The glaring inconsistency of The Declaration of Independence.

[bobcat]

Bob, my friend...you are so right! Hypocritical BS is what it was. Perhaps people need to consider that "All men are created equal" did not apply to Blacks back in the day because my people were thought of as animals, even less than animals. Animals were treated better than some of the slaves, who were treated as chattel. The machinations of slavery go so deep that I won't even go into everything here. The slave owner mentality was perpetuated in this country after slaves were set free. Even today, though there is no slavery in the general sense people think, there's still unequal treatment of people of color in a surprising number of cases. There is blatant inequality in the justice system as well (both with victims and those arrested for crimes).

Bob and @Pepper...you told it like it is!!

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Any credit for my awakening from ignorance about this should go to my father. It is a story I have rarely told, as I'm sure it wouldn't meet the criteria for proper parenting in today's world. Nevertheless, here is what happened:

I was raised in a small town where many were pretty narrow-minded about races, and it was rare to even see a person of color, as I'm sure the welcome mat wasn't exactly rolled out for them. No doubt I had absorbed some of that mentality from living there, However, I don't remember my parents ever speaking about it, although they may have in private.

Anyway, when I was about 10 yrs old or so, we were all starting to sit down at the table for dinner, I had found my usual seat, but got up to get something. Meanwhile my little sister had sat down in my spot, and foolishly I said to her " You little .... (and I used the N word)". Well, in the blink of an eye, my dad sprung to his feet, back-handed me across the face, and knocked me on my ass. With blood coming out of my nose, and tears coming down my face, he looked me straight in the eye, and said: "Don't you ever speak to anyone like that again ... not Ever!"

It was the only time in my life my Dad ever struck me, but somehow he knew that I needed more than an admonishment. I learned a valuable lesson that day that stayed with me for life. People of any color or origin were to be respected and treated as equals. Turned out he was right. Some of the most wonderful people I have met in this life have been from different ethnicities. Looking back on it, it was a small price to pay for a lifetime of reward.

With regard to the DOI, I feel like what should be sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander. How would they like it if the tables were reversed. I think I understand that their reason was to unite or die, but I just can't buy into the philosophy of "The end justifies the means" Independence was very important to them, and if they had to enslave other humans, mistreat, and even torture them, it was permissible because it was for a good cause. You're right. That is B.S.

 

[bobcat]

Gotta say....."all men (and/or women) are NOT created equal". And, as a boss told me many years ago, "There ain't no such thing as fair".

I think you are misunderstanding the meaning of "equal" in this context. It doesn't mean that everyone is equal in the material sense or physical sense.

If my boss makes a million dollars a year, and I make 60 grand, that doesn't mean that I am not his equal as a person. Likewise, I don't have Bradley Cooper's looks, but I still hold equal value as a human being and I should have just as much right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as him or anyone else.

You're right in the sense that everyone doesn't get all the same breaks in life, but having the right to them is another issue. Everyone deserves those things unless they have them taken away because of criminal behavior.

 

[Pepper]

@bobcat
We used to go to Miami Beach every summer. My parents had friends & family. Anyway, I was fair skinned. I admired people who tanned and didn't burn or peel like me. I heard the N word in reference, I thought it meant a good tan. One night, outside, I said to my sister "you tan like a N". My mother sprang into action and hit me in the mouth, only time ever in my life. Not with the force your father used. She also said NEVER say that again, but told me precisely why. I didn't know. I thought it was a compliment. I'm guessing my age 8+.

I love your father. I'm sorry you were hurt, but I love his spontaneous response, without thinking, just knowing he had to do something. Just like my Ma.

 

[Muskrat]

Consider this…during the time period this was written the only person who could inherit in england was the firstborn son. Those other children could not own land. England was not the only country where this was the case. If you were not royal born you were destined to a rather bleak life. I am pretty sure that had a lot to do with the rupture between a king in england (far far away) and what was to become the us. Ample reason to fight for the opportunity. All men created equal makes a lot of sense in that context. It has only been later that we endowed the document with the realization that all men should be equal…no matter what race or religion. It is a noble aspiration.

 

[bobcat]

@bobcat
We used to go to Miami Beach every summer. My parents had friends & family. Anyway, I was fair skinned. I admired people who tanned and didn't burn or peel like me. I heard the N word in reference, I thought it meant a good tan. One night, outside, I said to my sister "you tan like a N". My mother sprang into action and hit me in the mouth, only time ever in my life. Not with the force your father used. She also said NEVER say that again, but told me precisely why. I didn't know. I thought it was a compliment. I'm guessing my age 8+.

I love your father. I'm sorry you were hurt, but I love his spontaneous response, without thinking, just knowing he had to do something. Just like my Ma.

Yeah, sometimes the shock value lets us know that we have really crossed over a line. The method of correction isn't well thought-out, but it certainly conveys a message that racial slurs and bigotry are simply not going to be allowed to take root in the mind of their child. I chalk it up to tough love.

 

[papa tiger]

Culture has a lot to do with the adults we grow up to be. China they lead em off.
Russia they toss them out tall building windows or load and haul them to Siberia.
So many fortunate end up failures while unfortunate succeed.

Man and wife yesterday
driving a 20 year old ford F150 4x4 pulling the trailer with nice rims and tires in it and
360 degree mowers and trimmers. Obviously paid for a days work with new tires. Late
afternoon & Gassing up at the Moto Mart. Successful in their own minds.