The Rights Worth Fighting For

“We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others” ~Will Rogers

            Equality is the quality or state of having the same rights, social status, etc. Americans have fought for equality and independence in each century since 1776. The white men sought freedom from Great Britain in the 18^th century with the Declaration of Independence; African Americans sought freedom from the shackles of slavery in the 19^th century with the Emancipation Proclamation and equal rights in the mid-20^th century with the Civil Rights Movement; lastly, American women sought freedom from the oppression they felt from men with the Declaration of Sentiments. Each of these groups fought for the same rights, but just at different times. Unless all citizens are given equal rights and opportunities, America “will never have true civilization.”

            In class, we discussed the similarities and differences between the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of Sentiments. Both of these documents fought for the same equal rights, but the Declaration of Independence fought solely for the rights of men. The Declaration of Sentiments wanted men and women to have equal rights and opportunities; it gave grievances against men and reasons why women should be viewed as individual human beings instead of being defined by their husbands. It is important to understand that each individual of society should be given the opportunity to contribute to society.

The fight for equality and freedom exists in almost every city of the world. Freedom cannot be seen as a privilege; it is everyone’s right to have freedom, regardless of their identity, but it is worthy to note that freedom has its bounds.