Isabelle Miller 1 Most people believe that America has succeeded in enforcing its principles of human rights However, this is far from the truth. Over the years, the ideals stated in documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution have been replaced with inhumane acts and racism. Although our record on human rights has improved, it is greatly flawed. Taken from their homes and separated from their loved ones, African Americans were forced to work long days on plantations and do other manual labor. The conditions were harsh and unsanitary, and many would die just from the journey to America. The Declaration of Independence states that “all men are equal” and have “equal and unalienable rights”, but that certainly was not the case in colonial America. Slavery contradicts everything the Declaration of Independence stands for, if all men were really created equal then the rights of some should apply to all. …show more content…
The Syrian refugee crisis (caused by an ongoing civil war and Islamic terrorist group ISIS) has become a controversial topic in America during the last few weeks as most do not want 10,000 Syrians immigrating into the country. Making up most of the refugees are women and children, who want nothing more than to live in a country where war is not around every corner and where they can be safe. The Statue of Liberty has become a national symbol of freedom and immigration. At the base of the statue is a poem written by Emma Lazarus in which she writes “... the wretched refuse of the your teeming shore. Send these,