English

10/06/10

ENG 111

Essay#2

Does equality truly exist?

American society states that we value equality, is this true? Lets step back for a moment and examine the true meaning of equality or in other words the state or quality of being equal, in correspondence to quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability. From my understanding of the definition of equality we as Americans do the polar opposite of this. We contradict all the same values that we act like we treasure.

For instance, we claim equality in our education system, but we act otherwise. From personal experience growing up in a very diverse community, I have seen unfair treatment of all kinds. The worst of which is student to student. Cliques play a major role in this age-old dilemma. People are excluded bullied and judged simply because they have a certain style, or the music they listen to, even something as petty as a person physical attributes. To me the value of equality in situations such as these would include harsher punishments on the students that are committing these offenses. Punishments such as expulsion, not suspension, because suspension allows the student to return the school with a slap on the wrist and a vacation at home, with these type of so - called punishments students will never learn. For example, a student that has gotten into a physical altercation is more likely to be suspended than the student that verbally abuses their peer. If you sit and think for a minute this makes no sense, verbal abuse will last longer than that of physical pain. So why is the student that hits treated differently? In my opinion both should be subject to legal action that will give them a consequence that they fear, this way they have learned a lesson.

Second, college admissions say they are fair when it comes to allowing new students being accepted into their college. When the reality is that the first thing they look at is your ethnicity, not grades. You ask why this is? All colleges do this in...