harm to the family unit, created confusion among gender roles, and has portrayed abortion in a positive light. I’ve also heard it said that feminists hate men. My personal opinion is that many of these views are in fact bigoted by nature. I further believe that there is no empirical proof to support these arguments. Interestingly enough, many of these individuals are the same individuals that hold bigoted views towards LGBT
Bigotry can be characterized as intolerance of certain faith groups, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, political views, or other cultures. Bigotry can be manifested through thought processes, words, and actions. Moreover, there can be varying degrees of severity of bigotry. The severity of bigotry in its least extreme form may include stereotypical ideas and verbal insults and slurs. An example of a bigoted slur that comes to my mind is the word faggot, which I have personally be called on occasion. In extreme cases of bigotry, people may be physically attacked resulting in serious physical injury and even death. In the case of sexual orientation, bigotry has resulted in negative perceptions of LGBT people. Those negative perceptions are often based on personal insecurity, stereotypical views, interpretation of religious texts, and state sponsored discrimination. For example, until 2003, homosexuality was effectively criminalized as sodomy in fourteen states. This meant that these jurisdictions could prosecute homosexual couple for participating in consensual sexual activity. In 2003, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Lawrence v. Texas, that such laws are unconstitutional (Lawrence v. Texas, n.d.). Despite the de jure implications of the Court’s ruling, many still hold the beliefs that homosexuality is a violation of God’s natural law. …show more content…
Specifically, many societies (including our own), treated women as chattel; or property belonging to their husbands. As a result of this thought process, women were denied suffrage, among many other rights, in the United States. Women were not granted the right to vote in America until August 26, 1920 with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (By 1890, seeking to capitalize on their newfound, n.d.). The feminist movement is a social and political movement that advocates the interests of women. Moreover, the movement seeks to challenge societal attitudes towards women’s rights and to establish gender equality. More specifically; feminists seek equality in wages, equal consideration for position within the military, and respect for their reproductive rights. Opposition to the feminist movement has argued that gender equality has caused harm to the family unit, created confusion among gender roles, and has portrayed abortion in a positive light. I’ve also heard it said that feminists hate men. My personal opinion is that many of these views are in fact bigoted by nature. I further believe that there is no empirical proof to support these arguments. Interestingly enough, many of these individuals are the same individuals that hold bigoted views towards LGBT