With all the commotion in the media, communities, and peoples minds. I felt that this topic is relevant.
There is a lot of clamor about equality, so lets take a look at the definition.
equality (ĭ-kwŏl′ĭ-tē) n. pl. e·qual·i·ties (1)
1. The state or quality of being equal.
2. Mathematics A statement, usually an equation, that one thing equals another.
[Middle English equalite, from Old French, from Latin aequālitās, from aequālis, equal; see equal.]
and…
Social equality (redirected from Equality (law))
Social equality is a state of affairs in which all people within a specific society or isolated group have the same status in certain respects. At the very least, social equality includes equal rights under the law, such as security, voting rights, freedom of speech and assembly, property rights, and equal access to social goods and services. However, it also includes concepts of economic equity, i.e. access to education, health care and other social securities. It also includes equal opportunities and obligations, and so involves the whole of society.
Social equality requires the absence of legally enforced social class or caste boundaries and the absence of discrimination motivated by an inalienable part of a person’s identity. For example, sex, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, origin, caste or class, income or property, language, religion, convictions, opinions, health or disability must not result in unequal treatment under the law and should not reduce opportunities unjustifiably.
Social equality refers to social, rather than economic, or income equality. “Equal opportunities” is interpreted as being judged by ability, which is compatible with a free-market economy. A problem is horizontal inequality, the inequality of two persons of same origin and ability.
Perfect social equality is an ideal situation that does not occur in actuality. In complexity economics, it has been found that horizontal inequality arises in complex systems. (2)
In America, it was the intent of our Founding Father to provide a place where the citizens could be equal before the law. In the Declaration of Independence it states, “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.” (3) The train of thought that developed into this phrase started with Joh Locke, who said; “”All men are born equally free and independent and have certain inherent natural rights of which they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; among which are the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.” (4) The problem that Americans had, starting with the Pilgrims, is they were not treated equally before the law. The Pilgrims fled England to seek religious freedom, they did not believe in the Church of England‘s theology. They were followed by others, primarily from England, that were seeking religious freedom. In many ways, the United States was founded and created by a group of people willing to die for their beliefs. Which would also explain why the First Amendment to the Constitution is about religious freedom and peaceable assembly. This would also explain why Americans are also the first to stand in the breach when others rights are being trampled (at least to me it does).
This equality that is being asked for today is not equality before the law, it is special treatment before the law. When Christians bakers are sued out of business and Muslim bakers can turn down LBGT customers there is a very serious problem. Each person and individual should be equal. If you have committed a crime then you should be forced to face the full brunt of the law; there should be no getting out because of questionable legal status or because the state doesn’t have any more funding. When a law is broken there should be a consequence.
Now, Latter-day Saints believe like many other Christians that America is a blessed and sacred land. I have listed a few of our scriptures that give us ground to stand on; and yes, they are all from the Book of Mormon. They are not in any particular order.
- Alma 30:11 “…therefore all men were on equal grounds.”
- Mosiah 27:3 “…that there should be no persecutions among them, that there should be an equality among all men…”
- Mosiah 29:32 “And now I desire that this inequality should be no more in this land, especially among this people; but I desire that this land be a land of liberty, and every man may enjoy his rights and privileges alike…”
- Alma 46:10 “…he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous sake.”
- 2nd Nephi 10:11 “And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon the land, who shall rise up unto the Gentiles.”
- 2nd Nephi 1:7 “Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.”
I hope my point is taken that this land if a place of freedom like no other nation in the world and if we can become students of history and seek knowledge we can see how wonderful this nation called America has been for 230 years. While I am not saying you have to believe in GOD, I am saying you should learn the truth about the birth of our nation and understand our roots.
iron wil
(2) Dictionary.com Equality (law)
(3) Wikipedia: Declaration of Independence