EQUALITY

We hold these truths to be self- evident; all men under God are created equal. What a bunch of baloney! If you believe that I have acreage on Mars I’d like to sell you. Nothing was equal in the past, not now and will never be in the future!

 Even plants, animals and good old terra firma have major differences. Can all food crops be grown everywhere? Do all trees reach the same height at maturity? Aren’t alpha males and females in the animal kingdom more equal than others? Was that caveman of earlier times who had better food, access to more females and lived longer not better off?

 Although race, gender, religion and national origin are of extreme importance, they are not referenced in this essay. Instead for all humans past present and future, from birth through death and beyond, there was and will never be equality. Actually, the entire universe exists basically because of irregularities.

 Let’s start at the beginning. Babies are born underweight, overweight, sickly, some with physical and/or mental deficiencies, and others never see the light of day. A lucky few are born into families of wealth and prestige. Most are not. Are they all equal? No way!

This inequity persists throughout life, death and maybe even beyond.

How about school? Do you remember some students being better looking, smarter, dumb or stupid, better athletes etc? No equality there! What about teachers pet, the class clown or the local delinquent? How do you stack up against your classmates at re-unions? How many of us believe we are not only equal to but are actually better than others?

What about your next door neighbor buying two new cars every year while you can maybe afford one at five year intervals? Do you think you are his equal? More importantly, does he think you are? How about the professional athlete in the next block earning millions while you struggle to pay utility bills? Or the politician down the road recognized by everyone while nobody (except maybe the IRS) knows or cares of your existence? So much for equality!

While we’re at it, let us consider those continuing to live with serious illnesses. Would you join them just to make things equal? People die tragically at every age, some instantly while others linger in pain for years before passing on. A few even live well into their 90’s and 100’s. Most humans succumb to a natural death while many of us will not be so lucky.

 Is there purgatory after death? Does Heaven and Hell really exist? If we were equal, wouldn’t there only be one place for our immortal soul to dwell? I maintain the above is absolutely true. While there is no such thing as equality anywhere, consider what a terribly sad, dull and boring existence we would have if there were. I would not change a thing!

Gene Mays

12/30/00