Equality a Country Built on the Credo

¶ … Equality

A country built on the credo of democracy, America is a society built on the values of freedom and equality. These two concepts are inevitably related to each other, where the presence of freedom inevitably results to the creation of an egalitarian society. History is witness to significant events that showed how America and its people struggled to create a society where equality is considered essential. The American Civil War in 1861 was the first attempt of the Americans to fight not only for their freedom, but also for their right to be considered equal, and not a colony, to the British government. The World War II was another manifestation of America's regard for equality. Fighting against Hitler's anti-Semitist campaign, America involved itself in a world war that sought to achieve equal rights for people despite differences in race, gender, age, and socio-economic class. Lastly, the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s marked the persistent concern that American society had over the equality of its people.

These illustrations of how equality was fought for and represented in American society provide an insight to the different meanings attached to equality through the years. Equality is synonymously associated with impartiality and fairness, a state wherein every individual in the society is given similar opportunities and privileges that other people have or receive. Equality, in effect, is the provision similar advantages to all members of the society. Achieving equality also means that one must be able to transcend the boundaries that put limits to specific individuals and/or groups. Transcending these boundaries include being able to consider males and females as deserving of receiving the same social status and opportunities that society has to offer. Transcending these boundaries is providing opportunities for members of the non- Caucasian race to enjoy the Constitutional rights that Americans enjoy in their homeland. The dissolution of boundaries that creates conflict and limits people to pursue their needs and dreams in life is, undoubtedly, a sign that equality has been achieved.