Anna Jackobs

Ms. Giovannetti
English 1H Period 3
10/31/16
Living in Harmony, Despite our Differences
If I were to tell you right now that your best friend followed a religion that conflicted your
beliefs, would that change your relationship? The obvious answer to many is, Of course not,
they were best friend before, and they will continue to be my best friend. However, some
people would argue that because of this distinct difference, you could not be friends anymore. It
is important to realize that even though you may have contrasting beliefs, races, even genders, it
does not mean that you cannot be compatible.
Author of A Quilt of a Country, Anna Quindlen, compared our nation to a quilt, saying
that this country, was built of bits and pieces that seem discordant, like the crazy quilts that have
been one of its great folk-art forms. You see, thats what this nation was striving for and what
we have achieved; that all of the diverse population wont be shamed for their differences, but
rather celebrated as equals, coming together like a quilt. Abraham Lincoln makes a similar point
in his Gettysburg Address saying, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation,
conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Lincoln
refers back to the Declaration of Independence by saying that all men are created equal.
Despite the fact that this speech was delivered close to 153 years ago, and the Declaration of
Independence 240 years ago, this is still true. Everyone in this country is treated as equals despite
what may set us apart, because what sets apart is what gives us uniqueness.
However, some people dont always see this to be real. Some people believe that
differences wont just set us apart, but they will drive us apart. Eboo Patel once wrote in his blog
post, Wars between clans and tribes, tension between sects and groups, prejudice directed at
religion or nationality-those were the problems of past centuries. And whether you are reading
the news about Somalia or Libya or Europe or Oklahoma, those are the problems of our times.
By addressing the problems in the different regions, Patel suggests that they occurred because of
their differences, that they could not handle the differences between their people, so they deemed
violence as the answer. Nonetheless, the violence not only caused the people to look back and
recognize all that they were blessed with, but also soon recognize that fighting did not solve their
problems, but just made it worse. Also, that living together and being tolerant of one another, is
so much simpler and more effective than engaging in wars.
Today, we recognize our differences and are able to accept people for who they are.
People can be gay or straight, male or female, black or white, religious or atheist, and still be
accepted and accepting. Though some may argue that acceptance is hard to come across in
todays world when all they see on TV is news of civil wars and hate crimes, they must look
elsewhere. They can find two children walking down the street, one African American, one
white, playing together as if they were the same person. They can see a Muslim and a Christian
laughing together as if there religious differences didnt matter in that moment. Our nation has
become not only one of the most diverse places, but one of the most accepting places to live. And
that is why it is necessary to see how we have come together as a single country, living despite
our disparities.

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