THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EQUAL AND EQUITY
We are in times of great confusion, disunity, and distress. Vocabulary is being changed or distorted to fit the agenda of the woke, socialists, progressives, liberals, LGBTQ+ and unbelievers. It seems that we don’t even speak the same language anymore. The new controversy is over the terms “equal” and “equity”.
Webster describes equality as “being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.” Equity, which is still from the same Latin root word as equality, adds the element of justice and fairness. (If you would like a great discussion on these terms go here.) To make this difference in terms simple, both imply equalness but equity means we must constantly evaluate the cause of unequalness and devise a plan that will meet the needs of the unequal. The problem with that is thinking that humanity is wise enough to figure out what the need is and how to provide it. This is another liberal, humanistic dream to prove a lack of need for God.
We are in times of great confusion, disunity, and distress. Vocabulary is being changed or distorted to fit the agenda of the woke, socialists, progressives, liberals, LGBTQ+ and unbelievers. It seems that we don’t even speak the same language anymore. The new controversy is over the terms “equal” and “equity”.
Webster describes equality as “being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.” Equity, which is still from the same Latin root word as equality, adds the element of justice and fairness. (If you would like a great discussion on these terms go here.) To make this difference in terms simple, both imply equalness but equity means we must constantly evaluate the cause of unequalness and devise a plan that will meet the needs of the unequal. The problem with that is thinking that humanity is wise enough to figure out what the need is and how to provide it. This is another liberal, humanistic dream to prove a lack of need for God.
When I look at the box picture, my first thought is: find a different way to get what you need, then get the extra boxes yourself, save money buy a ticket (then you can sit down), put the small child on your shoulders as an example to the middle child of helping others. The apple tree picture is even more simple and presents more questions. Why are they not working together? Why would you take a short ladder to the tall side of the tree? Why would you try to change a mature tree to fit your needs? None of this makes sense to me, but maybe that’s because in the country you learn how to think through a problem and solve it. Both pictures are images of victimhood and that is the problem of today. Certain groups want extra consideration, financial help, free schooling, etc. because they feel abused, disliked, insecure. These people are constantly looking for handouts and reparations. In order to see from a different perspective, let’s look at three black men who were born either in slavery or poverty and were able to rise to success. |
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON was born a slave in Virginia in 1856. His mother was the cook for the plantation and Booker’s father was an unknown white man. He grew up in a one-room shack with little to eat, no bed to sleep on and no time to play. He was not able to go to school and no one was willing or able to teach him. When he was 9 years old, the Emancipation Proclamation was passed and he was free.
The family moved and Booker began working in the salt mines with his stepfather. He wanted to go to school, but his stepfather forbade it because of the money Booker was making. He eventually was able to go to school for a couple of hours here and there. He later worked in a coal mine and it was there that he heard about a negro college, Hampton University.
Booker eventually saved enough money for the 500-mile trip to Hampton. He arrived at Hampton with 50 cents; dirty, tired and with nowhere to go. He was interviewed for admission by the head teacher, who asked him to sweep the recitation room. He swept the room 3 times and then dusted it four times including the woodwork around the walls, every bench, table, and desk. Every piece of furniture had been moved and every closet and corner in the room had been thoroughly cleaned. When the head teacher returned with her white handkerchief checking everything, she said he was accepted into the school.
Mr. Washington would go on to founded the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Alabama to educate blacks to develop their talents for America’s industrial society. He believed that the way to build up and improve a country is for each person to build up and improve himself.
Read more about Booker T. Washington
The family moved and Booker began working in the salt mines with his stepfather. He wanted to go to school, but his stepfather forbade it because of the money Booker was making. He eventually was able to go to school for a couple of hours here and there. He later worked in a coal mine and it was there that he heard about a negro college, Hampton University.
Booker eventually saved enough money for the 500-mile trip to Hampton. He arrived at Hampton with 50 cents; dirty, tired and with nowhere to go. He was interviewed for admission by the head teacher, who asked him to sweep the recitation room. He swept the room 3 times and then dusted it four times including the woodwork around the walls, every bench, table, and desk. Every piece of furniture had been moved and every closet and corner in the room had been thoroughly cleaned. When the head teacher returned with her white handkerchief checking everything, she said he was accepted into the school.
Mr. Washington would go on to founded the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Alabama to educate blacks to develop their talents for America’s industrial society. He believed that the way to build up and improve a country is for each person to build up and improve himself.
Read more about Booker T. Washington
THOMAS SOWELL was born in North Carolina in 1930. He spent a lot of his early childhood migrating between cities due to family issues which required him to drop out of his high school. His family’s financial predicament forced him to work different jobs at a very young age; he worked at a machine shop and as a delivery boy for Western Union. He was soon inducted into the Marine Corps as an aspiring photographer. He managed this job while continuing his education, attending night classes at his high school.
Although Thomas had not finished high school, his armed services tests were enough to get him into Howard University, where he took night classes while working a full-time job. Sowell soon obtained a transfer to Harvard University on the back of impressive results in College Board examinations and positive recommendations from professors. Sowell graduated with a degree in economics in 1958, and then moved to Columbia University for his Master’s program, after which he completed is Ph.D. studies from the University of Chicago in 1968.
His claims that inequality which persists across ethnic groups bears no connection with discrimination, but has to do with the characteristics and attitudes that naturally belong to these groups. He is resistant towards government assistance of economically and socially challenged groups, which he believes discourages self-sufficiency and dependence.
He remains one of the great African American thinkers of his generation given his contributions not only towards the economics, but political philosophy and social theory as well.
Read more about Thomas Sowell
Although Thomas had not finished high school, his armed services tests were enough to get him into Howard University, where he took night classes while working a full-time job. Sowell soon obtained a transfer to Harvard University on the back of impressive results in College Board examinations and positive recommendations from professors. Sowell graduated with a degree in economics in 1958, and then moved to Columbia University for his Master’s program, after which he completed is Ph.D. studies from the University of Chicago in 1968.
His claims that inequality which persists across ethnic groups bears no connection with discrimination, but has to do with the characteristics and attitudes that naturally belong to these groups. He is resistant towards government assistance of economically and socially challenged groups, which he believes discourages self-sufficiency and dependence.
He remains one of the great African American thinkers of his generation given his contributions not only towards the economics, but political philosophy and social theory as well.
Read more about Thomas Sowell
BEN CARSON grew up in a single parent home in inner city Detroit. He lived in dire poverty, with poor grades and a horrible temper. His low self-esteem seemed to prevent the realization of his dream of being a doctor until his mother, with only a third-grade education, challenged him to strive for excellence. She observed successful people and encouraged her sons to emulate their behaviors, including reading. This led to behavior changes which had a profound effect on their education.
Ben eventually earned a scholarship to Yale University where he graduated in 1973. He went on to receive his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School. At the age of 33, Dr. Carson became the chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, making him the youngest major division director in the hospital’s history. He performed the first and only successful separation of craniopagus (Siamese) twins joined at the back of the head in 1987. He also performed the first fully successful separation of type-2 vertical craniopagus twins in 1997 in South Africa. In his career, Dr. Carson became a professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and directed pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center for over 29 years.
In 2016, Dr. Carson accepted the position of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under the Trump administration. After completing his tenure as the 17th Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2021, Dr. Carson founded the American Cornerstone Institute. This organization is focused on fighting for the principles that have guided him through life and that make this country great: faith, liberty, community and life.
Read more about Ben Carson
Ben eventually earned a scholarship to Yale University where he graduated in 1973. He went on to receive his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School. At the age of 33, Dr. Carson became the chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, making him the youngest major division director in the hospital’s history. He performed the first and only successful separation of craniopagus (Siamese) twins joined at the back of the head in 1987. He also performed the first fully successful separation of type-2 vertical craniopagus twins in 1997 in South Africa. In his career, Dr. Carson became a professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and directed pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center for over 29 years.
In 2016, Dr. Carson accepted the position of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under the Trump administration. After completing his tenure as the 17th Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2021, Dr. Carson founded the American Cornerstone Institute. This organization is focused on fighting for the principles that have guided him through life and that make this country great: faith, liberty, community and life.
Read more about Ben Carson
As you can see from these men’s lives, that their background of poverty, their lack of fathers, and their being black did not keep them from being successful. They worked hard, they studied hard, and they refused to be denied. Dr. Carson and Thomas Sowell have made it clear that they disapprove of providing handouts and reparations because they develop further dependency and stifle ingenuity, hard work and success.
This is justice and fairness!
KLN
This is justice and fairness!
KLN