The recent editorials concerning the patriotism of certain individuals have reminded me of an excerpt from the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

In the words of Atticus Finch:

“We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us to believe — some people are smarter than others, some people have more opportunity because they’re born with it, some men make more money than others, some ladies make better cakes than others — some people are born gifted beyond the normal scope of most men.

“But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal — there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of a college president. The institution gentleman, is a court.ÿIt can be the Supreme Court of the United States or the humblest J.P. court in the land, or this honorable court which you serve.ÿOur courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the greatest levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal.

“I’m no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system — that is no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality. Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury. A court is only as sound as the men who make it up.”

The American institution is a government run by and for the people.ÿJust like the courts, a country is no better than the people who make it up, no better nor any worse.ÿ

As a nation, we rely on the actions of every person around us; we strive because we are proud of who we are and of where we come from.ÿ

We prosper because of what we created, and we suffer for just the same reason.ÿ

We are not all the same; in fact, we are all very unique individuals.ÿ But we are equal nonetheless, equal because we are all human — no matter our race, intelligence, knowledge, economic status, no matter what our differences are, we are all still human.ÿ

We are all imperfect in many ways, we all make mistakes.ÿ

As a human institution, the United States has its faults.ÿWe make mistakes on the battlefield and we make mistakes in choosing our battles, but not in vain.ÿ

Our effort is still the same: to promote what America stands for.

When a coward comes along, one who lives and strives under the American institution and cannot take pride in who we are and what we do as a nation, we are set back.ÿ

The court becomes corrupt; the jury suddenly a little weaker.

Our institution suffers.ÿ

Our pride, we rely upon.ÿ

Our patriotism, we strive upon.ÿ Those who gave their lives in battle for our nation, without thinking or without questioning, are our ideal — what we should strive to become.ÿ

We need to trust our institution for what it gives us and take pride in America for what we stand for: equality under the law.

Our generation is a lucky one —some even say spoiled.ÿOur patriotism has not been put to the test.ÿ We have not had to fight for our freedom or rights; they were simply given to us.ÿ

Our safety is mere routine and our appreciation, only complaint for what we do not have.ÿ Some look back and can only shake their heads at what America has done, the innocent lives lost — such tragedy.

Of course, we blame our government the mere institution that gives us freedom. The mere institution that we make up, that we run.ÿWho then are we mocking?ÿ

Ourselves. We are mocking our fellow countrymen.ÿWe attack the same individuals that strive to keep America strong, those that have fought for the American belief.

In a nation that depends solely upon the individuals that live within it, we must ask ourselves how America can survive while cowards exist between her borders.ÿSuch hatred and such disgust for one’s own country can only lead to the country’s demise, after all.ÿWe must look beyond our differences and selfish opinions and let our belief in our nation, our pride in our nation, bring us together.ÿ

We are all Americans and we all enjoy the same freedoms, the same equality.ÿ

After all, America is only as sound as the people that make it up.

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David Rix

Freshman

Engineering