Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution -
Rights Guaranteed Privileges and Immunities of Citizenship, Due Process and Equal Protection
AMENDMENT XIV of the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868.
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Funny how they say "equal protection" and the next section refers to 21-year-old males voting. Hypocrisy, much?
So in what other ways do we deny equal protection? I don't mean individuals or even businesses discriminating: I mean *by law* as opposed to *in violation of the law*.
Only men can be drafted. Yes, I know we don't draft at this time but it could be reinstated whenever they choose. And all men *do* have to register for just that reason. I'm personally against the draft but if it were reinstated, I would insist on including women. It's only fair and equal treatment. In my opinion, making it an issue would actually help keep them from drafting anyone. Another question is: If they were required to register and be drafted, would they be sent into combat?
Only men can be circumcised. How is that legal? I was actually surprised to find out that up until 1996 women could legally be circumcised in the United States. Actually, in my ignorance of human anatomy, I didn't even realize it was in many ways the same thing. Yes, there are different forms of genital mutilation practiced against males and females around the world but some of the forms used on females are less invasive than the form we use typically on males in the U.S. [Also note that the law doesn't actually say "female" but have you ever heard it applied to males?] But, enough about that--perhaps a future blog topic. This is about *equal protection*.
Those are just off the top of my head. There has to be more. What other ways are one gender, sex, race, or nationality favored over the others by law in the U.S.? If I think of any, I’ll add them in the comments.
As always, I appreciate your well-thought out comments.
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Here's the rest if you want to read it:
Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Earthchild has spoken. Now it's your turn.
