As a child in grade school, daily schedules involved rudimentary mathematics, grammar, inquiries upon nature and my personal infatuation, history.

Many curricula thrived upon American history. After all, we as Americans are granted some of the most basic, yet in comparison to other countries illustrious, 'God-given' rights.

So we, as voyagers on the exploration towards knowledge, begin with how and who created and governed America to become the free-spirited and equal-opportunity country that we are today.

Now, reflecting back upon my virginal years of education, I ponder as to why America's history was not more shocking to me or my peers, after all our culture is so strikingly different from then, isn't it?

Perhaps it is because we are still struggling over the same stumbling blocks that thousands of people gave their lives in order to resolve, and to this day continues to plague us as we speak: equality.

The United States is based upon a constitution ratified in 1787, by 55 Caucasian, Christian, upper-class delegates. Look around you, are these the individuals that comprise our peers, our cities or our suburbs?

Not surprisingly, women and 'colored' did not partake in possibly the most important meeting in America's history, that ultimately gave rise to our so-called freedoms, justices, and oh, equality.

Equality, that is, for the men that created it.

Granted some years later slaves were freed, women were given a number of rights, and 'state religions' no longer existed. But why does it seem that our beloved Constitution, that governs us, the people, always seems to be somewhat behind the people, in terms of cultural development?

We still struggle with what are, to me, the most basic of rights. For instance, if the term 'marriage' is what is preventing the devoted Christians from allowing gays to marry, why has the term not just been 'civil unions' and those who wish to partake in such an event, granted the same rights as those who partake in a marriage?

Although, I do seem to vividly recall in my most basic of history classes something about 'separation of church and state,' or does that no longer exist?

Did it ever exist?

Look in your pocket, or book bag or purse, chances are you have proof within the confines of your luggage, in the form of our currency.

"In God we trust."

Not god, God; a specific individual.

If a state religion no longer exists, why then does American money still print the phrase "In God we trust?" It goes without saying that I believe in a god, but is it the God, that supposedly every citizen trusts? Last time I checked, Pasquerilla Spiritual Center offers ceremonies, sermons, lectures and services of all kinds.

I don't suppose they are all praying to the same God, are they?

Perhaps we simply accept things because we were taught to, because our laws say it is so, or because our parents raised us to accept and believe what we have been taught. As a matter of fact, I do not blame the Constitution, or our forefathers that developed it over two centuries ago, I place blame upon the people that exist today.

That is the people that raise their children to be products, mirror-images and carbon copies of their naïve, racist and closed minds. I blame their children who never opted to venture out into the great unknown that is the expansion of their simple minds, but to presume a life of ignorance and avoid adaptation with the 21st century.

I however chose to reflect, ponder, and learn, what I hold to be true and self-evident, and I have two people to thank, my parents.

Thank you for allowing me to explore who I am, what I believe and most of all for not pressing your views, whatever they may be, upon my then innocent and still ever-evolving mind.