Are we moving forward?

Since the Dark Ages, societies have operated on honor systems. These systems all included like-minded people who would conform to a set of morals, values, and ideas that were seen to benefit the group. Systems like this often-excluded women, since women were not seen to be as noble as men. Even though time has passed since the dark ages, these ideologies are still very present in modern day constructs. Individuality is a relatively new concept in society. This can be easily observed in American culture. Even though America is a country that is supposed to have constantly changing policies, individuals that step outside of societal norms are often outcasted.

The form of out casting can vary from teasing, bullying, peer isolation, and can even go as far as violence and murder. The reason that these individuals get labeled as outcasts is because people do not recognize speed, for rather they recognize acceleration. When new social movements gain popularity, it calls for an acceleration of policy and ideology change, which shocks the masses that conform to societal norms. This can often cause outrage, much like how honor systems would outrage against the individual who went against the honor codes. In other countries acceleration is even more punished and feared. For example, women, LGBTQIA+ members, and members of varying religions are still widely discriminated against. In Iran, women are being prosecuted and beaten in the name of laws that actively discriminate against the women representing their religion by wearing Hijabs.

16-year-old Sarina Esmailzadeh was beaten to death at a protest which followed news of the similar death of 17-year-old Nika Shakarami. Many countries in Afro-Caribbean diaspora are still rooted in violent discriminations towards the LGBTQIA+ communities. So, the question remains, have we really made progress? Progress from the honor codes, if so, why are women, men, and teenagers still being gunned down in the streets because of the color of their skin?

Why is innocent blood continuously spilled on American soil, why is there movement to control what a woman does with her body and why are women still not considered equal to a man even though they can work just as hard? Why are gay rights often a topic placed on the back burner, why are we fighting amongst ourselves for equality when we are all equal.

Inalienable rights shouldn’t be up for debate, they are an entitlement! And like the late Nelson Mandela said “To deny people their rights, is to challenge their humanity”

The first three words of the American constitution says “We the People” as a way of declaring that the Constitution derives its power not from a king or a Congress, but from the people themselves, yet “We the People” are still powerless.

“We the people” are still living in fear because race wars and discrimination against gender identification. “We the People” must march through to streets to proclaim that our lives matter. So, since its “We the people” when do the PEOPLE benefit?