Equality should mean Equal

Equality is something that every minority strives for in the United States, but very few ever achieve. Even when the status of a people is considered "Equal," they often receive a limited equality where they have equal rights, but they are not treated equally.

As a good example of the above "limited equality," we can take a look at women in the United States. Women should be paid equally for the same jobs that men are typically paid more for. However, while wanting to be equal, some women will reject equality and play the "I am a woman" card when it comes to getting in trouble, or when it comes to going on a date. There is little to no areas where a man of any color can announce "I am a man so I deserve better," nor can he open his shirt a little in order to make things happen in his favor.

Another example comes starkly apparent when it comes to sports. Teenage sports is the biggest topic as gender mixed sports are becoming more apparent. It made the national news and inspired other girls to try out for Football when one teenage girl was pointed out as being a better kicker than the boys, and as such made the boys team as their kicker. After the initial story came out, at least three other stories launched where girls were trying out for, and making the boys football team. Fast forward six months, and the headlines show a single boy, smaller in size, strength, and weight than the majority of a girls Lacrosse league being kicked off the girls team because his scoring percentage was higher than any girl in the rest of the league. His advantage had nothing to do with size, weight, or strength, his only advantage was he had played Lacrosse since he was a young boy. His only advantage was experience, something any group of minority status people will tell you, should be a reason that they be treated equally and not be rejected.

Equality means to be regarded with the same "quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability." (Dictionary.com, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/equality). If this phrase works to the advantage of one, it must work to the advantage of everyone, regardless of their sex, size, intelligence, beliefs, and character.

In regards to the world as a whole, everyone is made of the same materials in varying amounts, the only difference is in how we look at each other. As a world of people, we should all be treated equally, held to the same regard, and suffer the same consequences. No one should be held above any other, nor should anyone have to want for something because it is being kept away from them by a certain few.

No more

I look out at the world and I see problems everywhere. For us in the United States, our way of life is not good enough for us (us being a general term). For someone in a less-developed country, we are rich in everything but life. There is no point in placing blame anymore as to some degree we must all burden that responsibility. Most of my generation, and those who have come since, have been labeled the "entitled" generation. "I deserve to have a nice house, a nice boat, a nice car, etc..." For those of us who do not feel entitled, we feel that we, as a people, have been let down. We are quick to place blame with crooked politicians and growing consumerism, but where we should be looking is at our family values.

For me, as a child, there was no limit to the area I could go. There was no worry that I was going to be kidnapped, and no worry that I was going to get into trouble. I knew from the instant I left the house, if I acted up, or did something wrong, I was going to pay for it with a belt across my backside. Having a family member drag you to the bathroom was sure sign you were in trouble. When you came out of the restroom, there was no doubt on anyone's mind what had just happened. Today that does not happen. All it takes is one individual to make a call, and your whole family will be sitting in front of Child Protective Services. In the one instance that did happen to me, I met with the proper people and told them what was going on, told them the extent of the punishment that was given, and they told me that the case was closed as they felt that I acted within the confines of my rights as a parent.

Where this is all going is that, today, as a people, we are weak in our resolve to do anything for the fear of being told on. We fear the stories, the looks, the process. As a fairly young, but disabled man, I would fear the looks I would get for taking the electric shopping cart at the store when I appeared otherwise healthy. Im here today to say no more, and I am asking you to join me as well. No more should we fear what others think. No more should we interfere in the parenting of a child. It is too late for our generation to save ourselves, but by instilling the proper values and beliefs in our children, they may have a chance at effecting real change when it is there turn. Those values and beliefs can only come from you, and any change is hard, but we should no longer neglect our roles and responsibilities as parents and as Americans.