English 11

In the heart of every movement, there is a concept that drives everything and everyone forward on the pursuit of change. However, most crusades in the world are not accepted on a global scale. There is almost always a minority who disagrees and/or is faced with the consequences of the majorities actions. This being the circumstance we live in, history repeats itself with irreversible acts of segregation, extreme accounts of violence, and our astounding ability to remain ignorant of these injustices.

Between the period of 1948 and 1994, South Africa was governed by the National Party. Under the party, Apartheid was introduced as a form of racial segregation towards non-caucasion citizens. Rights of non-caucasion inhabitants were restricted greatly, while the minority rights of white people was upheld. Although white residents were the minority populous wise, they were much more educated than residents of different race. Soon a legislation was implemented that South Africa's citizens would be separated into racial groups; residential areas were segregated, often by means of force. Black people were removed of their citizenships and placed into self-governing homelands. They were also striped of their right to vote. Although, the National Party was replaced by majority rule and the African National Congress came into power 1994, the actions of this apartheid will echo throughout history and will always be conversed when mentioning South Africa as a country.

It is apparent as segregation heightens in societies, acts of extreme oppression become the next step. On April 13th, 1919, thousands of men, women and small children gathered in Amritsar's Jallianwala Bagh, India to contribute in the Baisakhi Spring Festival. Keep in mind that no one in the crowd was armed and any form of violence opposes Hindu beliefs. Shortly after everyone had gathered, British Indian officer Reginald Dyer ordered fifty soldiers to unload two thousand rounds of ammunition in the square. Once the crackling of the rifles quit, over four-hundred protesters were left dead. In comparison to other events in history, the death toll is miniscule; however, a life is a life and shouldn't be measured in significance. Occurrences of great calamity seem to reoccur frequently due to different beliefs, moral structures and our blind ambition to guide ourselves forward without considering the repercussions.

Conspicuously, as extreme brutality is a result of segregation, our own ignorance and inaction to counter-act these injustices becomes more destructive than the two combined. We believe that operations such as the Holocaust will never even be conspired again. On the contrary, there has been a holocaust in motion since fast food services were introduced globally in the 1940's. Large-scale corporations took advantage of this fast-paced and endlessly profitable business because, people have always been hungry and didn't always have the time to cook. Not to mention fast food is questionably in-expensive. The ethical treatment of animals has decreased rapidly over the years since corporations took control of produce. Since there is an excessive demand for the produce, time cannot be wasted by being humane and money cannot be lost by using proper instruments. In all of this cruelty, only few step forward to expose these corporations, while the majority decide to turn a blind eye.

As acts of segregation, intense violence and negligence of those in need become engraved in our society, our situation is not as hopeless as it sounds. If you know of the events I spoke of, you recognize that great leaders rise above in times of great distress. People like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi took action when many wouldn't and they are the ones who shape our history. With the state the world is in currently, it is desperately seeking for leaders; However, "When it is darkest, men see the stars"-Ralph Waldo Emerson