Like Lauren, in order to take action in support of gay
marriage, I went online to a site called Freedom to Marry (http://www.freedomtomarry.org/)
and signed a pledge that declares not only my support of gay marriage, but also
declares my intent to be active participant in the fight for marriage equality.
I then posted a link to the pledge on my Facebook page, hoping to inspire
others to sign it as well. This site offered several avenues for people wanting
to take part in their campaign - the pledge being one example. I also clicked
on the link that gave me step-by-step instructions on how to go about
contacting government officials and voice my support for gay marriage. These
are steps I will take. I feel like it is not only my duty to be an active
participant in issues that affect my country, but also feel it is my duty as
the niece/cousin/friend of members of the LGBT community. Signing this pledge
and committing to contacting congress made me feel influential - like I could
do my part to make a difference.
Voicing an individual opinion is the idea at the heart of
democracy. Democracy allows the voices of all citizens to be heard, not just
those in positions of power. Just as each person is entitled to their own
beliefs and values, a person is absolutely entitled to their own opinion.
Moreover, these opinions should be able
to be expressed freely, without fear of persecution (as long as the expression
is not one of physical violence or verbal abuse. I am talking about logical,
reasonable opinions.) We do not have to agree with our fellow voters, but in
order to gain a clear understanding of issues that affect us all, we should at
least be willing to listen to those who oppose us.
I believe it is not only a good idea, but a responsibility
to teach about social justice issues within a classroom. The key is to make
sure the lesson has a purpose and is age/grade appropriate. Social justice
issues have plagued the world throughout history, and only by introducing them
to students can teachers provide a complete overview of whole our country (and
world as a whole) was shaped. A classroom is where students gain a huge part of
the information that will shape the adults they will become, second only to the
home. In a home setting, the views that are pressed upon the children are those
of their parents, and are usually one-sided. If teachers take the time to
introduce a controversial topic like social justice in their classes, students
will gain a better understanding of the issues. This will lead to them forming
their own beliefs and opinions along the way, not simply parroting the words of
their parents. The education system serves the public interest by turning out
well-informed, actively involved citizens.
The quote “Struggle for social justice
is central to our nation’s history…“Concerns about the common good and the rights of the individual,
no matter how humble in social standing, transcends politics and holds a
definitive place in the realms of morality, ethics and federal law, and
therefore in the world of teaching social studies” sums up the idea that social
justice is not simply for the mighty. Social justice is not meant for some but
for all, with no regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. Party
affiliation does not matter - Democrat or Republican, it is the duty of a
teacher to teach her/his students about social justice.
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