Equal Rights Athens example essay topic

770 words
Equal rights for minorities, especially women, in a civilization can strengthen a country internally but equal rights do not guarantee peace or the long term success of a country. Athens, for example, did not give equal rights to minorities, but that did not lead to its collapse. Correspondingly, today, many more women have rights but countries still go to war. And, furthermore, since two thousand years ago we have learned that a woman's contribution in the American society is very important and equal rights will strengthen a country. During its "Golden Age", Athens neglected to give minorities, particularly women, equal rights and opportunities. However, that did not lead to the end of Athens "Golden Age".

In Athens women were not allowed to be philosophers or politicians, which prohibited them from becoming powerful and influential leaders in the eyes of Greece. Nevertheless, without equal rights Athens still flourished. Some people may even say that ancient Greece and Athens' basic principles are still alive today, for example the teachings of many philosophers such as Socrates. Whether or not women had equal rights during Athens' time, is irrelevant.

Greece still may have been over thrown by the Spartans, and Athens still may have gone to war with out Percales leading the way. Even today in America women have equal rights but we are still going to war. Today many more women around the world have equal rights but countries are still collapsing and they are still going to war. Condoleezza Rice, for example is the National Security Advisor, so she might suggest to President Bush that America should go to war. Rice, being a woman, has rights and holds a key leadership position in our country. In 2003, women are holding powerful positions in the government and they have equal rights but America has still been facing hard times.

For example since September 11 the stock market has been declining which is not a woman's fault, let alone a single persons' fault. In America, since 1920, women have had rights and they hold the power to vote and be part of the government. Since 1920, America has still been going to war, proving that women's rights can only make a country strong. In the last two thousand years we have learned that a woman's contribution is significant in American society. Americans have also learned that equal rights will only strengthen our country and make it a better, more democratic place for people to live. Equality has allowed men and women to share rights and responsibilities in and out of the home.

Plenty of women today manage the home while they hold a job. In Athens, women would not be able to even leave the house and men would think that their main job is to manage the household. By giving women equal rights in and out of the home America now has a fuller democracy where many different opinions are heard. Before women had theses rights in America, the democracy was all men and only a few different ideas were heard, and now with women in the democracy many different Ideas and thoughts are voiced. Because women have equal rights and they are entitled to be an integral part of society, they can now spend their time and energy on making America, as well as the world around them a better place to live, rather than spending energy on fighting just to be heard. For example I know an amazing women who is spending her time gathering congregations from around New England to get people to help build houses for Habitat for Humanity.

She herself is on her third house. Therefore, equal rights for women are very important if you want a strong government and an all around good place for people to live. Equality for all people, including women, in a civilization is very substantial and can strengthen a country internally. However, equal rights do not guarantee peace or long term success of a civilization. Take Athens for example, the Athenians did not give women rights but that did not necessarily lead to its collapse. Also, today, more and more women are getting rights all through out the word but countries are still going to war and they still may collapse.

Further more, Americans especially have learned that a woman's contribution in a society will help to strengthen a country and make is a wonderful place to live.