In the early settling years of America, many people
pilgrimaged here, seeking freedom from religious persecution. The Puritans, who are commonly associated
with this hopeful migration, wanted freedom to worship how they believed—without
the oppression of the more wide-spread Church of England—so they came to
America, a land still so new and unspoilt.
They came to ensure their own rights.
However, when they were introduced to the Quakers, religious freedom was
apparently a right that only they possessed.
They tormented the Quakers shamelessly.
The Puritans, who had just been persecuted, were now dishing it out to
others for the very same reason that they had been on the receiving end—they
were different.
This seems to be the pattern of human rights. Seek desperately for your own rights and then
take away the rights of those who do not agree with your belief system or who
don’t fit your mold. Equality is all
well and good—as long as you have more of it than those who are different from
you. It’s my middle school reading of
Animal Farm all over again, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more
equal than others” (George Orwell). This
pattern of imbalanced equality has continued in America, even into our 21st
century. The Irish Catholic were
persecuted for being different—just think about what a major game changer it
was for John F. Kennedy to be elected president. Catholics had been here since the beginning of
our America, and yet, it took until half way through the 20th
century for a Catholic to be accepted.
The Mormons were driven from one city to another and from state to state
until they were finally outside the borders of the United States. Because Mormon beliefs were different, those
who ignorantly feared them actually extended an Extermination Order. Yep.
Equal rights were definitely not for Mormons. Thankfully, they were eventually accepted (of
sorts) and even managed to get a viable Presidential Candidate…after much
harangue. Currently, Muslims are being
estranged and tyrannized because, once again, people fear what they don’t
understand.
It is not just the acceptance of different religious groups
and their right to rights that we as a humans struggle with. I want to point out that it is rights in
general that people have a hard time sharing.
The Native Americans were branded savages and their land and homes were
taken in the name of Manifest Destiny. The
Japanese American, many of which had lived their whole life here, were placed
in concentration camps after Pearl Harbor…because they were of Japanese descent. Hollywood was turned inside out in the
Communist witch hunt. Black Americans
were not allowed to use the same bathroom as white Americans…because even after
200 years living here, they were still just the color of their skin. All four of these examples were driven by ignorance
and fear. Women were not allowed to vote
because…well, they were women, you know, the “weaker sex”. In each instance, a group of Americans had to
fight for their rights against those who feared losing their own. There is no
room for fear in America. It gets in our
way of being united. Being an American
should mean that you have the right to worship, vote, and think as you
please…as long as you are devoted to America and upholding her freedom.
Outside of America, and yes there are plenty more examples
inside of America, the French Revolution stands out in my mind as a horrible
example of what happens when one group of people finally gain their rights, and
fail to remember the importance of equal rights. The long oppressed poor of France won control
of their country. They finally could
have equal rights; but many were filled with a vengeful passion. Their own rights were not enough. They had to destroy everyone who represented
what kept them down. So they went on a
so-called legal attempt at genocide of the entire upper class. Women, men and children were executed because
of the life-style into which they were born.
No, life is not fair.
Equality is not free, and it oftentimes must be fought for. Whether it is religious freedom or civil
rights, we can’t forget why America was established in the first place: freedom
and equality for all. America is not
perfect. Why? Because it’s people are
not perfect. However, this does not
excuse attempts to take away the rights of others because their viewpoints are
different. Different viewpoints are what
make America so strong and so beautiful.
They are what keep us from falling under the tyranny of despots. Seriously!
The Founding Father’s came up with that truly inspired idea. The more groups of citizens with differing
opinions (factions), the safer America is from dictatorship.
It’s true that we need to fight to gain or keep our personal
rights, but I would add, it is even more important, for all that America
represents, to fight for the rights of those whom with we don’t agree. Why?
Because equal rights are not limited to one viewpoint. Equal rights are strengthened and perfected
when we uphold the rights of all. If you
want equality, then you must take it and give it at the same time. So whether you are a believer in God or
Atheist, Christian or Muslim, White or Black, Gay or not, Woman or Man, or
whatever other group you may identify with, fight for your rights and fight for
the rights of those who do not share your beliefs.
In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling, I would ask
that those who gained their rights not seek to take away the rights of those
who opposed. Do not let history repeat
itself. Stop thinking of rights specific
to your ideology. Remember the important
separation of Church and State and that there really is a difference. And then remember, it is not gay rights
verses religious freedom; it is American rights and American freedom.
