All through American history, there has been multiple theories to suggest how

this nation has fluctuated so much in diversity. From the very start of America's history,
Thomas Paine has characterized America in his passage from a well known book called
Rights of Man. Sadly, the majority of his visionary description does not hold its value
today due to lack of relevance and is evident in our present social ideas and politics.
The main points within the passage infer that a multitude of cultures, religions,
and languages coexist within America. He also implies that our government, which
started "on the principles of society and the rights of man", is adequate to overcome the
aforementioned variation. However, this statement can easily be proven to be wrong.
The discordant existence of several religions and cultures has been viewed
throughout America's past and present day. Paine recognizes that "it would appear that
the union of such a people was impracticable" and to some extent it is. When most
people are capable to coexist with their neighbors respectfully and peacefully, it is
obvious that this is certainly not always the scenario. Following 9-11, Muslims suddenly
became the largest target of religious discrimination and racial violence; not only by the
American government, but by many other countries governments along with their
people. However, if a government is able to be recognized as "just", its obligated duty it
to protect these citizens.
The utopia Paine creates is also untrue regarding the speculation of the
involvement of social and economic factors. Paine wrote that in a country shaped like
America, "the poor are not oppressed, the rich are not privileged". Opposing information
in the past few years recommends otherwise. Even Though not one person was left
totally untouched from the economic recession in 2008, the space between the upper
and lower classes were widened significantly. The wealthy are indeed continuing to
maintain a "privileged" lifestyle. The lower income citizens are not oppressed by the
American government, but by the situation that the government refuses to help in any
way. this is an example of a flaw in Thomas Paine's argument.
Some argue that our government is set up so "riots and tumults are unnecessary.
However, in Wisconsin in 2011, Governor Walker removed the teacher union's right to
collective bargaining. This almost dictatorial control provoked large protests because
some felt that this was something "to render them wretched". Henry David Thoreau
suggested in his essay, On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, that there is a time and
place to challenge the government. But, challenging the government in this manner
wouldn't be necessary in Paine's visionary America.
As seen through these recent current events, our country does not exist in
complete "cordial union" as Thomas Paine suggests. What is important to note though,
is that the contrasting ideas within this country provoke change. our government, though
never completely just or fair, was created to facilitate and allow this freedom to change.