Equality

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

So says our classic Declaration of Independence. It's actually kind of stirring, isn't it? It makes you hold your head a little higher, swells the chest a little. Sounds so ... noble. But have you ever thought about it? I mean what is this thing called "equality"?

We -- particularly Americans -- believe wholeheartedly that we are all equal (even if we don't all believe that we are "created"). We stand on "equality for all" and fight -- verbally, legally, physically, if necessary -- for it. But just what is it? What is equality?

Let's start with something we can agree is silly. When we say, "We're all created equal" do we mean "We are all of equal weight"? Well, no, of course not. A tall person is not unequal to a shorter person simply because they don't have equal stature. But if they don't have equal standing, they are not equal. Right?

So we're not talking about physical conditions, right? Okay, then what? How about financial equality? Most would give a hearty denial of this idea, but there is a loud and growing agreement to the notion that there shouldn't be such financial disparity between people. You know, that evil "1%". Because of the concept of equality. Really? Is that what we mean by "all men are created equal"? Financially equal? (Well, of course, we are born with nothing, so maybe ... no, that's not it.) Or is it something else?

Of course, everyone will respond to these questions with "rights". Even the Declaration of Independence indicates this. We are endowed by our Creator (yeah, keep that notion alive while you're removing religion from the public square) with "certain unalienable rights". Okay, let's examine that idea. What rights? You might say that you have the right, for instance, to your own possessions. So, if we're all equal, then don't I have the equal right to your possessions? No? Why not? Someone who has thought about this a bit longer might say that we have the right to equal opportunity. Not that we're all equal -- in attributes, skills, income, possessions, etc. -- but we each have the same opportunity to better our position in life. But is that true? The poverty-striken kid might disagree. "You rich kids can go to college and we can't afford it. How is that 'equal opportunity'?" So there will be a move to level the college playing field, so to speak. But then a kid who could have gotten in is denied access because they've "leveled the field" and eliminated what was once his or her opportunity. Is that equal? Last year French President Francois Hollande proposed banning homework because it gave in unfair advantage to kids with parents that participated in their children's education over those without. And that's good, right? Because now everyone has an equal (if equally bad) opportunity. Right?

The "women's rights" issue is a prime example of the question at hand. Women want to have "equal rights" which, of course, we're all in favor of. Except by "equal rights" some mean "I have the right to kill my baby if I want" and some mean "The Church no longer has any right to its own theology if it means that I am not allowed to do what I want." Some take God Himself to task for His nonsensical patriarchal approach, calling it evil and offensive. At the very least, the Bible is wrong when it makes such claims (like 1 Tim 2:12-15). Indeed, if women are not obviously superior to men in all respects, they are certainly equal (See? There's that word again.) to them in every sense of the word. And if you suggest that women can't or possibly shouldn't do everything a man can do, you're not only a sexist, you're opposed to equality. Right?

If you've noticed, I have asked questions here, not answered them. We are passionate about equality. We are so passionate about it that we've fought to remove religious freedoms in order to give select minorities a better feeling of acceptance and we've sued to promote the redefinition of longstanding, traditional concepts in order to give new rights to those who don't really want them but say they do because we're all equal and what is going on today is not equality! Oh, it's important, all right. Except it seems to me that it's not important enough to actually think through to the end. What is equality? (Physical, moral, sexual, spiritual, rights?) On what basis is the claim made? (Because if it's based on the concept of "Creator" and you're eliminating such a concept in the public arena, you're going to have to eliminate that claim.) How far do we take it? (Do we take from those who have to give to those who do not, whether it be opportunity or possessions or ...?) What is this thing called "equality" and just what do you intend to do about it and with it? Perhaps, before we tear much more apart, we ought to figure out what it really is.