Favorites

Fellow Americans,

Do you have favorites? Is it okay to prefer one thing over another? Of course it is. But what about our government? Should our government show favoritism toward any person or group of people? No, it shouldn’t because to do so would be in direct violation of the Declaration of Independence, which states, in part, “….that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness….” Regardless of race, gender, religion, or whatever, we are to be treated equally and without favoritism by our government. Sadly, that is not the case in America today.

Consider affirmative action. Originally intended to stop racial discrimination, today our federal government has gone way too far. Protected classes now include race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability. Today, members of protected classes get put in the front of the line for jobs, educational opportunities, and housing loans. Protected classes also get special treatment by the law. For example, minority protestors/rioters are allowed to engage in violence, civil discourse, and property damage without fear of prosecution.

Another example is the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) folks. Not only is their agenda being forced on our kids in school, but private business owners are not allowed to refuse service to them, not even for religious reasons!

Also consider Native Americans. Since the 1800s, the federal government has forced American Indians off their lands and relocated them to reservations, of which there are over 300 today. Although the government provided for their every need, today many Indians are uneducated, unemployed, and addicted to alcohol/drugs. Sadly, this is the perfect example of government dependency. Visit the New York Times website (www.nytimes.com) and read the article “Pain on the Reservation.”

I believe the federal government should do away with affirmative action and treat ALL Americans the same. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Let’s become more reliant on God and ourselves, and less dependent on government. After all, that is how we got our start as Americans!

May God bless you and the United States of America!

Dan Landi

Kidder, MO