Equality
What is equality? The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence says, 'All men are created equal.' I can sit on the bench in a busy public place and see that all men are not alike. There are some rich, poor, tall, short, skinny, and so forth...
At times my grandparents took our laundry to the laundry mat. It probable began as an in the winter happening, but became a regular event after a few years.
One year when I was small—as in young—we took our laundry into town, and my cousin Coco and I were given a small amount of money to buy candy at the local five and dime. It was probably only five or maybe ten cents a piece. In those days, the later 1950s that was a lot of money, especially for a child.
The woman at the store always watched children like they were escaped thieves just waiting to go on a spree and steal her blind. We were very honest children, but we were also very careful about what we chose for our treats. We looked everything over, and it took us quite a while to make our selections.
One particular day for some reason I ran out of money or candy, or some such thing before Coco did. I remember sitting on my Grandma's lap crying. I have no idea why I was in such dire straits, Grandma always gave us each the same amount. For some reason Grandma gave me a few pennies more as I remember it, which made it all better. I can't imagine Grandma being unfair, and I don't remember the entire happening, but to this day I wonder what was I thinking?
Money was always scarce when I was growing up. We weren't pampered spoiled children, but why did I think I deserved more? Or maybe I was just crying and feeling sorry for myself not really expecting to get anything. It probably was split between Coco and I since we both were content.
I've seen two people who start out with the same beginnings, but only one person becomes successful. Was life throwing more success at the one and not the other?
A few years ago an acquaintance and I were discussing income equality. His idea was that some people had 'unfair' advantage and they ought to share their advantage with less fortunate people. I gave him three examples to show that it wasn't a race issue, nor an unfair advantage issue.
My son was driving 'over the road', from coast to coast. On the one coast he had some truck problems, and he was stuck at the truck repair yard a few days. While he waited to get back on the road again there were two immigrants (I believe from one of the Caribbean Islands) that had a business. Every day they brought in meals five dollars a plate for the 'plat du jour' . It was always good food, and my son was thankful he didn't have to try to find some place close to get meals. He and they struck up a sort of friendship.
Several weeks later he was on the West coast making a delivery. While waiting to be unloaded he went across the highway where another vendor was selling Mexican food. These vendors were doing the same thing the men from the other state had been doing. They did the same thing every day at lunch time.
My third example was of the first American woman to become a self-made millionaire—Mrs. C.J. Walker. She was born in 1867, the first freeborn child of her parents. In 1905 she began a hair care business catering to the African-American women of her day. She has a very interesting and inspiring story.
https://www.biography.com/people/madam-cj-
walker-9522174
What these three examples have in common is not that the people are of a 'privileged color', nor do they have an excellent education. They are successful because they saw an opportunity, and they weren't afraid to apply them selves to fill that opportunity.
Carpe diem— seize the day.
