It's the apex of the political season, and once again we frequently hear the soaring, poetic language of the Enlightenment of the late-18th century. The unfulfilled dream encompassed by the phrase ". . . all men are created equal . . ." is heard over and over again at political conventions and in stump speeches. Like much of the rhetoric of our founders, it is much more aspirational than true, and maybe that was Jefferson's intent. It is pure poetry.
And yet . . . . Ah, and yet. I cringe every single time I hear it. I know it is a direct quote. I know it is sheer poetry. I know it should be taken as more inclusive that it literally is. I know that, and still it makes me cringe.
For those who say "men" means all of mankind, and of course it includes women, let me offer a brief, although completely true vignette.
In 1983 the University of North Dakota was celebrating its centennial. The official motto of the university is "Lux et Lex," or "Light and Law." The university conducted a contest to adopt a centennial motto, asking the public to submit suggestions that included or somehow referenced the concept of Lux et Lex. During the year-long celebration, the winning entry was adopted and unveiled.
When I say unveiled, I mean that literally. The centennial motto was secretly installed on a prominent spot on a wall at Chester Fritz Library, then covered with a shroud. During a presentation, the shroud was removed and the motto revealed. The motto adopted by the university was, "By the light of knowledge, men read the laws of life." Not all were pleased. The next day, students entering the Fritz were confronted by a hand-painted banner that hung below the official motto, amending it. The wall on the Fritz now read, "By the light of knowledge, men read the laws of life, while women read the Ladies' Home Journal."
The following day, the official centennial motto was "fixed." The banner was taken down, and the permanent letters were rearranged. It now says, "By the light of knowledge, we read the laws of life." If one were to go into the Fritz today, almost 30 years later, one could look carefully at the motto on the wall and see that the "w" in "we" is an upside-down "m" - the "m" that was removed from "men" and used to change that to "we."
I am a man. I understand that "all men are created equal" is a direct quote. I understand that it is poetic. I still cringe when I hear it.
If the phrase Jefferson had used were "all white men are created equal," and if that phrase were equally poetic to the true phrase, would we constantly repeat it today without editing? Of course not. (Well, our party wouldn't.) Does it in any way diminish our history if we say "all men and women are created equal"? Or even "all women and men are created equal"? (Why do women always have to go last?)
By the way, while all men and women may be created equal, North Dakota's Heidi Heitkamp has matured into a far superior human than her U.S. Senate opponent, Rick Berg. Please give what you can to fight against the $3 million the national Republicans are dumping into the race by clicking on the ActBlue page at Kossacks for Heidi