Discrimination: Who are the Minorities Now?

            Throughout the history of the United States of America, tales of prejudice and oppression have ended joyously in freedom.  Determined Americans defended those who could not defend themselves.  Even when a majority favored the continuation of bigotry, those who were strong stood firm.

            Until the Civil War in the 1860s, African American men, women, and children were oppressed and sold as slaves.  Free men and women fought to save their enslaved brothers and sisters because they believed that all men were created equal, that discrimination based on color of skin was wrong.

            After the slaves were freed, however, prejudice against African Americans continued as the Ku Klux Klan terrorized innocent Americans.  Many stores refused to do business with African Americans; there were separate drinking fountains labeled “WHITE” and “COLORED.”  White men and women stood alongside activists like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks to free African Americans from the horrible acts brought about by racism.

            In the 21^st Century, equal legal rights are bestowed upon everyone, no matter the color of skin.  A wealthy, white man is not superior to a poor, Asian American woman.  Our nation has come a long way.  We have not, however, reached perfection.

            Defenseless human beings continue to be horribly oppressed in modern-day America.  Those of us that can speak out must step up in the defense of these people, just as Abraham Lincoln defended the slaves when they had no say.  Our culture emphasizes diversity, acceptance, and freedom for all humans, no matter what.  A five-year-old child may not legally vote, but no one would let the murder of such a child pass.  We are allowing the murders of millions of children to pass without so much as a raised eyebrow.

            If my mother, with the aid of a friend, murdered me today, the country would be enraged.  No one has the right to murder—even a mother!  So why do we allow mothers to murder their unborn children? 

            My friend Zach was premature.  When he was born, his father could hold him in one hand.  At that same time, another baby was still in its mother’s womb.  That other baby had been conceived at the same time as Zach, and was the same size.  The other baby could think as well as Zach, could hear and see as well as Zach—it was just as mature as Zach.  It would be a crime to kill Zach, but the other baby’s mother had the choice to murder her own baby.  What is the difference? 

            Abortion is a shame to our nation.  In the 18^th and 19^th Centuries, certain countries were esteemed for setting the slaves free first.  May the United States be renown throughout history for giving infants life; it is their right, just as it is the right of every other human being.