What
has happened to the theory of integration which was so eloquently brought to us
by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? He envisioned a society whereby everyone, no
matter what their color or ethnic background, could be mixed evenly in the
melting pot we call America.
That dream, however, is long gone. Integration has turned into greater
segregation. Today, many no longer look at each as Americans or identify themselves
as an American. Instead, we identify ourselves with our ethnic backgrounds, social
beliefs or our individual faiths. You would think that after 50 years since the
initiation of the civil rights movement started things would be different.
Unfortunately, they have only worsened. We have degraded into a society of
parts. And these parts are not working as a whole. No longer does Society
stress that becoming an American is greater than becoming a segregated
individual. There is no longer any great pride in America. There's no longer
any great pride in American history. We are taught that being American is bad
because America has done bad things. We are meant to feel ashamed of American
Heritage. We are also taught that America has been an evil nation that has done
evil things to its people and to the world as a whole.
Now the media and society has made it almost un-American to want to be an
American. They make you feel that if you are an American you condone the mistakes
the United States has made in her past-disregarding all her greater accomplishments
that far outweigh her digressions.
Now it is more appealing to identify yourself with a segregated group in
America than to embrace being an American. Unfortunately, this is what the
media has done to our country.
No longer do we rejoice in the accomplishments of Christopher Columbus. The
media tells us that we should feel bad that Columbus came to America. No longer
should we take pride in our forefathers because some unfortunately condoned
slavery. No longer should we feel good about the wars that we have one. Because
they only prove that America has become an evil, imperialistic nation. The
media has left us with no heritage or no pride in our country. Thus, we are
left with taking pride in other segregated issues-which further separate our
country and our people.
The time of feeling bad is over. We should embrace our country as we should
embrace each other. We are all Americans and everyone living in this country
living embrace our country as a whole. The time for self segregation is over.
We must no longer listen to the media and the anti-American messages to which
it preaches. We must listen to what our forefathers and the Constitution of
America has taught us. We must not forget who we are and what we represent. For
if we do our country will cease to exist.
