Equality in Modern Parlance

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.

Equality.  This concept lies at the core of modern democracies.  Regrettably, “created equal” has taken on a whole new meaning in modern society.  Two events reminded me of the nature of equality: Downton Abbey and the Hindu caste system

BBC’s Masterpiece Theater has begun run the second season of Downton Abbey.  In the first season one of the main plot lines centered around the death of the original heir to the abbey, shifting the line of inheritance to a relative outside the immediate family line.  Down Abbey chronicles the intricacies of the British aristocracy. Interestingly enough, in the U.S. Constitution, both Congress and the States are forbidden from granting titles of nobility.

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State. (U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 9, Clause 8)

No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility.  (U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 10, Clause 1)

In the nobility system, you are born into positions of power and the majority of the benefits experienced in your life time were a result of who your parents were, etc.  In Downton Abbey, there is frequent talk about marrying above or below your station in life or even holding a career that would be deemed too dirty for nobles fingers.

I assist with a program that is explaining and teaching world religions and we are in the midst of studying Hinduism and the impact of this religion on India.  One of the few principles that holds Hindus together is the idea of the caste system.  Although officially illegal, the caste system is still deeply imbedded within Indian society.  The caste system separates each member in society into one of the following inescapable positions:

• Brahmin –  Priests & religious officials
• Kshatriya – Rulers & warriors
• Vaishya – Farmers, merchants, traders, & craftsmen
• Shudra – Servants of upper castes & peasants
• Untouchables – Latrine cleaners, corpse collectors, etc.

Once you are born into one of these castes you either stay at this level or go deeper with practically no possibility of advancement.

Aristocracy and the caste system are social governing systems that the Founding fathers were able to avoid, understanding that all men are created equal and that civil government should prevent its’ citizens from reaching their full potential.  The problem that we face today is that recognizing equality is being understand that civil government is responsible for leveling the playing field for everyone.

Founding fathers:  The government should not prevent citizens from pursuing success.

Modern politicians:  The government must ensure that people reach success.

The benefit of being an American was that the only barrier between you and success was yourself.  If you applied yourself diligently to your work and maintained your integrity, the marketplace was yours for the taking. Today, working harder means higher taxes.  In many ways modern government tries to bring equality to all citizens by taking money from high income earners and re-distribute this wealth to low income earners.  Equality by averaging the citizens.  This actually takes away my motivation to succeed because I will just end up surrendering my accomplishments to others.

When we tout equality, we need to make sure that the equality that we are pursuing is the inherent equality that our Creator has bestowed us.