home

=Big Idea- Defining America=

Essential Question- Does "equality" really exist in America?

Challenge- Improve equality for all American people as described by the law.

Guiding Questions- 1) What are the differences between the wealthy, the middle class, and the poor? 2) Are minorities such as homosexuals protected under the law the same way the rest of Americans are? 3) How can you get people to obey the laws that are designed to protect all people equally?

Guiding Activities- 1) Find internet articles from reputable sources. 2) Find statistics of racially persecuted people. 3) Interview an educated person who knows about the topic 4) Poll a select group of educated people asking if they think that equality exists in america? 5) Poll how many people think gay marriage should be legal.

//**Guiding Resources** Social Inequality http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/17/business/17scene.html?_r=1 http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/16712/the_selfperpetuation_of_social_inequality.html? cat=37 http://harvardmagazine.com/2008/07/unequal-america.html http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988183,00.html http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/25/black.america.report/index.html http://www.hks.harvard.edu/taubmancenter/pdfs/williams_new.pdf Stats- http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_state_of_black_america_news/3477 http://www.blackchristiannews.com/news/2008/11/the-state-of-black-america-statistics-on-racial-disparities.html http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/005647.html http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/27/opinion/polls/main4972532.shtml http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0110384.html
 * http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7180618

*****SOLUTION***

The United States of America has for a long time clung onto the idea that “all men are created equal”; an ideal that has remained as audacious as it has been unattainable. From the civil rights movement to the modern-day plight of same-sex marriage, the United States has remained fictitious in its avowal that “all men are created equal.” After 233 years since it’s founding, the feat of egalitarianism has remained elusive, as is evident in modern-America. In fact, of the 142 people polled at Pascack Valley High School, 62% concur that parity is absent from the United States. For example, inequality can clearly be observed in the widening economic and social gap between the affluent and the middle and lower classes. Because of this concentration of wealth, some argue that substantial influence and power reside with the wealthy. Though not one of the most conspicuous instances of disproportion, the social gap has definitely drawn some concern from sociologists. Perhaps one of the most illustrious examples of disparity in America is the same-sex marriage debate, which has become one of the most controversial subjects in the present-day. To deny a couple the equal benefits and legal status of marriage based solely on sexual orientation is discrimination in its most blatant form. Because gay-marriage and civil unions are determined by state, homosexual couples are ineligible to receive the thousand plus federal benefits normal couples receive. Some of these benefits and rights include Social Security benefits and the marriage exemption to federal estate, transfer, or gift taxes. Furthermore, moving in the United States is extremely problematic for same-sex couples as most states do not recognize civil unions or same-sex marriage. Indeed, some of the strongest hostility towards same-sex marriage has come from organized religions.

In a country where the majority of the populace is of Christianity, religion remains one of the most powerful and discerning forces of modern day. Another debate occurring, albeit trivial, is whether or not creationism should be taught in public schools. Though most proponents of this idea are Christian fundamentalists, it exemplifies how willing certain people are to assert their own beliefs and disregard those of others. Fascinatingly, of the 140 people tolled at Pascack Valley, 25% would not vote for an atheist for President of the United States; 1.5% more than those who do not support gay marriage. In a survey of more than 2,000 respondents, 40% stated that atheists are a group that “does not at all agree with my vision of American society.” This confirms that such sentiments are not isolated to one particular region, but are widespread throughout the nation. As a result, any perspective candidate running for a political position is at an astonishing disadvantage, based exclusively on their lack of belief. Indeed, religion has played a crucial role in strengthening and perpetuating inequality in America

Equality is an ideal that has been part of the United States of America since it’s founding. Unfortunately, however, it has remained unattainable; not just in America, but across the globe. To achieve it, there would need to be an entire population of individuals who all held the same beliefs, ideas, and values. The aforementioned population, however, could only be found in a utopia. Indeed, the only step towards accomplishing such an idealistic goal of equality would be through education and the teaching of tolerance. Only through education can an environment be created that produces tolerant and open-minded individuals. Certainly, acceptance may not eliminate inequality, but it would undoubtedly diminish it. Although parity has remained an elusive impossibility and will continue to persist as such in the foreseeable future, it is a dream that many people of the world, not just the U.S., have struggled for and it is a dream that will continue to be pursued until the sun rises no more.//