One of the many perceived benefits of being American is the security that comes with being a citizen of a global superpower. Though our news cycle is overwhelmed with tragedy—war, failed democracies, and dictatorships—we will never experience these conflicts first hand, simply because we are American.We take comfort in the idea that, simply by being American, we are protected from the kinds of conflicts that plague other nations. A core part of this identity is an unwavering trust in our leaders and institutions.However, recent global conflict and President Trump’s return to office has slowly begun to shake this once solid sense of security.
Just one instance of these violations is the overturn of Roe vs. Wade. While it directly impacts those who can become pregnant, it fundamentally strips away bodily autonomy, setting a dangerous precedent for the government’s control over personal freedoms. With one law the government single handedly forced physical and emotional strain on people not ready to bear children – and on their loved ones.
Fortunately, many Americans are noticing these injustices and speaking out—a right that is fundamentally protected by the first amendment. But crackdowns on protests are making their efforts seem futile. Previously, we saw violence in relation to Black Lives Matter protests. Today, we see college students just across the river at Columbia being expelled, beaten, and jailed for speaking out against genocide. No protections were put in place to keep these students safe from their own government. This is not some far away third world country struggling with a dictatorship, this is a college just like ours.
These movements are occurring at institutions for education; where people go to have access to information they would not otherwise have access to. It is in these spaces that individuals begin to recognize the injustices we collectively face. However, book bans have begun to be implemented across the nation; by limiting education and censoring certain political topics, those in power are preventing people from gaining the knowledge needed to recognize when their rights are being violated.
It’s important to realize that all these movements—whether for reproductive rights, racial justice, or peace abroad—are deeply connected.If we all sit back and refuse to fight for others, we will have no one to fight for our own causes. The failure to support a part of the population will result in a loss for the entire nation.
