A Depraved Taste for Equality

When one puts into words an opinion that may seem controversial in nature, the consequences can be lasting. Sadly, as a society our media will investigate the grade school research paper of a presidential candidate in order to create a ratings flurry for a pseudo-conspiratorial creation of its own. For this reason, writing a blog or ‘tweeting’ something that may be marginally acceptable today, may not be as acceptable 30 years from now. In short, the court of public opinion may laud you today, but condemn you tomorrow. Of course we can see from example the adverse conditions imposed when one makes an unacceptable statement today.  

Furthermore, we as a people stand quick to condemn anyone who composes or utters words that are not politically correct in the moment. Often times those same individuals using buzzwords such as ‘tolerance’ and ‘equality’ seek to muzzle opposing viewpoints by hostile suppression tactics which are counter-intuitive to the very definition of what they promote.

Personally I choose not to label my viewpoints as conservative or liberal, primarily because these words have established a judgment in and of itself in our present day. There is a negative connotation when one hears either of those words and labels another with the distinction. Therefore, the following is merely a response to my observations of current events. Speaking specifically to the gay marriage debate, I am more intrigued by the hostile nature and predisposition of the arguers than of those who are gay. The rhetoric and posturing are mind numbing and for this reason I pen a few thoughts I see as important to consider.

I believe in liberty, the rule of law and the respect of people and their rights; the belief as held that there are certain inalienable rights, endowed upon by a Creator. But I fear that our society has lost its soul in terms of both its philosophical and political convictions.

I will speak first on the philosophical. The premise of Western civilization is based upon the fundamentals of Christianity. Now, this isn't to say that one must be a Christian to be good or saved. I believe people as a whole are inherently good. However, I feel that this loss can be summed up in words of Abraham Lincoln who said, “we are prone to forget the source from which [our blessings] come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.”

I spoke with a co-worker today who happens to be Jewish. She made the comment regarding God, “no matter what you call him, Christ, Mohammad, Allah, it is all the same guy.” In a sense she is correct. Although my Christian beliefs add much more to that simple statement, I believe her exclamation bears the essence that she is a God fearing person. In my opinion, most people in the United States probably are of the same distinction but I also believe that number is dwindling. It seems as though God is something that is good to have around when it benefits ones individual motives or arguments, but once godly teachings or traits interfere with the selfishness of the human desires, He is quickly set aside or attacked.

As Lincoln reminds us, we are prone to forget, and when we forget so too does the lack of fear that should abide from a humble and devoted believer in God. I believe this is an important aspect of our culture.

Much more can be said regarding such a topic, which I will save for the expert theologians. Moving on to the loss of political soul, it makes me excited for the next book I have decided I need to read.

With all of the ranting and rancor regarding ‘equality’ that has abounded today, ironically I have found quite an insight from a Frenchman. Alexis de Tocqueville wrote Democracy in America as a way to describe to the French the cultural environment of the United States in the 1800’s and what exactly this new country was all about.

In a prophetic moment, Tocqueville wrote: “The Christian nations of our age seem to me to present a most alarming spectacle; the impulse which is bearing them along is so strong that it cannot be stopped, but it is not yet so rapid that it cannot be guided: their fate is in their hands; yet a little while and it may be so no longer.”

To say the least, I believe our fate may no longer rest in our hands. He goes on: “I cannot recall to my mind a passage in history more worthy of sorrow and of pity than the scenes which are happening under our eyes; it is as if the natural bond which unites the opinions of man to his tastes and his actions to his principles was now broken; the sympathy which has always been acknowledged between the feelings and the ideas of mankind appears to be dissolved, and all the laws of moral analogy to be abolished.

Zealous Christians may be found amongst us whose minds are nurtured in the love and knowledge of a future life, and who readily espouse the cause of human liberty as the source of all moral greatness. Christianity, which has declared that all men are equal in the sight of God, will not refuse to acknowledge that all citizens are equal in the eye of the law. But, by a singular concourse of events, religion is entangled in those institutions which democracy assails, and it is not infrequently brought to reject the equality it loves, and to curse that cause of liberty as a foe which it might hallow by its alliance.

By the side of these religious men I discern others whose looks are turned to the earth more than to Heaven; they are the partisans of liberty, not only as the source of the noblest virtues, but more especially as the root of all solid advantages; and they sincerely desire to extend its sway, and to impart its blessings to mankind. It is natural that they should hasten to invoke the assistance of religion, for they must know that liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith; but they have seen religion in the ranks of their adversaries, and they inquire no further; some of them attack it openly, and the remainder are afraid to defend it.”

A few quotes from the third chapter of volume one which I believe are still valid today includes:

 “I do not believe that there is a country in the world where, in proportion to the population, there are so few uninstructed and at the same time so few learned individuals. Primary instruction is within the reach of everybody; superior instruction is scarcely to be obtained by any. This is not surprising; it is in fact the necessary consequence of what we have advanced above. Almost all the Americans are in easy circumstances, and can therefore obtain the first elements of human knowledge.”

“There is, in fact, a manly and lawful passion for equality which excites men to wish all to be powerful and honored. This passion tends to elevate the humble to the rank of the great; but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level, and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom. Not that those nations whose social condition is democratic naturally despise liberty; on the contrary, they have an instinctive love of it. But liberty is not the chief and constant object of their desires; equality is their idol: they make rapid and sudden efforts to obtain liberty, and if they miss their aim resign themselves to their disappointment; but nothing can satisfy them except equality, and rather than lose it they resolve to perish.

On the other hand, in a State where the citizens are nearly on an equality, it becomes difficult for them to preserve their independence against the aggressions of power. No one among them being strong enough to engage in the struggle with advantage, nothing but a general combination can protect their liberty. And such a union is not always to be found.”

Without furthering to redistribute the entire text, I encourage those with interest in the current state of affairs to acquaint themselves with the words of history. For it is in the words of such men like Tocqueville and Cicero among many others that can help to alleviate the social disparity of our day. History tends to repeat itself because we did not learn from it.

That is if we so choose.