The Concept Of Equality

In many face-to-face discussions I have had over the years, in which all parties begin to speak truths about their status in life, I have always asked had they ever read their founding documents. The answer has almost always been no. Well, I ask, why not? With that said, and coming from the land of the grand experiment, where people are supposed to take part in the governance of themselves, it has been a desire of mine to bring these documents to you, or at minimal their concept. But how? When we are in such divided times.

I have known for a long time, where I have wanted to begin, and that is with the concept of equality. Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary defines equality as “the state of being equal”. When I read The Declaration of Independence, I am struck with the knowledge that that is where our founders also wanted to begin. It is apparent to me that they believed, as I believe, that we are truly only equal in rights provided by the laws of nature and of nature’s God. I will add that because we all have evil in us, we will rarely choose to live an equal human existence. In the Declaration, they acknowledged that there would be times when it would be necessary, to separate ourselves from political bands that have kept us connected to another, and get back to basic truths. They were smart enough to realize that it would be necessary, out of respect for the opinions of all mankind, for us to state clearly the causes that brought us to this place, that brought us to make this decision. Only then could we make forward movement. 

As humans, we find that truths in history can cause us pain, so we do our best to erase it, manipulate it, forget about it, hide it, or skew it to fit our narrative. We continue to say we must have discussions for healing, and I suppose we must. But, somewhere forgiveness must be given and excepted for true healing. Otherwise, we make a temporary fix, we remove or purge, and then, not so shockingly, we repeat. When I mentioned to someone that I wanted to start a discussion about how we were all created equal, they responded with “but we are not”.  In my next post I will address some thoughts on the concept of inequality. But, to that someone, yes we are created equal. It is what we choose to do with that creation, that brings on inequality. 

In my journey I have come to realize these truths: Our creator has given all of us a human body and it is scientifically complex in how it operates. Our creator has given all of us a mind to learn, process, use and think with. And our creator has given all of us a soul in hopes that we would connect it to another and share moments of joy, love, compassion, friendship, wonder, awe, and I could go on and on. These are where we are all equal, we all possess these things. The one other thing that makes us equal, is what I am learning is also the thing that divides us further from each other. That thing is “free will” our ability to make choices. Our founders expressed it like this in the Declaration “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (humans) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life (body, mind, and soul), liberty (freedom to choose), and the pursuit of happiness (choice making that brings us joy).

Governments are formed to ensure us these rights. What happens though when our choices make us unequal? What happens when humans in governments, whom are supposed to ensure their citizens equality, further exasperate the inequality? What are the inequalities? Can there be agreeable solutions for our survival with them? The founders, in the Declaration, stated this “Prudence (Cautiousness), indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes (those lasting only for a short while); and accordingly, all experience has shown that mankind are more disposed (willing) to suffer while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing (ending) the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations (infringements), pursuing invariably the same object, evinces (reveal the presence of) a design to reduce them under absolute despotism (power), it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government and to provide new guards for their future security.” 

Before we move forward, maybe we can further discuss the things that make us equal. I have stated the things I think make us equal, maybe you can think of others. Maybe you will be willing to share the things you have noticed in your life that show us on equal plane, or discuss mine. Maybe we can come to an agreement on the things that make us equal, and then begin the tough stuff; the discussion on inequality, whether inequality is good or bad, the airing of our grievances, and the compromises and/or fixes we can make. Along that journey, it is my intent to bring into the discussion, The Constitution, the compromises and decisions made by the founders – so we can see if changes need to be made or unmade.  As I said to a sibling once “you speak of moving a tree, but how do you know the tree needs to be moved, if you know nothing of the soil or environment to which the tree was originally planted”. I hope you will join me in starting at the beginning – “all mankind is created equal”.