Being American Liberty, Equality and Republicanism Essay

Being an American cannot simply be defined by skin color, culture, or religion. This nation cannot be defined in a simplistic manner like many other nations. For instance, other countries define themselves by their accent or by the types of food they consume. According to Sarah Song, â€Å"To be or to become an American, a person did not have to be any particular national, linguistic, religious, or ethnic background. All he had to do was to commit himself to the political ideology centered on the abstract ideals of liberty, equality, and republicanism† (31). Therefore, being American simply means having the same views about equality, liberty and republicanism as our American ancestors. Being an American is clearly stated in the Declaration of†¦show more content†¦The idea of equality is usually defined by everyone as the state or quality of being equal. However, according to Thomas Jefferson, in The Declaration of Independence, â€Å"all men are created equal† (n.p). The thought of all men being created as equal is a simple ideology of the past. Now, in America, equality consists of having equal rights and opportunities whether the individual is a male or female. However, today in America, equality has not fully been fully achieved. For instance, we are still experiencing income inequality. According to Peter Finocchiaro, â€Å"Income inequality has grown dramatically since the mid-70s—far more in the US than in most advanced countries† (n.p). Furthermore, â€Å"The top 10 percent of Americans earn nearly three-quarters of all income in the country, leaving the poor with whatever is left† (Finocchiaro n.p). Another inequality in America is racial inequality. For instance, Arizona passed the SB 1020 bill. Nicholas Riccardi stated, â€Å"The bill directs police to determine the immigration status of non-criminals if there is a reasonable suspicion they are undocumented. Immigrant rights groups say it amounts to a police state† (n.p). Therefore, the abstract idea of equality in America is not one that is truly fulfilled. Equality for me is more accurately defined as a fairytale, were we as Americans only dream about it, yet never fully turn it into a realization. The last thing one needs inShow MoreRelatedSlavery And The Abolition Of Slavery1166 Words   |  5 Pagesdiscussed the main issue of controversy that contributed to the split of the Union: slavery. Lincoln explicitly expressed that slavery should be abolished for several reasons, recognizing the practice as an extreme violation of human rights and American republicanism. Despite his advocacy for abolishment, Lincoln’s politics on racia l justice were still problematic. 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