The Declaration of Independence*

*applies to wealthy white males only



George Washington owned slaves. You heard it right ladies and gentlemen! The father of our country, the patriot of all patriots, the leader of freedom owned people. While the Declaration of Independence serves as a symbol of the natural rights of man, it was not written for all people. If that were true, then black slaves would have been free from their iron chains and the women's rights movement would not have been a thing. I don't think that the Declaration of Independence has really lived up to its name. Over the years, even with the fast-paced progress of technology and information, the progress of civil rights has yet to catch up with the rest of the world. Take women's rights for example: women still earn less than men even though they have the same capabilities. It took hundreds of years until women could earn rights equivalent to men, yet, they still can't provide for their families in the way men do. Are we really equal when men are worth more than women? The same thing goes for gay rights. In no way should a person be discriminated against because of who they choose love. Gay people are people just like you and me. They should not be treated like second-class citizens just like how women were treated for hundreds of years. It's okay if people don't necessarily approve of who they are. However, trying to restrict and hurt them is foolish beyond compare. The golden rule is not something that only applies to a certain group of people. Treat people like you want to be treated. And people means everyone.