While Americas founding feels hypocritical because it certainly wasnt equal for everyone when it was founded in 1776 🇺🇲 - it was a profound moment when you put it in the context of the times during which the majority of the worlds population were illiterate peasants/surfs
( based on a Twitter thread here )
Slavery was up to that point not only legal and widely practiced around the world for thousands of years ( including white slaves ) but also poorly understood for its negative effects on a nation’s #economicefficiency — another concept that was poorly worked out under monarchies!
Women, in almost every kingdom were also treated as men’s property. To the extent that women in America got the right to vote later than some other countries in 1920 — and we’re only granted economic freedom 50 years ago with the advent of computerized automation in the 1970s!
All the fabulous people who are in LGBTQ+ were not in the running for equal rights in 1776 because that just was not a thing people could wrap their heads around back then due 2 the domination of public discourse by the Church in all aspects of life and the very fabric of society
And neither was equality of individuals who are either neurodivergent or who have physical/mental disabilities considered because the science, ethics and economic ramifications had not caught up with the times yet
However taking the revolutionary steps to set up a framework robust enough to scale long term for continually redefining what equality meant, separating the church from the state, creating a legal system above any king, and taking the first step by making the majority equals…
..is sort of a miracle when you really think about it! 🤔
The first step to equality only happened because the British Empire was too far away from the 13 colonies, communication and transportation were inneficient — and in many key situations simply due to pure dumb luck 🇺🇲💥🇬🇧
America is fundamentally a different country in core principles from the rest of the world because in the age of kings ruling by divine providence of cults, Americans grasped that the concept of equality between individuals — equal under the law — was an economic superpower! 🚀
While things are far from perfect, we have come a long way. While things are still not great for many, we continue to have important conversations and strive for the kind of universal liberty, equality and justice for all, that was envisioned in the #TheDeclarationOfIndependence
And while were still living in a democracy where rule of law works and where no King/Autocrat/Mobster rules over us we continue to freely have our voices heard, free from fear and with the mutual respect of working together in nonviolent progress that sets the example 4 the world
It is inevitable that #hard conversations about the legacy of slavery in America and the voting rights ( or lack there of ) of Americans with non-white skin will continue Because I am an American, I believe that our #DiversityIsStrength — and I know we will come out strong!
