The problem of 'Equality'.
Some 50 years ago, luminaries like Martin Luther King, John F Kennedy, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan all stood up and spoke out (or sang) against 'Inequality'. Specifically, one polemic at the time was about changing the then culture of the west to one where people of non-Anglo Saxon heritage would be treated equally. The other great argument of the time was one of feminism and gender equality. Similar movements took place all across the western world. Australia followed in the their footsteps as they worked hard to see Aboriginal people recognized, respected and treated fairly.
The question we need to ask is; "Did we attain equality?"
Sadly, the answer on ALL fronts is a Resounding "No".
Aboriginal people in Australia still have a much lower life expectancy than white Australians. Afro-Americans still make up a much larger proportion of jail populations than any other group. These are just two examples that are common knowledge and sadly, no one is surprised. Even on the gender front, women in the western world are still paid less than men, are in danger in public and are weekly killed by they partners. So it pays us to carefully rethink our past endeavors, especially when they're in the name of 'Equality'. I came across this page today on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/amequality/
People are being encouraged to change their profile pic to one with a "Marriage Equality" rainbow/heart-hands underneath. Some friends are already changing their profiles.
I sighed and my heart sank.
Not because I don't want LGBTI people to be happy. Not because I'm afraid of change. Not because I'm uncomfortable with people disagreeing with me. Certainly not because I expect all of Australia to stop and live life the way I tell them too.
My heart sank, because once again we're being scammed by schemes that can't deliver.
Sure, the LGBTI community might be successful. They might have legislation enacted to allow them "Marriage certificates" and "Marriage ceremonies". Lots of people might wear rainbow T-shirts and say how wonderful it is. There might be lots of hand-holding, hugging and smiling. But it won't deliver 'Equality'. It can't deliver equality and there's a very good reason why.
Equality as advertised does not exist.
Let me say that again coz you didn't take it in the first time. Equality as advertised does NOT exist. It never has existed and it never will. Equality is a myth and a fairy tale. It's a rainbow unicorn. The problem for us is we've lied to for the last 50 years and we still believe the lie.
Reality is a pink, Shetland pony with a cone on it's forehead... and it's cranky.
Worse, in reality, equality is a night mare. (No horse pun intended.) Let me tell you a true story of 'Equality in action'.
I am an identical twin.
Now, being an identical twin is cool, right? You look the same, you can wear the same clothes, hang and be besties, you don't have to look in the mirror, etc, etc. Best thing ever, right?
Can you tell me the Olsen twins names? Maybe you can. Now tell me which one is which... c'mon, tell me. Which one is Ashley? Which one is... oh who even knows the other name? Mary-Kate. Are you starting to see the issue.
People assume you're the same. They treat you the same. To them you are one and the same.
My brother and I lived a life of the same presents, clothes, the same jokes about looking the same, the same same same same. I found out a few years back, a very close family friend never got my brother's name right once. NOT even ONCE. Every body treated us the same. We were, "the twins". In one awful situation a soccer coach played us as the SAME person. Sure we sucked at soccer, but he gave us the same amount of game time as ONE player.
I never went back to team sport after that. Neither did my brother.
The point is, we LIVED 'Equality'. Absolute, unerring, unchecked equality. To EVERYONE except my parent, grandparents and the odd friend or teacher, we were the SAME. And it was heartbreaking.
It was heartbreaking because, while we share the same family, upbringing, parents, DNA, gestures, looks, bedroom, home, university degree and some of the same interests, we are VERY different people. We've lived quite different lives and have different skills. We've also had different struggles, joys, wives, children, jobs and sets of friends. We live in different towns now and for good reason. Yet we remain extremely close. He's probably my best friend after my wife.
However, equality DID NOT work for us.
How the heck is equality going to work for anyone else? Can we not see this is MADNESS. A law cannot deliver "Equality" an more than it can deliver "Marriage". The law cannot deliver justice. It can try, but more often than not it even fails to deliver a fair hearing.
Beyond all this, no one is equal. We can't be. We're are all different... which is what this whole debate is about. We need to stop fighting for something that doesn't even exist. Equality will never happen.
My biggest concern is even if the law goes through, after all the dust settles the LGBTI community will realize, "we still don't have marriage", let alone equality. The longing to belong and be recognized will still remain. In fact, if the gender and racial equality movements of the past are anything to measure things by, we can be sure this will be the case. They will still feel like second class citizens.
So what is the answer? What should we work towards?
Respect. Honesty. Consideration. Equity.
The world we live in will never deliver equality, but it can work towards these things.
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