Now for the article….I read a quote recently, thanks to Holly at PFLAG for pointing this out, that almost floored me.  Here’s the quote:

            “I come from a family committed to civil rights. My faith tells me that we are all children of God — equally loved, equally cherished, equally entitled to the rights He grants us all." 

            If I were to read this without knowing who the quoted person was, I would think it might be something Martin Luther King, Jr., might have said.  Or perhaps even Demond Tutu.  Unfortunately, it is neither.  This was a quote taken from a July 20, 2006, address given to the NAACP by none other than George W. Bush.

            Perhaps he really believes that he embodies the definition of social justice.
Perhaps he really believes that we are all children of God, but when the word “equality” is mentioned, that pushes the button of hypocrisy.  Not even the farthest right, ultra conservative Christian can explain that one.  If you are convinced that President Bush believes in equality, I have the prime location for sale in Iraq that harbors weapons of mass destruction.

            Maybe I’m being too hard on “W.”  Maybe I really don’t know what the definition of equality is, so here goes…let’s see, q comes after p that rhymes with e that comes after d…okay, here it is, the Marion Webster definition:

            “The state or quality of being equal.”

            What is the definition of equal?  I’m glad you asked:

            “As great as; the same as…balanced…like or alike in quantity, degree, value, etc….”

            Okay, just as W. doesn’t read newspapers, I guess he doesn’t read dictionaries either.  Or perhaps his speech writers don’t read them. 

            W. has some splainin’ to do, Lucy!  How is it that you can believe we are all equal, but your actions don’t support that belief?  It’s starting to sound a little like another man of faith, doesn’t it?  Hint, Mel Gibson spews anti-Semitic verbiage, but really isn’t a bigot.  Can I get a witness?  How is it that we are all equal, except when it comes to marriage rights or domestic partner rights?  How is it that oil companies can make hundreds of millions in profit, but complain that it’s the cost of crude that is causing the skyrocketing gas prices?  I digress…

            Our world is full of hypocrisy.  I admit it.  I can be very hypocritical at times.  We all have issues that we flip/flop on.  No one is perfect.  The frustration for me comes when someone uses the word “equal” to impress a community that has been oppressed for hundreds of years, then turns around and double standards another community.

            For most of us, equality is an ambiguous experience.  The only way we will be able to feel the truth of equality is if we join together as a community and battle injustice that pervades politics, religious literalism and humanity.  Within this month, we find a specific day designated as National Coming Out Day.  Let’s not only come out of the closet of sexual orientation, but let’s also rid ourselves of any injustice that we personally perpetuate.  I hope you will all join me in a fervent prayer of hope that some day soon, equality will be defined by the actions of each one of us.