Essay On Equality In America

In the United States of America there is an emphasis on equality. This emphasis on having equal rights is an individualistic journey, and described as being an inalienable right. In the Declaration of Independence it states “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.” (source), the Constitution says that no one can be denied "life, liberty or property, without due process of law" or that "any person within its jurisdiction” may be denied “the equal protection of the laws.”(source), and furthermore, the Pledge of Allegiance again reminds us of this emphasis on “liberty and justice for all”(source). Therefore, with a government that encourages the ideology of the moral worth of an individual, …show more content…
Americans need to open their eyes to discrimination, stop the practice of this ignorance, and realize that though we may be different, we are all the same. Sociologists and psychologists have been known to suggest that some of the discrimination and prejudice stems from subconscious attitudes that cause a person to ward off feelings of inadequacy by projecting them onto a targeted group, in this case those who are disabled, elderly, a weaker or unfamiliar gender, a different race or sexual orientation than them. When prejudices are held by enough of the majority to prevent change, the majority uses those discriminated against as scapegoats, because those without power can be easily targeted, mistreated, and unfairly blamed. Social research across the globe has shown that prejudice is fundamentally related to low self-esteem, so by hating a certain group, people are able to enhance their sense of self-worth and