Separate but Equal

Yes. Chief Justice Earl Warren delivered the opinion of the unanimous Court. The Supreme Court held that “separate but equal” facilities are inherently unequal and violate the protections of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court also held that the segregation of public education based on race instilled a sense of inferiority that had a hugely detrimental effect on the education and personal growth of African American children.

As stated in the Fourteenth Amendment Constitution Equal Protection Clause, "the laws of a state must treat an individual in the same manner as others in similar conditions and circumstances". Therefore, the Supreme Court found it unconstitutional and violation of the law, for the four African American to be denied the admittance to there school of choice because of their race. The court did not allow for the African American students to have their admittance denied and wanted the people to know that we all have the same rights and no one is superior to anyone. 

I choose this case because I believe that in this world we were all created equal no matter our skin, color, race, gender, sex, or disabilities. As I have learned, how the skin colored people (Blacks) were slaves, were mistreated and even had to fight for their rights and freedom even after it was granted, I am proud to say that our fight for our rights as human beings was well fought.

President's Speech

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility--I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it--and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

Kennedy affirm how we have fought hard and long to obtain our freedom and that we will not go back to our old ways nor will we exchange our freedom with any other country. He says that we as one nation inspire other countries to fight for their freedom and rights.

I chose this passage for I believe and for what I learned in prior history classes our founding father fought many wars so that our nation can become free. Our rights and freedom was fought because of the injustice give to peopke of color, race, gender and later on with people with disabilities. I also believe that our nation has inspired other countries to fight for their freedom and equal rights.

Gerrymander Congressional Districts

The compactness of a district --  a measure of how irregular its shape is, as determined by the ratio of the area of the district to the area of a circle with the same perimeter --  can serve as a useful proxy for how gerrymandered the district is. Districts that follow a generally regular shape tend to be compact, while those that have a lot of squiggles and offshoots and tentacle-looking protuberances tend to score poorly on this measure.

Gerrymander job is to manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favor a political party or class. My understanding on this passage is that because of the districts different shapes and not being in an equal ratio of area is not providing a fair electoral position for each political party. For a district's shape will not cover the same amount of perimeter as other districts. Now, if a district was to take a square or circle shape of equal perimeter its gerrymandered would be seen as it is and not how it has been manipulated.

I chose this passage because I believe that each party in the House of Representative should be represented in equal amount of representative in each side. By observing the maps in the readings, I see how the irregular shaped districts can differ in size, which also means that the population of the same is greater than others. I believe that district should have the same amount of territory covered by each district so it can have equal boundaries when it come to choosing a representative to represent a state in the House of Representatives.

What To The Slaves Is the Fourth of July?

But, such is not the state of the case. I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. — The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth [of] July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony. Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day? If so, there is a parallel to your conduct. And let me warn you that it is dangerous to copy the example of a nation whose crimes, lowering up to heaven, were thrown down by the breath of the Almighty, burying that nation in irrecoverable ruin! I can to-day take up the plaintive lament of a peeled and woe-smitten people!

In his speech on July 5, 1852 at the Corinthian Hall in Rochester, NY, Frederick Douglas gave praise to the fathers of this nation who obtained for our country's freedom, justice, prosperity and liberty for all, but for the slaves it meant unjust treatment, family separation, slavery and no right over their freedom. Independence was a very important day for America, but not for the black people. During his speech, Douglas lets the people know that the fathers of this nation were brave men and never looked back while fighting for this country's freedom; although they preferred peace and quiet they stood for the country's interest. Although liberty, justice, and humanity was gained slavery and oppression continued. The Fourth of July for the slaves meant meant sadness for the slaves; where they had no liberty, no salary for their work, were beaten with whips and sticks, were starve until they obey. He disagree for any slaves to be obligated to participate in the Fourth of July celebration for it will be an insult to their person; as to his person if he was asked to speak so he can be mocked. 

I chose this passage for I felt Douglas's words, for I see how in today's society no matter how equal the Constitution makes us we are all treated different because of our race, skin color, gender sexuality and disabilities. We the people don't look at each other to be equal because if that was the case discrimination would not exist in this world. Douglas speaks the truth when he states "We have to do with the past only as we can make it useful to the present and to the future" (Douglas, 7). We shall take our past history to have a better living in the present and continue building a better future.

Declaration of Sentiments

Now, in view of this entire disfranchisement of one-half the people of this country, their social and religious degradation, - in view of the unjust laws above mentioned, and because women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights, we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privilege which belong to them as citizens of the United States. 

The Declaration of Sentiments was one of the primary ways to fight for women's rights. As per the Constitution all men are created equal; although this was constituted by the Declaration of Independence women were always treated inferior to men in all aspects in the early times of history. This declaration starts with giving the knowledge that all humans are born with certain rights that cannot be taken away from them and women should not be the exception. The document stands out sixteen facts that show how women's rights were tyrannized and abused by men, bit the women were tired of the abuse and wrote this declaration asking for the government to accept women to have the same rights and privileges that men did for as the Constitution all men are created equally. The wanted to be represented in the government, the opportunity for education and employment, the right to vote, have full citizenship rights, equality in marriage and divorce laws, permitting a women to maintain her property even after marriage. This declaration was the beginning of a new world for the women and hope for the future.

I believe and feel that this Declaration of Sentiments began something for us women to earn the rightful rights of citizens of the United States in today's world. Thanks to the men and women who signed this declaration and fought for women's rights. Women today have the same rights as men in this world, we are being represented in our government, we have the liberty and freedom to do what makes us happy. Like in the declaration says: "these are life, liberty and the pursuits of happiness," I don't agree on how women were treated back in the days for they had no say in public places nor their own homes; their inherited properties were taking away from them by their husband as soon as they married, they could not have an education nor work but had to depend of the man of the house. I am grateful to live in the generation I live today for I am free; and with my equal rights the same as men I can pursuit my destiny and happiness.

We Need Term Limits for Federal Judges

But the average life expectancy of an American in 1787 was about 36, less than half what it is today. The 21st century reality is that when Supreme Court vacancies arise, one of the criteria for selection is that the judge be young enough to serve for several decades. Many of our most distinguished jurists, judges like J. Harvie Wilkinson and Diane Wood, both in their sixties, are by now too “distinguished” for our highest court.

One reason why judges weren't given term was because a person in the 18th century would have lived less than a person in the 21st century. Therefore when a judge would die the next judge would be young enough to take over office. Now, in the 21st century when judges are to be replaced, the judges who can take office are not young enough.

I believe that judges should have life terms to serve in our courts. If the President, Senators, Governors, House of Representatives have a time set to serve why not our Supreme Court judges. Also, we need a fresh, young open-minded person in our highest courts that accepts the changes happening in our society; like the acceptance of same sex marriage. Our future judges must be up to date with the future changes that will continue to happen as the years go by. Giving a judge an unlimited time to serve prevents from young ones to have a position on office and allows them to believe to have more power than the one they already have.

Trans-national America

We are all foreign-born or the descendants of foreign-born,and if distinctions are to be made between us, they should rightly be on some other ground than ingenuousness. The early colonists came over with motives no less colonial than the later. They did not come to be assimilated in an American melting pot. They did not come to adopt the culture of the American Indian. They had not the smallest intention of 'giving themselves without reservation' to the new country. They came to get freedom to live as they wanted to. They came to escape from the stifling air and chaos of the old world; they came to make their fortune in a new land. They invented no new social framework. Rather they brought over bodily the old ways to which they had been accustomed. Tightly concentrated on a hostile frontier, they were conservative beyond belief. Their pioneer daring was reserved for the objective conquest of material resources. In their folkways, in their social and political institutions, they were, like every colonial people, slavishly imitative of the mother country. So that, in spite of the 'Revolution,' our whole legal and political system remained more English than the English, petrified and unchanging, while in England law developed to meet the needs of the changing times.

This passage is letting us know that the immigrants who fled their country came to America to free themselves from their own country. The people wanted to be free and be as they wish, but they continued to follow their own habits as in their country. Although the colonial were able to arrive to America they never intended to adapt to the customs and living styles of the American Indian. In the meantime as England was developing new changes those who lived in America maintained their old laws and habits.

The reason I choose this passage is because I come from an immigrant family, but I was born and raised here. I have heard many of the unfairness in my ancestors countries and about the strict rules and lack of economy that can help them progress. My family for generations have been immigrants of the United States and their purpose to leave their native country is to have better lives and provide for other family members who are not able to come to America. Also as Bourne stated and something we should keep in mind, we are foreign born descendants. This does not mean we should deny our roots and just adapt to the American way. The people of England maintain their legal and political system intact and refuse to adapt to live the American Indian ways. I believe that each of our culture and values should maintain intact, but we must also learn how to adapt our current country culture, customs, and values as well.