America?

 The above picture was taken by me at Gino's Cheese Steak in Philadelphia. The quotes in the picture say a couple of alarming things: "This is America. When ordering please speak English," and "I am mad as hell! I want my country back!" The picture below is from a group of controversial pictures released a while back of American soldiers torturing middle eastern prisoners. I found it again recently and took it from www.infowars.com. This photo is in response to the one I took.

Throughout history we have been spoon-fed to believe that America is a great country based on racial tolerance, fair and equal treatment of all, and the belief that all men are created equal. The relationship that these two pictures share is that both go against America's alleged values. Racial intolerance is displayed in the picture I took, strongly contradicting what we are made to believe about acceptance in our country. In the picture I took from infowars.com, American soldiers are seen torturing Iraqi prisoners. This picture also goes against our idea of acceptance and all men being created equal. What is most alarming about these two pictures though are the smiles that each American has on their face. These two pictures alone forced me to rethink my support of my country and ask myself: what are the REAL values and beliefs of Americans today?