"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." —The Declaration of Independence
I have often wondered what was going through Thomas Jefferson's head as he wrote those words. During an age when your bloodline determined your social standing, an age of kings, he sat down and wrote that all men are created equal. What a bold statement to make in 1776. All men are created equal. We certainly have not fulfilled that promise some 239 years later, but—that is the promise of America, it is those words that inspire us. That make us strive to be better than the generations before us.
During the earliest days of our nation that phrase meant all white landowners are created equal. Over time it came to be all white men are created equal. Equality for all has come in fits and starts in our nation. We fought a war to free those who were in bondage; however, those who were freed would not know equality for almost another one hundred years. Even today those with darker skin do not have the same equality as those who have white skin. But, as time marches on equality will come.
Over the past week we saw history made, I would say almost on par with Brown v. the Board of Education. It now no longer matters who you love, you can marry them now. But, we still have a long way to go on that front too.
The promise of those words written 239 years ago was not an empty promise, and the definition of "all men" has changed over the years. It will continue to evolve, and change as my son's generation, and his children's generation grow.
Someday, we will, as a nation, finally live up to those words that were written so long ago. It will take time, there will be setbacks, there will be gains. But equality will happen. I do not know when. But those words, "All men are created equal," are worth pursuing for a lifetime.