Have you ever wondered how we can call ourselves the United States of America? It's cool to throw on the 'Merica chubbies, the "Back 2 Back World War Champs" shirt, and celebrate Independence Day (my birthday), but when it comes to upholding the Constitution, ensuring that all people are endowed by their creator certain unalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we are all silent.

America's greatest sins are division and silence. America has divided all of their citizens by race, religion, political party, sexual orientation, gang, economic class, or even neutrality with other countries. Because of this division among us, we stereotype each other, we lie on each other, we snitch on each other, we cheat on each other, steal, kill, and deal poison to one another. Yet, we're still united right? Is a black man in a hoodie automatically a thug? Is a Republican automatically a racist? Is a Muslim automatically a terrorist? Thoughts and perspectives like this must be destroyed in order for America to live up to what the Constitution actually says, not what we have interpreted it to be for decades.

At the end of the day, no matter what party you vote for, what race you are, what religion you are, what gender or sexual orientation you are, WE ARE ALL ONE. ACCEPT IT. Who are we to judge? If someone is born or even decides to be homosexual, who are we to call it unconstitutional? If someone is a Muslim, who are we to say that Islam is a religion that promotes hate, and that it should be banned from the UNITED STATES, where it states in the bill of rights that it is OUR God given right to worship and express ourselves freely. You don't have to love them, or like them, but you should always respect them, and all the people around the USA and the world that come from different cultures and perspectives. This is the first step of ending this malicious division we live in today

When another innocent black man dies in the hands of law enforcement, it feels as if it only takes a toll on the black community. When Hilary Clinton, our secretary of state lies about classified emails, only conservatives find themselves angry. When a terrorist attack happens abroad killing hundreds of people, no one here lifts a hand. Do you see my point? We have been conditioned to view problems like this, to stay silent when something occurs that does not directly affect us! These are not a specific person's, race's, or a political party's problem, these are American problems. When unemployment in the black community is sky high and low in the white community, it is an American problem. When a Crip kills a Blood, it's an American problem. When terrorist attacks occur all over the world, it's an AMERICAN PROBLEM. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Once we can see that it is not your problem, but rather our problem we need to fix, we can begin to make America United once and for all.

As I look on our current state as Americans, I believe we can become the United States, if, we unify rather than divide, and voice our opinions rather than remain silent. You and I may not make it to see the day, but we can start here. From our NAACP Anthem, "Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on 'til victory is won." Thank you, and stay woke.