Equality - what does it mean to you? Dictionary.com defines equality as being the state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability, but what does equality mean to you. Many of you may believe that you are always showing equality in your life because you aren’t racist or because you happen to conform to what the media define as acceptable.
Think of your everyday life. Has there never been a moment when you thought to yourself “Hey, so-in-so looks fat in those pants” or said to your friends “Wow that guy is weird”. Think back, because I know that every one of you has said or thought a rude comment about someone else, because I am one of you. We all judge others so quickly and don’t see our own flaws before calling out other peoples. Albert Einstein once said “Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.” Each of us come in to the world already having a label based on skin colour, gender, ethnicity, wealth, etc. But it’s what we do to overcome these labels that define who we truly are.
John Hughes wrote in the movie The Breakfast Club “You see us as you want to see us: in the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions.” We see each other for the things on the outside and have to work to see what is hiding within. It used to be that if someone was black they would have to sit at the back of the bus and work in another classroom but we, at least in Canada, overcame that and now blacks, whites, Asians, Muslims, everyone can sit with and be friends with whomever they want to be. But there are still stereotypes of each race that indicate racism. These stereotypes were created by people who just wanted to bring hatred to the human community. But it’s not just racism that’s a problem. Sexual orientation, attack on personal appearance, religion; all of these are examples of ways equality isn’t shown. But we can change that.
Our generation is evolving and accepting things that were unheard of before, but there are too many times when we still let the bullying take over. It all starts in high school. If you see a kid getting picked on, stand up for him. All you have to do is take a stand once for the bullying to end and the equality to begin. Sure, it is scary standing up for someone when you are taking the risk of being excluded yourself, but take that chance. We are all equals. That’s what the Human Rights Charter is for. So next time you hear a racist comment or see a young boy about to get punched, say something and stand up for them. You’ll see that your small actions and words can make a world of differences.
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