Final answer:
Mary Antin includes the statement, 'We surely violate the Declaration of Independence,' to highlight the contradiction between the ideals of equality and freedom expressed in the document and the reality of discrimination and prejudice experienced by certain groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mary Antin includes the statement, 'We surely violate the Declaration of Independence,' to highlight the contradiction between the ideals of equality and freedom expressed in the document and the reality of discrimination and prejudice experienced by certain groups, such as women, Black people, and Native people. She is pointing out that despite the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence, these groups were not granted the same rights and liberties as others.
For example, women did not have the right to vote and were not considered equal to men in many aspects of society. Black people were enslaved and treated as property, denied basic human rights. Native people faced displacement, forced assimilation, and violations of their sovereignty.
By including this statement, Antin is emphasizing the need for society to address and rectify these contradictions and work towards fulfilling the ideals of equality and freedom for all.