Mansfield is an extremely diverse town that has an exceptional economy and educational system.  Although white is the predominant race, Hispanics, African Americans, Asians, and Pacific islanders make up approximately 33 percent of the population. According to city-data.com, on average the household income for a family in Mansfield is $81,326, while the average for a household in the state of Texas is only $50,043. In a developed nation, Mansfield stands out as an efficient and productive town that prides itself on high expectations for its residents. In a city that is so mature, there should be no room for ignorance.

Ignorance has plagued societies since their beginning, plundering individuals and even entire societies until they are completely destroyed. The root of ignorance can be many things, deriving from ones upbringing or possibly events that have caused irrational fear.
After America was bombed in World War II, Japanese interment camps held Japanese citizens whose only offense was that they were unfortunate enough to share the same ethnicity as those who had bombed us. Today Muslims are feeling the same kind of discrimination, as fear and distrust has sprouted from the events of 9/11. It is not uncommon to hear a reference about an ordinary Muslim being a terrorist, because society has allowed it to become not only tolerated but almost expected.

This ignorance, which should have been stomped out from the beginning, has instead been allowed to grow to such proportions that those who speak out against it are reprimanded. Freedom of speech was once an opportunity held dear to Americans because it was a chance for differences to be celebrated and ideas to be cultivated but has now become a warrant for hateful slander that has become retrogressive to society.
Ignorance acts as a detriment for society, and retards any growth that may have been possible.

Recently in New York there was a debate over whether a community center for Muslims should be allowed to be built so close to ground zero.  As the debate ensued, people began to passionately speak out against it.  Although many genuine arguments were made against it, there were also ignorant rumors and heinous comments that were asserted into the argument. People began to fear that Muslims were planning another attack, or that it was just a cover for a terror organization because that was what could be heard coming from the mouths of many uneducated Americans.
Instead of doing the research and discovering it was actually an area heavily populated with Muslims and that a community center was a legitimate need, people took what they heard and embellished the stories and facts to fit their own personal agendas and ignorant beliefs. Muslims and other groups that are judged with bias will continue to be viewed as a threat if people continue to portray them as such. Ignorance has the ability to eliminate the good that could be accomplished and the benefits to society that could be contributed by people who are discriminated against, and creates chaos and distrust which make progress impossible.

The irrational fears and ignorance societies have can only be battled by the very people who often are responsible for the destruction they cause. A child who grows up in a home full of racism is likely to grow up and pass on that same behavior. Although they cannot be faulted with the behavior of their family, they will solely be held accountable for their own words and actions. It becomes their responsibility to break the cycle, and impede ignorance from becoming a larger influence in their individual lives and society as a whole.

Simply to refrain from spreading ignorance is not enough; people must attempt to stop it when they witness it in action. If they allow it to happen, then they are also responsible for the destruction it causes. To continue on the path of growth and prosperity, Americans must step up and take on the responsibility to remove ignorance from society. This starts with education. Everyone has the ability to influence those around them; people simply have to speak out against ignorance. If ignorance is left alone to continue to ravage the U.S., it will inevitably ruin the freedoms and unity that all Americans hold dear.