"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal..."
Declaration of Independence. 1776.
Everyone knows that no two humans are exactly alike in any respect. Humans differ from one another from the moment of conception. They display immense diversity of talents, aptitudes, physical characteristics, mental capacity, emotional intelligence and drive or grit. How is it that the champion of the French Revolution (1789-1799), Jean Jacques Rousseau, could teach that all humans were designed to be equal in every way? And how is it that today, the siren call still goes out from our institutions of higher education that we are "one" and should be considered equals, and that one of the primary roles of government is to insure equality, even if by force if necessary? Is it not self evident that no one here on Steemit is equal? So how is it that humans can be equal as Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence?
There are only three ways we are equal. They are:
We can be treated as equals before the law.
We all have the same inalienable rights and ideally can have those rights protected equally.
We are equals in the sight of God. Or for those who may not believe in a Supreme Deity, we can say we are equal in essence, in spirit, in our beingness as part of the Oneness of the Cosmos.
Let's take a Steemit look at these points. (A "Steemit look" means an abbreviated essay, a shortened read for all of us whose eyes are fatigued from reading so much, and must read more before the day is done.)
EQUAL RIGHTS
I approach this essay from the perspective of one who lives in the United States where equal rights are ideally protected by law. Some of these rights include: The right to try and fail, to pursue happiness and prosperity, to vote, work, marry, build a business, join Steemit, move to another location, seek a good education, speak or write publicly, enjoy equally before the courts and the police, to be taxed fairly, and so forth.
Of course we all know that there is disparity in how we are treated. We are humans after all trying to implement a vision of fair and equitable treatment, but we fail in attaining perfection of this vision don't we? And yet it is a glorious vision, one that has come closer to reality here in the U.S. than perhaps any other country in any other time. Sure, I could debate this last statement until the end of time but in my opinion we've come a long way baby, but admittedly we have a ways to go.
The real debate here is that some modern "Progressives" believe there should be "social justice" and "economic justice". In other words they believe there should be no class structure, no special privilege for some in regards to status, power, presence, and opportunity. "Economic justice" simply means leveling of income, or at the very least all should have a basic income insuring ones ability to live well and in good circumstances. There should be no poor, no disadvantaged, no homeless, no hungry, no disparity in health care, etc.
Now these sound good don't they? I promise I could make very powerful arguments for social and economic justice, however, nature won't allow it. Last century over 100 million souls were dispatched to their creator in violent communist revolutions in Russia, China, Cuba, Cambodia, and in numerous other smaller nations in an attempt to bring about a socialist workers paradise. Did it work? No it failed utterly and disastrously.
NATURE TO THE RESCUE
When I say nature won't allow it this is what I mean: LeBron James is a better basketball player than I. Elon Musk is vastly more adept at putting together business visions than I. President Trump has leonine hair while I have none. I have a great sense of humor and you don't. (Kidding, just kidding). Johny Depp makes a better pirate than I and Einstein was brilliant and I am... well, not so much. You see, try as we might nature will not allow a disgusting, hideously unjust HOMOGENIZED SAMENESS. And thank God for that! Can you imagine how boring it would be for all of us to be clad in the dull green uniform of Mao? How pathetic would it be if there were no Olympics, no Academy Awards, no Super Bowl, no "America Has Talent", no Medals of Honor, or men and women who create incredible breakthroughs in science and technology? And what if the greatest teacher of them all was not allowed to exist? That teacher being failure?
While I'm on a role let's take a look at "White Privilege". Hang on... reaching for my barf bag. Are some more privileged than others? No shit Sherlock. Is Obama more privileged than I? Are the Whales on Steemit more privileged than I? Am I more privileged than some young man in Nigeria? Yes, absolutely is the answer to each of these and millions of more examples. Is this fair? HELL NO! Thank God it's not fair. Maybe this is why "Progressives" are so pissed off. Life is not fair. So they want to use force/government to make it fair.
Let me share with you the formula to create privilege, and I am not counting the formula that includes dishonesty, or violence to create privilege. I am referring to what you and I can do honestly by our own wits and effort, regardless of color, race or gender. The formula: Have a high moral standard. Work hard. Learn and study (preferably not from the bull shit slinging professors at University). Learn to manage money and investments wisely. Find mentors. Pattern your life after successful people you respect. Avoid addictions. Eat well. Exercise. And most importantly be fucking RESPONSIBLE for yourself and stop being the perpetual VICTIM. Cripes, is this not basic human knowledge? And yet, so many are fooled into believing the lie of Equality of things, and achievement.
Do I turn a blind eye to reality? No, I know there are some terribly challenging circumstances that people are born into and must endure. Every race, every religion, every gender has suffered abuse and slavery, and religious persecution and brutality, and pogroms and genocide.
Our greatest teachers are challenges, adversity, illness, divorce and bankruptcy, and failure.
Alright! I just heard the Steemit Alarm Clock go off. Times up. You all come on back now. Blessings I love you.
Mistermercury
