Kristi Orioli

Refelction

Dear citizens of the 21^st century,

Looking back in the history of the United States it is very clear that segregation has been a major contributor to the pain and loss we have endured. As I read Martin Luther Kings “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” I became quite angry and confused as I reflected on the actions of our nations people. Specifically, in his letter he stated “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” It saddens me to think freedom is something one had and has to fight for, within our own country. African Americans were segregated based on the simple fact that their skin was a different color. I don’t understand how a simple physical difference could cause this long waging war; a war where many people have lost their lives and dignity over. In one way is it inspirational as I look back on all of the people who fought for their rights. But it makes me sick to think that they had to fight in the first place. This makes me think that no matter how much a person may say our country represents the idea of justice, it will never be fully achieved. As King said, “Justice too long delayed is Justice denied”. I feel like this point is the core of America’s problems, even today. For example, gay marriage has caused uproar within the last decade. People are fighting for their right to marry who they please. How is it justified to deny a human being this right? How can one say to a gay person that he or she is not living and feeling in a “natural” or “normal” way? Although this corruption is different from the war African Americans were and even are still fighting, the idea is the same. This idea of injustice has and will always surround us. But it is up to us to realize the corruption and try to make a change, like Martian Luther and many others have done. We cannot wait to make a change because most of the time this means never.