All things being Equal

I write this entry as I feel rather strongly about a subject that has and will continue to haunt me. If you could kindly refrain from rolling your eyes when I mention the word equality, as I’m sure your first thought will be…oh great another hippie on her soap box preaching peace and love, peace and love.

Although peace and love encompasses a lot of what I stand for, I find there's something missing from this well-known adage. It’s all very well to love open heartedly and seek peace amongst all, but what we fail to realise is that in order to achieve this blissful state of long desired utopia, we need to abandon almost everything we know and adopt the fundamental state of acceptance. A word not easily digested, as it requires the daunting task of facing our personal, political, social, religious and historical issues.

When I say the word equality, it’s always very quick to jump to social and economic equality, however what I’m arguing is another notion altogether.  Social and economic equality continue to be contentious matters that spark perennial debate the world over, and I dont' think that much resolution will be reached for some time to come. So I do not propose to bore you with long verbose rambles in effort to try and figure it all out. For one, I don’t have the intellect to even attempt to attack this complex condition, and secondly this has already been done repeatedly, by the likes of some of the greatest philosophers of our time. Karl Marx, being a well-known example, devoted every hour of his life to vindicating communism and open living societies, discovering amoungst other things, a rapid overgrowth in ideology. His works span countless efforts to support the inevitable over throw of capitalism, blaming the “bourgeoisie” or upper middle class for sewing self-gratifying division.

Now I can appreciate the cause and effect principal relating to social and economic inequality, as well as the psychology behind it. Contrary to Marxism theory, some believe we are too far gone, so it’s pointless to even begin to fathom social refrom. But what I can’t understand is the disregard for the simple humane element. The equality of blood; the life force that we share as mutual mortals who all seek love and purpose.  I don’t understand the blatant hate, the intolerance, ignorance and abuse.  Higher social classes have no right to demand entitlement and superiority, as it is merely a privilege and a blessing.  Just as poverty, lower social status, sexual orientation, age etc should not be affiliated with inferiority. It is these labels which we impose upon ourselves that begin to cease the human in all of us.

Of course the human rights bills that have been passed in favour of protecting social liberties such as sexual preference, gender issues etc, must be commended, and are at times a blaze of burning light at the end of the dark and dreaded tunnel. Sadly though, I think despite all the hope and empowerment that these acts stand for, they are simply a fleeting sense of false security. We can’t rely on governments and politcal bodies to do all the work for us. It’s a decision we all need to make, and the work begins with each of us.

So I go back to the state of acceptance (accepting everything and everyone); a soul searching notion that asks more of us than the tax man. Accepting that we are all in this together, regardless of our place on the social hieracrchy, is too real a concept for us cowards. It’s far easier to create superficial boundaries that stroke our sprouting ego’s and offer fake solace in this cold and dubious place.

I’m not sure if we’ll ever really love thy neighbour, as this may just break down our freshly painted walls that we’ve all worked so hard for!

This being said, and all things being equal....Peace, love, and acceptance my friends!