Inside My Head

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” There it is, the first amendment in all its glory.  221 years ago, the forefathers of this country wrote a law that protects you from harm whenever you say whatever thought is on your mind.  The question is, can you handle yourself when the next person is able to do the same?

Tolerance is a fair and objective attitude toward those whose practices, race, religion, nationality and opinions differ from your own.  This means that although you may not agree with the speech of one person, or you may not understand the muslim celebration of Ramadan, or even if you among the company of a foreign person, as long as that individual is behaving in a peaceable manner, they have just as much rights as you do under our national laws. Many are quick to utter derogatory remarks against others and then run for the shelter of free speech, but when those same people face the same sort of remarks from others, they are quick to cry out in persecution.  America’s laws aren’t suited for one certain group of people, but the benefits of these laws stretch beyond racial, religious, social, and sexual barriers.

One of the greatest forms of intolerance I’ve been able to witness is the uproar against illegal “aliens” and the threat that they pose against our fair America.  This bothers me because there is not one among us outside of Native Americans whose roots can be traced back to an illegal alien ancestor.  They are called Native Americans because they were here before 1892 when 15 year old Annie Moore from County Cork, Ireland became the first immigrant to enter Ellis Island.  They were also here before April 1584 when Sir Walter Raleigh dispatched Philip Anadas and Arthur Barlowe from England to scout territory in these future United States.  Our ancestors made difficult journeys from distant countries to settle in this “free” world, but now that we’re here, what gives us the right for exclusivity?

Differing opinions are what this country was built on and it’s different perspectives on issues that allow us the ability to grow as a country.  Egocentricity and sociocentricity do nothing but hold back progression and breed negativity among fellow Americans and those who could be future Americans.

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