Oppression: To Kill a Mocking Birrd is a reflection of America today By Oliver Egger

Oppression: To Kill a Mocking Bird is a reflection of America Today By Oliver Egger

"The jury sat to the left, under long windows. Sunburned, lanky, they all seemed to be farmers, but this was natural: townfolk rarely sat on juries, the were either struck or excused. "

To Kill a Mocking bird was published in 1960, that is fifty five years ago but still we indulge with its sentences and contemplate each word. Why is that? Why do we become lost in the pages of this book, totally emursed in a life very distant and different from what we know. Now let me answer the question, because thats what my job is. The answer is simple, this book even though it takes place in a time almost ancient to us and shows a life almost primitive to us it still shows a timeless mirror of corruption, racism and oppression in the American government and economy. Ok, now don't panic were going take this one step at a time, through this transtion from 1960 to 2015  you will be shocked by how many and how few things have changed during this time. This quote comes right before the beginning of the trail of Tom Robinson. Here was an all white jury, all farmers and relatively uneducated to anything but the life they knew. There were no townsfolk in the jury just the farmers who in the end are the reason why Tom become acquitted in the first place. This is true oppression, a man helpless to his fate, no matter what Atticus can do. Now how can this reflect America? We have an African American president, doesn't that mean anything?

And the answer is yes that it matters but still doesn't fix oppression for the blacks and monoritys. Partly the reason for this is (as we can see through the Republican debates) people who think these wealthy power hungry politicians (who don't even care about their opinions)  cast the correct light on their views. Why is that? How can trump still have supporters after saying, "Maybe we should boycott Starbucks" due to their attack on the christian faith with having plain red cups, not stating a word of correction after a man at one of his rallies said Obama was Muslim and not born in America, calling John McCaine "Not a hero" because he "Doesn't like people who were captured", saying "Vaccines are causing an Autism epidemic" and maybe even worse saying "The Paris Terror attacks would have much different if the people had guns."Well the reason he continues to have supporters is that we as Americans have become starkly detached from our government and are desperate for whatever anyones got.  

In 2012 in the presidential elections a mere 58 percent of eligible voter population actually make a drop in the pond. That one of the lowest turn outs for a presidential election since 1942. 1942 people, thats a long time ago and the reason for that low turn out was because we were imbedded in the largest war of  modern history and it was the 3rd  election of debatably the greatest president in American history, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Now we understand there is something really wrong with the peoples involvement in our government. This all tied back by what I would call an Oligarchy. For example in To Kill a Mocking bird where the choices are made by all white farmer juries and not one hundred percent in the interest of the everyday man or woman. This is seen through Trump and Carson, people shaking their heads in agreement even if they don't believe what they say they believe. This is just because they do not want to step up the challenge of becoming involved in a government based around peoples involvement. Donald Trump has a net worth of over

four and a half billion dollars. While the average American net worth was 600,000 in 2009. If I did my math correctly Donald Trump has exactly 7500 times more money than the average American. Now don't you think its a little messed up now that poor and middle class people think they accurately represent them. If we want to overcome this corporal oppression, with the wealthy on top. There are steps to overcome this systematic oppression against the 99 percent, first of all you need to vote. 58 percent of people voted in 2012 and 100 percent of Americans complain about there leaders and that my friend is absurd. You elect officials so they represent you, not the Republican Wall Street machine or their wealthy buddies on Cape Cod. The other step is to talk to people and start a movement towards political freedom and democracy. You need to become involved and actually make an influence on what our leaders decide. Or of course we just float around aimlessly forgetting ignoring the pounding headache that says you should have become involved. Of course you could always just strap the headphones to your ears and blare out the sounds of bullets in Syria. You are oppressing your own freedom but not doing anything. When 2016 rolls around look stop complaining about unmaintained roads, taxes and paperless schools because in the end you can dictate those changes by voting for the person who actually represents the American people. Thats the power of freedom, don't let it become oppression. Don't complain about the Syrian refugees because if we had voted for the choice best for are country maybe ISIS wouldn't be spreading terror on innocent members of the human race. We have advanced, we have a black president, we have no more soldiers in Iraq, Gay marriage is legalized in America,we taken steps toward health care for everyone and there is much more to be proud of. But we still have a long way to come, we must not fall into the past world of deeper oppression. We must overcome these challenges like we do as Americans and find a way to be more than just another citizen and become a leader.