The Pilgrim’s Relevancy: Book VII (Equal Rights)

Pilgrim            As the two men walked away, Christian and his companion saw News and Film entering the city. By listening to their conversation, Christian learned that they were in this city to report on the modern equality movement. Apparently, it was born in love and on the premise that all people, regardless of race, creed or gender should be not only tolerated, but also accepted. With News and Film, Christian saw another man and hasted to introduce himself so that he could follow the interesting research.

____________________________

Book I,  Book VIII

____________________________

“Hello, friends!” Christian said as he made his way across the street.

News rolled his eyes, “Oh it’s you…”

Film also weighed in, “Yes, the one who accused us of living only in the dark. Ah, and with someone new I see.”

“You don’t recognize me?” asked Witness, “I was there at the restaurant.”

“Surely you are not the same woman,” Film insisted, “I haven’t even seen such transformation in Hollywood. How is this possible?”

Witness only knew to say that the King had made her whole.

“The King?” asked the man standing with News and Film, “I am very interested in learning about the King.”

Christian responded, “What is your name?”

The man explained how he had dedicated his life to the criticism of all sorts of ways and that he had spent some time offering criticism to the way of the King only to learn that such a way had both intelligent responses to criticisms against it and offered healthy criticisms of his own way. “My name is Critic,” he explained.

“Wait,” News interjected, “I report often on how the King’s people make just as many mistakes, and unintelligent ones at that, as the rest of us: maybe even more.”

“Yes,” Critic answered, “but I find it curious that people, such as yourself, find that they can judge the way of the King by ignoring the King entirely; only observing His subjects. Surely you wouldn’t judge me by observing my affiliates? No, you would look at what I have done. So I looked to criticize the King for His own actions and I found that He was ever merciful: even allowing people in darkness to see the light and even reaching so far across the chasm; even transforming people like Witness. Any attempt I made to criticize such action only led to the destruction of my own pride.”

Film spoke up, “I hate to rush this, but we do have an interview to get to. Why don’t you two join us?” he motioned toward Christian and Witness.

They walked around the corner together and into a coffee shop where a woman sat topless at one of the tables. He enjoyed the sight, but was morally appalled by the immodesty. He sat with the group and did not interrupt the interview.

“Please tell us your name,” said News as Film moved the camera and microphone into place.

The topless woman responded, “My name is Equality.”

“Thanks for meeting with us.” News replied, “Would you tell us about this movement?”

The movement was placed under the title of “Women’s Equality” and ranged from the right women should have to fight in the military to the acceptance of women’s freedom to wear just as little as men had the right to wear. She elaborated little, but did include the idea that this movement was not simply about women’s equality, but about equality in general. She wanted ethnic, religious, political, age and gender equality. “Basically, equality means that there ought to be no designation because of differences and there ought not be judgment cast from any one person to another. Everyone should receive the same opportunities, the same pay, the same recognition and the same rights.”

Critic replied, “Is your idea of equality based on the worth of individuals, or on the benefits afforded to them?”

Equality answered instantly, “Yes!”

“I don’t see how you can have both…” Critic insisted.

“Well, we have to have both.” Equality motioned, “How could we not?”

Critic smiled, “I am so glad you asked. To define equality both by worth and benefits given is contradictory:

Do you really think that all people are equal in worth?”

Equality responded eagerly, “Yes! I alrea…”

Critic interrupted, “I do too,

But I’m pretty sure that places a demand on me to serve.

You see, the sexist has it wrong

That’s obvious

Parades and immodesty only seem to exacerbate the problem

Here’s the great curve ball thrown by the idea of equality:

If people are truly equal

There must be a moral standard

By which equality is heard

If there is no standard, there is no morality and equality is a false notion

But we believe in equality like we believe in the existence of the ocean

Therefore morality is equally not an option

The implications are astronomical!

Because we believe in equality, we have to consider our own morality

Because there is a standard, it’s possible that we may display

The wrong banner

Equality means that what is right is right for everyone

Equality means that people cannot just do what they want

It means there is a right way to practice sexuality

A right way to address discrimination

A right way to challenge the government

A right way to live

The great irony is that those who demand equality

Encourage every life philosophy

Even if it does not meet

Equality’s own standard for morality

So be careful not to add colors to equality’s flag

Else it become imbalanced

And full of intolerance

At equality’s own hand, equality gags.

What I am trying to say is this: You claim that all people ought to receive equal shares in culture. This is equality based on benefit, not on worth. If we were to base equality on worth, then there would be an underlying ethic guiding the actions of all people equally. When we strive for equal benefits, though, we undermine the very ethic that makes equality possible: namely that all people were created with equal worth. When that ethic is undermined, the fight for equality becomes a fight against all other ways. The idea of equality itself becomes discrimatory against ways that disagree with equal benefit because they are based on the moral principle that all people are equal in worth.”

Equality, confused, replied, “I’m not really sure what you just said…”

Christian spoke up, “I think he is saying that it does not seem as though you care for what is right, only for what you can get. It seems that you are using equality to pursue a very selfish end.”

“And what do you believe about the issue?” she asked Christian directly.

He answered, “I believe that all people are worth just as much in the eyes of the King, and that all people are equally subject to the King. This means that there is a right way to live and a wrong way to live, for everyone. Differences in function are not differences in worth, but when we use the idea of equality to achieve selfish ends or to change function, we undermine equality itself and we make ourselves out to be very foolish people…”

Equality stood, took her coffee and stormed out of the door.

Witness chased her out. When she caught up, she gave the most important piece of information, “It also means that the King equally desires that all people come to Him and find true love and true acceptance. We have nothing to prove to people, especially people who think they are worth so much more than we are. True equality means that you don’t have to rely on people for your security.”

Leave a Reply

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com

Up ↑