Equity
“If
we don’t figure out a way to create equity, real equity, of opportunity and
access, to good schools, housing, health care, and decent paying jobs, we’re
not going to survive as a productive and healthy society.”
Tim
Wise
On
Dictionary.com, equity is defined as “the quality of being fair or
impartial.” Under the Constitution, and according to all sacred scriptures,
we are to strive for equity in all things. The example used for equity in the
dictionary is from the Hebrew Bible: Solomon’s solution for two women from the
same household who each claimed that a baby belonged to them. Solomon said the
equitable solution was cutting the baby in half and giving half to each mother.
Of course, the real mother declined that solution, and it was she who got the
baby. (Kings 3:16-28)
There
is a paradox in America today—we demand fairness, but we don’t want to
sacrifice anything to achieve it. “Not in my backyard,” we say. Or not at my
school, or not in my club. Our favorite thing now is to buy enormous vehicles
that get ten miles per gallon, pay insane amounts of money for them, then turn
around and complain that it costs too much to fill the tank because of our President.
Seriously? Small-business owners rally against increasing the minimum wage,
saying they would have to close their business, cut their workforce, lay people
off, etc. And they would if the goal is to preserve their own income at its
current level, with annual raises. On the other hand, poor people who are paid those
minimum wages must work two or three jobs to clothe and feed their children. Does
that seem equitable to you?
I had a
dream just before waking this morning—a voice said to me, “Whatever you do for
equity, you do for me.” I don’t know where that dream came from, nor whose voice
spoke to me, but I know that it’s true for all of us and not just for me. It’s true
if we are to continue to be a “productive and healthy society.” It’s
also true if we want to walk our talk when we pledge, “Justice and Mercy for
all.” Equity extends to all God’s children, not just a few.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
No comments:
Post a Comment