"We are ALL created equal"

 I recently visited the city of my youth, from age 2 until age 19. The city? Cincinnati Ohio. When I was young, I thought it was a great place to grow up. And even today I think it a good city (and surrounding cities too) is a good place to raise a family. But now that I have visited there and other countries, I realized there is a 'Caste System' there and in all cities and countries.  

Now I did not grow up blind to that fact, and I am sure you did not either. I just went along with what I was taught, but did not always believe it or followed that theology. And I still do not. I make a practice to take each person for themselves no matter what, unless their actions cause me to believe different, but everyone does that.

I believe each of us were taught certain standards others should obey and abide by. But different areas of our country, and other countries, believed certain cultures, races and religions were below their social hierarchy that divided people by birth, occupation or lineage. According to their narratives, people who were different were privative, uneducable, and inferior. Those lower Caste people were looked down upon and many time held down from achieving a better life.

During my visit to Cincinnati, they have a wonderful 'Freedom Museum' which not only told the stories of slaves escaping the South through Cincinnati, but also other countries that still practice slavery in one from or another, like child sweat shops, forced prostitution, indentured servants, and human trafficking.

I was once told, "Don't to play with black kids because they were not like us." Jokingly I said, "Yeah, they're black." But that did not mean I thought they were less of a human than me. There was kid attending my high school who had a crippling disability that other kids joked about behind his back. I'd tell them, "It's not his choice to be that way!" 

Some people get really upset when they see one animal killing another. But sometimes human can be just as cruel to others mentally and physically. Unfortunately it has been our case for centuries. They say prostitution is the oldest profession in the world, but I believe the persecution of cultures, races and religions has got to come in second, and maybe first.

President Lincoln and the bible told us, "We are ALL created equal". Then maybe it just about time to start using those five words in real life daily. I don't look down at anyone … except my dog and maybe my youngest grandchildren only because they are shorter than me, for now. The dog will never get taller. You get it. Take care and stay safe.