Discrimination has become an ugly word even though originally a discriminating person was considered a step above the rest of us. Gourmets were praised for their ability to discriminate between common food or wine and finer wines. Everyone wanted to have a connosieur’s discriminating abilities. But, now, everytime there is a controversy which involves people of two different ethnic groups, the flag of “discrimination” is raised.
There are situations where ethnicity becomes the overriding factor in deciding the outcome. The news about the black children accused of beating up and maybe attempting to murder a white child who was calling them names is sad, no matter who was right and who was wrong. It appears that the black children were unfairly charged in this case although no one will know until the facts come out in court.
On the other hand, it is equally sad that many black people immediately assumed discrimination when Michael Vick was charged with animal abuse, and more, despite his admitting to operating a dog fighting arena.
Our country, once a melting pot for all ethnic groups, is now afraid to act in many situations, fearing the label of “DISCRIMINATION”. Airports are leaning toward offering special prayer rooms for Muslims rather than fighting unwarranted lawsuits in court. A previous blogger mentioned the Muslim who, claiming religious beliefs, felt he should be allowed to keep his turban on when every other passenger would have to remove theirs. A woman in Florida insisted she must wear her veil for a driver’s license photograph. Illegal immigrants are claiming the same rights as citizens, even though they have already broken the law; and some states are afraid to insist on enforcing the law for fear of the Discrimination accusation!!
This atmosphere of “anything goes or we claim Discrimination” must change immediately. The solution is to insist upon fairness for everyone. The Pursuit of liberty and justice is our country’s mantra — not the right to override every social and legal statute for one’s personal convenience. Everyone has to start acting in a more mature manner and remember that we are all Americans with the same rights and liberties as anyone else.
America is the Land of the Free, but that does not refer to a free ride or the right to disregard laws. We can only be free so long as everyone abides by the same rules and regulations as all other citizens! We must relearn to DISCRIMINATE between right and wrong, and forgot all the hyped reasons for NOT discriminating.