Discrimination is described as “the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.” Discrimination is a problem that is affecting our society right now. I feel like other people discriminate because they don’t understand it, or just because it is different. People in the LGBT community are looked at as bad, or weird because being straight is the “norm.” Races issues are also big right now, for some reason a lot of Americans feel superior to other races. Some people say “Mexicans are taking our jobs” and that black people “were meant to be slaves.” I hear gay, and racial slurs more than once a day at school, and just going through my daily routine.

People also seem to think that age makes a difference. Honestly, I disagree. I have met some teenagers that have grown up way more than a lot of the adults that I know. I understand that 18 years old is an “adult” legally, but a lot of children have had to grow up before they even hit 13, let alone 18. Life doesn’t treat everyone equally, sometimes it is better for others, and sometimes it can even be a lot worse. The younger you are, virtually the less rights you have. Until you turn 18 you have to have parental, or a guardian to give permission for you. Some people don’t have that, some kids just don’t have that figure that they need. Most of the time it isn’t even the child’s fault, but since they are under 18 they don’t have a say.

In most cases, I don’t even understand the point in making fun of someone, or just having something negative to say. The people are just living, and being who they are. They are making themselves happy, and people feel like they are so much higher, and can ruin them for simply being who they are. A lot of the things people discriminate against are things people cannot even control. No one chooses their race, no one chooses to be gay, straight, bisexual, or confused. No person chooses their age, or many other things people choose to make fun of others for. They are simply being made fun of for living, and people shouldn’t have to live in fear of being who they were because others are so worried about everyone else’s life. If the other person is happy, and their choices don’t affect anyone else, I do not see the point in harassing them.