Thursday, October 16, 2014

Inequality - By whose yardstick?

For the Write Tribe Festival - Rediscovering your blogging groove

Day 6 - Ask a question on Inequality

Inequality is defined by the Free Dictionary as

The lack of equality, as of opportunity, treatment, or status

We find inequality in all things: there is educational inequality, social inequality, gender inequality, wealth inequality,  We are always comparing one against the other. We are either too thin or too fat, too short or too tall, rich or poor, aristocratic or uncultured, educated or illiterate, powerful or meek, in high positions or low ones, highly paid or not paid enough, favoured or picked on, privileged or underprivileged. We've even brought discrimination into religious beliefs. And by this list alone, inequality paints a pretty bleak picture.

But the Libra in me needs to look at both sides of the coin.  Inequality provides us the means to improve our lot in life, to grow and expand our knowledge. Perhaps even more importantly to learn to make peace with our lives, to learn humility and compassion, to learn to overcome hardships, to share and help, and to learn contentment. For if all things were equal and there was nothing more to do, then what would be the point of life itself?

There is of course gender inequality that does need to be addressed particularly in patriarchal societies where women and girls really do get the raw end of the stick. But perhaps if we shifted our focus to the wonderful things that women and girls have achieved rather than focussing on the atrocities, we might create that shift in thinking. You know, collective consciousness is powerful.

This morning as I was reading my book these words jumped out at me:

"Never assume that anyone is fortunate or unfortunate because of the way things appear to be. Fortune or misfortune is just a human way of measuring."

And that got me thinking about inequality from a spiritual perspective.

Can I be sure that your life is better than mine or that mine is better than someone elses? We each walk our own path and we each have a pre planned blueprint of our life.  By whose yardstick do we measure equality? So my question is:

Do we have the right to change the course of someone's soul learning by obliterating inequality?

Probably not and chances are that we will be unable to.

We do however have the right to fight for the injustices and atrocities that are conducted in the name of inequality or by circumstances created by it. And along the way we shall win some and we shall lose some and perhaps fighting to obliterate injustices and atrocities and thereby create a better world is the point of it all.

May you find the means to make peace with your life.

Related posts:
Day 1 - Write a List  - When Life Disappoints
Day 2 - Answer a Question -  What Would You Wish For
Day 3 - Book Review - Afterlife of Billy Fingers
Day 4 - A Link Post - Linking some blog linkups
Day 5 -  Pulling Tips Out Of A Bag


Warm Regards
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10 comments:

  1. You've hit the nail on the head. Inequality itself is not wrong. In fact, it is desirable in some situations. As you say, what is wrong is "the injustices and atrocities that are conducted in the name of inequality or by circumstances created by it."

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    1. Thanks Proactiveindian. This may not be a popular point of view but I am pretty tired of people constantly moaning about inequality and their lot in life. Glad you understood my point of view.

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  2. This is such a balanced post Suzy..You know Inequality has seeped in to every aspect of life..But then again the question is , as you rightly pointed out, how do we measure it?

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    1. Thanks Naba. A spiritual view always places a completely different twist on life.

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  3. Do we have the right to change the course of someone's soul learning by obliterating inequality?
    That is such a strong and powerful question. I too agree that everything happens for a reason. Thought provoking post Suzy.

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    1. Thanks Inderpreet. Who are we to interfere in God's great plan or in someone else's soul plan. Glad you liked my post.

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  4. That is indeed a very potent question Suzy! When I read about major inequality with Indian women just yesterday and a few days ago about an Iranian woman who was hanged as a result of killing the man who raped her...they wouldn't have done that to him as a result of rape nor if he had killed her. But then when you add the 'soul' element, well that changes things a bit perhaps...I don't have an answer to this one I'm afraid even though I do have the ability to see both sides of a coin most times! <3

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    1. Thanks Elly. A soul view is a difficult one to understand especially with our human views. But one to ponder over.

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  5. I agree with you completely, in that our life journey is all about learning. You put it so well by saying: For if all things were equal and there was nothing more to do, then what would be the point of life itself? We should never stop learning until we draw our last breath.

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    1. Thanks Francene. Life is all about growth and learning. Glad you got the essence of my post.

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