To Know the Truth That Sets Us Free

there is a phrase from our declaration of independence that is ingrained in the minds and hearts of every american--"all men are created equal."  this phrase, written by a slave-holding viriginia aristocrat and our country's third president, is difficult to understand.  there is little doubt that the word "men" was used in the universal sense, like the german word "mensch," to include all human beings, regardless of skin pigmentation, gender, or station in life.  we americans often confuse jefferson's declaration with the constitution.  in the latter document, there is an outright denial of the equality phrase, when our governing charter says that some humans are only 3/5 the value of others because of their status as slaves.  the recent indictment of donald trump speaks to our belief that all are equal before the law.  even a former president is not immune from prosecution for crimes he is accused of committing.  

we wonder if it is true that all are created equal.  we know that there is no equality of socio-economic standing.  we know that some are born with handicaps that others are not afflicted with.  jefferson goes on to say that all are born with "certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."  this was written when a large part of the population, including many who served jefferson at his home without their consent, did not enjoy liberty, nor were they free to pursue happiness.  the question is, how do we insure that all have access to equality in our society.

one way of looking at the declaration's equality phrase is to regard all as equal in the sight of the Creator, despite the circumstances of their birth.  from that perspective, those born into poor families are equal to those whose families are wealthy and those born with disabilities are the equals of those who exhibit no handicapping conditions.  it makes no difference if a child is gay, straight, or trans.  if this is true, the current campaign to discriminate against many of our fellow citizens is immoral and a violation of our understanding of what it means to be an american.

may we live as though we believe that all have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  may we not be so quick to judge and use our prejudices as an excuse to persecute those whose lifestyles are different from our own.  may we not take money from public education or hamstring the ability of teachers to teach and students to learn in the name of "parental rights."  may we not condemn others because we don't understand their inner lives and the outward expressions of those lives.  shalom.