EQUALITY
The word “equality” is one of those slippery weasel words that politicians and leaders of special interest communities have defined in ways that serve their own interests. Here is my understanding.
America’s Founding Fathers wrote about equality …
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.
This appears in the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence
Equality is discussed in religious texts…
Yes, the Bible does emphasize the equality of all people. Here are a few key verses that highlight this message:
- **Galatians 3:28**: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus"¹.
- **Genesis 1:27**: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them"¹.
- **Acts 10:34**: "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons"¹.
- **Romans 10:12**: "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him"¹.
These verses convey the idea that all people are equal in the eyes of God.
Source: Conversation with Copilot, 2024-08-14
(1) Bible Verses About Everyone Is Equal - King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-Everyone-Is-Equal/.
(2) BIBLE VERSES ABOUT EQUAL - King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-Equal/.
(3) Galatians 3:28 NIV - There is neither Jew nor Gentile .... https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians%203:28&version=NIV.
(4) Bible Verses About Equality - Bible Study Tools. https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-equality/.
Equality in Canada…
The Canadian Constitution, specifically the **Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms**, addresses equality in **Section 15**. This section guarantees that every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination. It explicitly mentions that discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, or mental or physical disability is prohibited¹⁴.
Additionally, Section 15(2) allows for laws, programs, or activities that aim to improve conditions for disadvantaged individuals or groups¹⁵.
Source: Conversation with Copilot, 2024-08-14
(1) Charterpedia - Section 15 – Equality rights. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/rfc-dlc/ccrf-ccdl/check/art15.html.
(2) THE CONSTITUTION ACTS 1867 to 1982 - Site Web de la législation (Justice). https://www.laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/page-12.html.
(3) Equality Through Affirmative Action – Section 15(2) - Centre for .... https://www.constitutionalstudies.ca/2019/07/equality-through-affirmative-action-section-152/.
(4) Charterpedia - Section 15 – Equality rights. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/rfc-dlc/ccrf-ccdl/check/art15.html.
(5) Guide to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/how-rights-protected/guide-canadian-charter-rights-freedoms.html.
(6) Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_15_of_the_Canadian_Charter_of_Rights_and_Freedoms.
WHAT I BELIEVE about EQUALITY.
Every person has a body, mind and will of their own. Throughout their lives, each person uses these PERSONAL ASSETS to survive and thrive independently and interpersonally within communities.
Each person living within human communities must respect the PERSONAL ASSETS of every other person to ensure the conditions of a civil society. A civil society is established when every person chooses to live in peace, prosperity and respectfully with others.
Seven Conditions for Civil Society.
EACH PERSON is FREE TO:
choose and pursue their own goals, while abiding by these same Seven Conditions for every other person;
live without threats of intimidation, coercion or attack from any person regardless of his or her position or status in society;
pursue goals, with or without the help of others, in order to provide for themselves and their family;
own property that they justly create, build or acquire and to keep what they earn while producing goods or services for others under circumstances of voluntary trade or purchase.
protect and defend themselves, their family and their property whenever Condition #2 is abridged.
hold beliefs and express them in a peaceful and non-threatening way;
expect equal, respectful, timely and fair treatment under mutually agreed laws that protect all persons equally.
A CIVIL SOCIETY will be sustained when the above SEVEN CONDITIONS are met reliably and consistently by every community member.
Comments
The Constitutions of America and Canada are considered by most citizens to prescribe the official, and supreme secular conditions under which we are expected to live and cooperate with others in society.
Unfortunately, the laws and legal institutions in both countries reflect, enshrine and enforce systemic bias and excessive bureaucratic complexity.
While those historic documents may have inspired many people in their day. However, the founding fathers, and those who came after them, were all flawed human beings with their own biases and personal agendas. Today, few but the legal profession itself hold much respect for our national Constitutions and their associates institutions.
The Bible is considered to be the ultimate moral authority by Christians. People of other faiths may not agree but if, and until, the majority of the voting public continues to assign that supreme authority to the Bible, then their beliefs will be sidelined by all public institutions of authority.
Neither of these sources have produced the conditions required for civil society as described under the Seven Conditions for Civil Society. This is why I wrote WHAT I BELIEVE.