When the motto "all people are equal in America and have equal opportunity" is uttered, I have witnessed countless people affirm it in public. Yet, is this true?
Think about it:
Children who have grown up in areas that are inherently poorer, do not receive the same education that others the same age do. As they grow up, they are faced with tests such as the SAT that all kids take- and do not do as well. This jeopardizes their chances of being accepted into competitive colleges, which either inhibit or boost the children's ability to be able to get certain jobs.
Does this seem equal to you?
Just now, currently in the year 2008, for the first time in the history of the United States a woman is running for president. Until now, there have always been white men running our country. Woman and African Americans were not given the same rights as white land-owning men until a couple of decades ago. Where is the equality?
The ideal concepts of equality and equal opportunity are things that many look for when establishing a connection to America. Yet in reality, how much equality is truly given to citizens who are American?
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I must say that I disagree with your argument that Americans are not in fact given equal opportunity and equality. I'll start with your educational example. It is true children from poor areas don't receive as EASY an opportunity to become educated. However, the opportunity is there. As for the SAT's being Achilles heels to these children is absurd. (For California at least.) There are institution called junior colleges which have two year programs to acquire AA's. They are very much in favor for financially challenged Americans. A lot of Californians qualify for something called BOG, which pays for your junior college. On top of that, the UC and USC systems have automatic transfer agreements. After you get your AA from one of these JCs you can transfer without ever taking the SAT or ACT. Now this is California and I don't know how other states are but JCs more than give opportunity to financially challenged folks.
As for the Hillary running for president this is huge history! It's the very proof that equality thrives and evolves in this country. America started out with mainly Christian fundamental belief systems in which women were restricted in high power positions and put in traditional roles. Yes it may have taken some time for women to receive their rights but they've always had the opportunity to do so. The fact that Hillary is even running proves this. The fact of this matter is, the women of this country had the opportunity to reshape traditional views, and they took advantage of it.
The answer to the question of "is America indeed built upon equal opportunity and for equality in general" is yes. We must also take into consideration we're still a baby country in development. Compared to a government like England, we're still young. We are developing those opportunities every year and I wouldn't give up my right to live here for anything.
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"As for me, all I know is that I know nothing."-Socrates
"Bring your desires down to your present means. Increase them only when your increased means permit."- Aristotle
"Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate."- Thomas Aquinas
You have a point- JC's are available to students right out of college, and are much cheaper.
However, if a graduate school had to compare two students with the same grades (one who went to JC for two years and one who went to the same undergraduate school for four years) they would undoubtedly pick the latter student.
Junior colleges are not looked at as respectfully as schools such as the UC's. Any student, whether top notch or an average joe can enroll. Universities, however, accept only the cream of the crop. It is more competitive for students to enroll in universities for their freshman year than to enroll as transfer students.
And yes. America is indeed built upon equality, but the mindset of many American's has not reached this level of acceptance. Currently, all Americans are NOT given equal opportunity and equal rights. Societal standards as well as economic hold many people down.
Yes, Hillary is running for president which is historical. Think about it though- if all Americans, regardless of race, gender, etc are equal... her running for president, as well as Obama, should not be as mind blowing as it is. It should be considered normalcy.
As well as you though, I love America and would not give up my right to live here at all. I'm just attempting to bring into light the issue of equality and how it is viewed and praticed here in the U.S.
I need to ask what exactly are you asking? Are you asking that is everyone equal in opportunity at all, or the rate at which they are provided the opportunity? With the idea that you are saying opportunity at all, in America everyone has the opportunity to reach private schools. I know that MIT for one accepts minorities over majorities meaning that if you're from a poverty state they'll accept you first. Even more so if you have another skin color other than Caucasian.
As for the response to my CC or JC which ever you prefer to call it. (part 1) Yes they are two years behind, however they have the opportunity to be at where some people seem born to be. If you're living in a house where your parents or family is making 30,000 or less per year and you move up with just a bachelor at say 25, your standard of living is increased immensely. (part 2) Several UC/USCs offer graduate programs. A lot of jobs, specially in the government, will still recognize a doctorate whether it's from a private school or a UC/USC. They may not get as high a paying job as someone with a doctorate from a private school, but they are again in a much higher standard of living. Private school are meant to be selective. Also just because they take a little bit longer doesn't necessarily mean that they can't get into a school like Stanford or Mit just as I referred to earlier.
As for asking the USA as a whole to achieve a mind set of equality, it depends on your definition of equality. What do you mean by equality? Equal opportunity for all? Equal rights for all? Equal education for all? Be more specific and I'll respond to that.
In reference to your normalcy comment, yes it's not a normalcy. The USA is still in an evolving state. I think, (but without research I won't stake my life on it) that Britain has respect and enjoys having female queens due to Elizabeth. She set a standard for the future female queens to begin with. She proved to a male society that women can lead well. There has been no such opportunity in the USA for a forced president to be female. If there had been, then yes, Hilary running for president wouldn't be a shock and would seem quite normal.
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"As for me, all I know is that I know nothing."-Socrates
"Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to
contemplate."- Saint Thomas Aquinas
Two wealthy white male children do not have the exact same opportunities as each other. No two people do.
Opportunity is the right to fight for your place; outcome is influenced by many environmental factors. Persistence and Will are more important than race and gender in where you end up if you live in America. THAT is opportunity.
A Fact is Always Better Than an Ideal.
I agree that not all opportunites are as favorable. I mean, when you're not given as good an education, and you have to go to the school you have to go to (and private school is not an option) then you automatically have a less pretty start than some people. And, as for the Community College option, I mean, come on you're already two years behind every one else at that point. Yes, that gives you to option to catch up, but don't try and tell me that doesn't put you at a handicap.
I do disagree with one fact, ma'am. Elizabeth Dole started to run for president in 2000. She pulled out before the primaries, but she did start and would have doen reasonably well I believe. She placed second in the national polls behind George Bush. So, Hillary may have done more, but she hasn't been the only woman in the hot seat.
Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too. ~Voltaire
Did you ever hear anyone say, "That work had better be banned because I might read it and it might be very damaging to me?" ~Joseph Henry Jackson
LizzieD
Okay, please explain how on earth you got over a thousand reads in less than 24 hours?