I Hate the Idea of Being Equal!
I wrote this article last month and thought I'd share it with the Forum... Just some thoughts on success and equality...
I’m beginning to understand how out of step I am with the world these days. I’ve always spoken my mind. But, the PC (Politically Correct) crowd seem to have taken over the world around me. I’ve never been a “joiner” — even in my school days. My individualism and independent thinking have always been my hallmark. Now I have young people, a fraction of my age, telling me what I should say, and what subjects on which I must stay mum. Worse, these PC people are taking their caveats further. They are trying to tell me that my thinking is wrong. They have newer and better truths. They are creating a brave, new world. In their future utopia, everyone is going to be accepted for who they are. This acceptance does not endorse individuality. Instead, by correcting each person’s thinking, both social status and financial circumstances can be equalized. Uh????
When I hear this line of thinking, I must stop for a minute, and smile. I then get to ask them that age-old question, “Why?”
Why would anyone aspire to be equal? Would that equality rate them as being inescapably average? It’s like getting all Cs on one’s report card. Why would they accept being frozen in that quagmire of mediocrity? Don’t they want to change? They might want to strive to grow into being a better person.
Do these PC people like everyone in their world? Don’t they want to maintain the right to choose their friends and associates? Or, is their plan to just change the thinking of rouge people like me?
Drum roll, please. Here’s my huge question on the issue. If everyone is totally equal, then must they be cut with the same cookie cutter? Right? I imagine a scene where a bunch of clones, dressed in their uniforms, are all lined up. Wouldn’t that be boring? It’s like falling into a vat of vanilla ice cream. So much for diversity!
And, since you’re listening, here is my thought on equality. I believe that all humans are equal in one way. They each are given 24 hours a day. In every other way, we humans are remarkably unequal.
Every person must uncover his unique, tailor-made talents. Some of us are totally smart. Others are as dumb as a rock. Some people can run fast, while others can’t walk. There are those who have common sense and street smarts. And where were some of us hiding when the gift of common sense was handed out?
Humans are like Swiss cheese. They perfect one aspect of life, without addressing the many holes in their skill sets and knowledge. Once upon a time, when I was young, I was a trophy wife. It was a classic situation where a powerful man married a much younger woman to show off his esteemed position. My husband was a recognized genius in his profession. But he couldn’t deal with many other basic issues. I had to supervise him as he dressed, tied his shoes, and left for work. On his own, he arrived perpetually late, attired in yesterday’s dirty shirt. He was a member of the “mixed-up-shoe-gang” before it was trendy to wear unmatched shoes and socks. This accomplished man was a perfect example of our human struggles in our inherent dichotomy of equity.
Overwhelmingly, being equal is only an illusion.
That said, regardless of our endless differences, I admit to the one stellar point of human equality. We do all have those precious 24 hours each day. See, I can find a small spark of agreement with the PC crowd. Amazing.
I wrote this article last month and thought I'd share it with the Forum... Just some thoughts on success and equality...
I’m beginning to understand how out of step I am with the world these days. I’ve always spoken my mind. But, the PC (Politically Correct) crowd seem to have taken over the world around me. I’ve never been a “joiner” — even in my school days. My individualism and independent thinking have always been my hallmark. Now I have young people, a fraction of my age, telling me what I should say, and what subjects on which I must stay mum. Worse, these PC people are taking their caveats further. They are trying to tell me that my thinking is wrong. They have newer and better truths. They are creating a brave, new world. In their future utopia, everyone is going to be accepted for who they are. This acceptance does not endorse individuality. Instead, by correcting each person’s thinking, both social status and financial circumstances can be equalized. Uh????
When I hear this line of thinking, I must stop for a minute, and smile. I then get to ask them that age-old question, “Why?”
Why would anyone aspire to be equal? Would that equality rate them as being inescapably average? It’s like getting all Cs on one’s report card. Why would they accept being frozen in that quagmire of mediocrity? Don’t they want to change? They might want to strive to grow into being a better person.
Do these PC people like everyone in their world? Don’t they want to maintain the right to choose their friends and associates? Or, is their plan to just change the thinking of rouge people like me?
Drum roll, please. Here’s my huge question on the issue. If everyone is totally equal, then must they be cut with the same cookie cutter? Right? I imagine a scene where a bunch of clones, dressed in their uniforms, are all lined up. Wouldn’t that be boring? It’s like falling into a vat of vanilla ice cream. So much for diversity!
And, since you’re listening, here is my thought on equality. I believe that all humans are equal in one way. They each are given 24 hours a day. In every other way, we humans are remarkably unequal.
Every person must uncover his unique, tailor-made talents. Some of us are totally smart. Others are as dumb as a rock. Some people can run fast, while others can’t walk. There are those who have common sense and street smarts. And where were some of us hiding when the gift of common sense was handed out?
Humans are like Swiss cheese. They perfect one aspect of life, without addressing the many holes in their skill sets and knowledge. Once upon a time, when I was young, I was a trophy wife. It was a classic situation where a powerful man married a much younger woman to show off his esteemed position. My husband was a recognized genius in his profession. But he couldn’t deal with many other basic issues. I had to supervise him as he dressed, tied his shoes, and left for work. On his own, he arrived perpetually late, attired in yesterday’s dirty shirt. He was a member of the “mixed-up-shoe-gang” before it was trendy to wear unmatched shoes and socks. This accomplished man was a perfect example of our human struggles in our inherent dichotomy of equity.
Overwhelmingly, being equal is only an illusion.
That said, regardless of our endless differences, I admit to the one stellar point of human equality. We do all have those precious 24 hours each day. See, I can find a small spark of agreement with the PC crowd. Amazing.
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum:
Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.
