Equal Opportunities In America - A Myth?

Far too many people living in America have stumbled upon a barrier or two, an obstruction, if you will. I am more than sure that we all have applied for an intriguing career opportunity or two that sparked our interest in one way or another. After the initial application, we tend to await the phone call from the potential employer in question, regarding the position. Within minutes of the "hello", we are asked a few questions about our background and, lets be honest, this is America in the twenty first century, post George W. Bush. NOBODY has flawless credit, so we are turned down for the position. If that is not the case, we are turned away due to an unfortunate incident which slightly dents our criminal background or our credit score. This is upsetting and disappointing, to say the least, but none the less, we are turned down flat immediately. Am I alone here? I cannot count how many times this has happened to not only myself, but to my partner, my friends and my family. We are neither lazy nor are we bad people at all. We simply run into a string of bad luck and, as the saying goes, 'shit happens.'

This is hardly a reason to pass someone up in order to seek the perfect employee, because as we all know, perfection simply does not exist. It is merely a notion, an idea of fictional bliss in being. All Americans, regardless of their upbringing, past, or even environment, have something they have had happen that they did not intend nor are they proud to admit, however, this is hardly just cause to deny honest employment or housing. Some people get into trouble without even realizing they have done something they had broken a law or such. Most people do not even know the law to it's full extent, so why should that be reason to wave explanation, charge an enormous fine and have a criminal background? In my opinion, this is absolutely ridiculous.

My partner is a state certified firefighter and a certified emergency medical provider and all he wanted to do was apply for a job he really was passionate about at a local hospital in Houston. they turned him down flat out just for having a minor misdemeanor on his criminal background. He didn't even commit it knowingly. It was a simple misunderstanding, nothing more. He is an upstanding citizen, he obeys the law and saves lives for a living and he is denied a job at a hospital transporting patients from one place to another within the hospital. RIDICULOUS! I have had instances where I was turned down for simple jobs on account of the fact that I have bad credit. Honestly, WHO THE HELL DOES THESE DAYS?!?!?!? With the economy we are living with in this day and age, we should be a lot more understanding and give people a chance.

Almost every president we have had in the past couple decades has started programs in which America found a way to make plenty new jobs for the average American. If this is indeed true, why the bloody hell can the "average American" not get a chance to be so much as interviewed for any job anymore? It is absolutely ridiculous. there is a reason other countries are laughing at us and it is because of the decisions that are constantly made for us. Is there no honesty left in the world? Is there no Justice? Far too many of us Americans vote, pay stupid taxes and obey the laws bestowed upon us, and we don't get much of a say anymore. We don't get an equal chance unless we are heterosexual, right wing, and/or corrupt enough to bribe our way to success. I am none of those and I still pay my taxes, vote and am a member of the human rights campaign. Still, I don't get an equal opportunity to do crap that is worthwhile, such as, I don't know, marry my fiance', be taken seriously, as not only an American Citizen, but as a human being.

All I want to know is when did all this happen? Moreover, why did all this happen? I can't seem to walk into a church with my partner anymore without being cast out by the congregation and the pastor, elect someone I believe in, be treated equally as a human being. Instead, we get treated in a classist, egregious way and are labeled as lowly and beneath others for being not like them. Thomas Jefferson stood for equality in every shape and form and he was without a reasonable doubt one of the best presidents this country will ever have. He would be turning in his grave if he saw what America has become. Why not give equality a chance? Is all this negativity really worth at the end of the day?