In The Enlightenment in Europe and the Americas we saw a period where we, the human race, were disconnecting from religion, and starting to progress towards a more secular view where “broad education for women, as well as intellectual and geographical exploration.” (P.3-4) Although this era can be seen as one of the most influential eras, where women started to deepen their feet in the pool of masochistic inequality, one must not forget that the equal right amendment was passed only on March 22nd 1972. (almost two centuries after the end of the Enlightenment Era). In addition, one must not forget the horrifying slavery that the Africans were under. Millions of Africans were ripped from their homes from west Africa and brought to the Americas in slave trading.

Nevertheless, today almost half a century after the civil right movement, and the equal right amendment. we have witnessed history occurring where both an African American president, Barack Obama, as well as a female candidate, Secretary Hillary Clinton, who was running as the for presidency against Donald J. Trump. These two historic events prove that there is a progress in the way our nation, as well as the world are moving towards.

Yet, sometimes our President’s, Mr. Donald J. Trump, acts like signing the refugee ban on Friday, Jan. 27th, which was initially issued to keep United States’ citizens and its borders safe.  Not only turned out to be discriminatory against Muslims, but also to prevented Green Card holders from coming back to their homes. Hurting their livelihood, and preventing them from reuniting with their families. Among the banned refugees were college professor, International students, and Muslim leaders, who came on R1 visas, and now forbidden from entering this country. The question we should be asking ourselves is, how did we end up in this place? Instead of living in a global society where everyone has equal opportunities, and one could reach the moon and stars if she only wanted to, we are banning people from war zones, people who cannot protect themselves.

According to the Washington Post by Elahe Izadi, “Anne Frank and her family were also denied entry as refugees to the U.S.” Frank’s family was refused by the U.S. for a visa. As a person who most of his grandparents’ families were wiped in the holocaust, we must not forget that in world war II Jews were also refused for a shelter.

To sum this all up, the enlightenment era made our minds think in a clearer manner and understand that there are other things besides religion that one must look into. One of which is equality, as well as advancement. Yet, it seems that after a long journey where the human race was heading in the right direction, by showing sympathy and empathy to one another, we going back to the dark ages of ignorance and unjust inequality.

Ilya Ratner