Wouldn't that be just peachy? To have a world where nobody is different from one another?
..Nnno. That'd inevitably suck actually. Equality... what does that even mean anymore? You use the correct definition of the word and you're told you're too literal. You ask for the someone else's definition and all people can give you is a list of very specific things people aren't allowed to do. I hate the term equality--For becoming a meaningless label that masquerades around as if it weren't one.
We can only bully and oppress the opinions of those we disagree with so hard before the illusion of justice caves in on itself and the delusional start to see reality and abandon the cause to quell the guilt that threatens to devour their hearts and minds.
There will always be those of us that believe that one should be entitled to the sweat of their brow, and there will always be those that believe that we should be required to donate that sweat to a greater good. Here in America, we have a saying; we hold this truth to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. Keyword 'created'
That is to say, one is created equal, but one does not remain equal. One advances their position by proving their worth or they are left behind. Unfortunately this does not apply simply to one's mark on the world but also to social situations. By our very nature it is impossible to separate our view of someone's value from how we treat them. Is that perfect? Maybe not. Everything about our culture from monogamy to the punishment of criminals show that we do not treat all people as equals is a living testament to the fact that we treat people differently based on perceived value. It's, for better or worse, the reality and something we simply cannot change.
That being said, things that are present upon your 'creation' are not a factor in your value. Or at least, that's the rule. You see, there's an exception there too where nature makes this impossible. As individuals, we are doomed to be unable to value males and females the same. It's chemically built into our brains, and so long as we maintain our basic reproductive instincts we will be unable to ignore sex completely on some level. Me? I actually don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. Equal treatment and opportunity in the workplace, professionally, is possible, and that's the /huge/ important part. The rest is individual value, and I dare say we as individuals are ready to work out how we feel about men and women on a strictly personal basis without the government interfering. I for one am sick and tired of having sexual ideals forced upon myself and my friends, as if all women and all men are supposed to be the same or even remotely consistent. Individual variety is far too powerful of a factor for such things.
In addition, while ideally every person deserves a basic level of respect, care, and trust, we cannot force a person to hold such ideals. It is not our right, nor was it ever, to attempt to make an opinion illegal or otherwise enforce an opinion's acceptance or denial via threat of punishment beyond that which is social.
You may say it's wrong to hate, but I'd say it's a lot worse to tell someone they are not allowed to hate. I hear far more intolerance from those who claim to be fighting for the greater good than I do from those who think less of others. As usual however, the majority manages to be misguided in their passion. Even as they brutally oppress their fellow person they will claim to be fighting for 'equality', and may even claim to be fighting for 'freedom' to be oneself while they're at it. In reality, these are shallow labels, the actual definition of the word often completely lost or downright contradicted by the cause itself.
...I'm depressingly calculating.
Anyway, one's value is ultimately decided on an individual basis. Because of this, because of individualism, equality in any sense of the word is impossible and there needs to be a point where we stop trying to achieve it. But hey, if we're just looking to improve the life conditions for those in need we've been doing a pretty good job of that. Since, from what I gather that's what the real intent of the fight for 'equality' has ever been.
