Liberties and Equalities

            America has come a long way since when the Declaration of Independence and The Declaration of Sentiments were written. The United States is no longer a colony of Great Britain and women are now equals of men. However, do people really have all of their liberties and is everyone really equal?

            Questioning the true independence of American residents brings up the heated debate on the NSA and Edward Snowden. Was he protecting the American public by leaking information about government surveillance? Or was he wrong to do so? One could argue that the government was infringing upon citizens’ rights but the government only instilled these programs to protect the people from harmful activities, such as terrorism.

            People are still unequal as well and might always be. Women and men have been unequal and have held completely separate roles in society since the beginning of time. Though females can now vote and have many more rights, they still face many double standards, stereotypes, and biases. Really, people are born unequal; they have different levels of intellect, different physiques, different social statuses. Even in the way in which it is determined that people are unequal is biased, depending on which qualities a person values more.

            The rights listed in both declarations as “inalienable” are extremely idealistic. Though we can get close to attaining them, we will never be able to fully achieve them without violating another right, or someone else’s rights.