The dirty whore word

 I find the term equality to be a particularly nasty word. Other than the inability to say it without feeling like I may have popped a saliva bubble, it tends to lead to some devastating things in life. I mean, c'mon, the United States was founded on equality... with exception of women, non-European minorities, the poor, the relatively uneducated, but I digress.

I typically notice how this word is thrown around until it challenges a common conception or belief. At one point all whites were equal where blacks weren't, or men were equal and women slacked, and now today, all straights are equal but SGL's ( Same-Gender Loving) aren't. Although we may believe by mouth, we don't believe it really, do we?

Let's start off with the basics: first there is equality of opportunity. This is the idea that most people don't believe dominate the American culture. We all "believe" that relatively everyone should have the same opportunities as another. This is the driving force of our capitalistically influenced economy and pretty much across the board when it comes to life. We declare "you had the same ability to do what I did," not counting the multiple disabilities that wreak havoc on our culture (once again, I am tapping into something that will cause some controversy).

Secondly, there is equality of results, which is typically impossible, even within the confines of a more socialistic government. This means that no matter what the means are, everyone gets about the same result. So what we'll do with this equality is take it and fling it out the window (nice knowing you, kid).

What makes the word equality so slutty? How it sounds! (still minding that slightly gross -kwa- sound)

It sounds great to say everyone has the equality of opportunity, doesn't it? Timmy went to a rough school, did well according to their low standards, had a single father home and he didn't get into Harvard on account of his own. His 3.5 GPA just wasn't what they were looking for. He had the same opportunity to get in as John whose parents both went to Harvard and paid his way through private school, although he did have a few rough patches...

This is normal, this is what we deal with. From the gay marriage debate (which shouldn't even be a legal issue, but another note is necessary for that one) to tax code, we see small loopholes in our revoltingly flawed equalized system... But relax people, it's just life.