Equality vs Inequality - The Yin & Yang of It
This is an opinion piece
We here so much these days about equality and inequality.
Let's start with some definitions.
e·qual·i·ty
[əˈkwälədē]
NOUN
the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.
"an organization aiming to promote racial equality"
synonyms: fairness · justness · equitability · impartiality · even-handedness · egalitarianism · equal rights · equal opportunities · nondiscrimination · justice · freedom · emancipation · coequality
inequality
[in-i-kwol-i-tee]
NOUN
the condition of being unequal; lack of equality; disparity:
inequality of size.
social or economic disparity:
inequality between the rich and the poor; widening income inequality in America.
unequal opportunity or treatment resulting from this disparity:
inequality in healthcare and education.
disparity or relative inadequacy in natural endowments:
a startling inequality of intellect, talents, and physical stamina.
There are always two sides to a coin and the same is true of equality and inequality. The Yin and Yang.
I believe most people do believe in equality in many different fields of endeavor. And no matter what we like to believe we cannot have a blanket of thought that covers everything.
It has been said we are all born equal and as much as this makes us feel good it is just not true.
Do you really think that a child born in a village in Africa with no running water, medicines or electricity is equal to a child born in Europe or the US. Of course they aren't equal! They do not have the same opportunities and may never have the same opportunities.
I am not talking about their worth. They may be equally worthy human beings but fate may have dealt them significantly different hands.
Equality is too big a word and cannot be applied to everything.
Let's take Equality of Outcome for example. We hear this term being bantered around a lot these days.
Here is the definition of this term from Wikipedia:
Equality of outcome, equality of condition, or equality of results is a political concept which is central to some political ideologies and is used regularly in political discourse, often in contrast to the term equality of opportunity. It describes a state in which people have approximately the same material wealth or in which the general economic conditions of their lives are similar.
If you ever hear people arguing for equality of outcome, cover your ears and run far, far away!
It is just nonsense and total drivel spewed out by people with no critical thinking abilities.
It sounds so noble on the surface but is, in fact, a total deception. And the people that shout the loudest for equality of outcome are the ones that would give up nothing to make it reality! Would any of us sell everything we have and the luxuries we have worked so hard for, to give to the children born in a dirt poor country? I think not. These people are just hypocrites that love the sound of their own voices and love to virtue signal to the rest of us.
Actions speak so much louder than words.
The real heroes, in this case, are the people that say nothing and quietly go about trying to help others.
Equality is not how the universe works. If all parts of the universe were equal there would be nothing in the universe at all, including ourselves. It is through equality and inequality in gravity that stars are born, planets are formed and life springs up.
There are just too many variables in our society to make equality of outcome a reality. It is a fools errand and is doomed to failure.
A much better formula is Equality of Opportunity.
How does the saying in the Bible go: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
This is equality of opportunity and this is what we should be striving for!
That young child born of poor parents in a third world country may turn out to be a great leader, thinker, or doer for the benefit of others if we can find a way to give these people an opportunity. What they do with that opportunity is up to them.
