People think that equal treatment and equal protection are not important. They might want to reconsider.
People don’t change their hearts and minds overnight.
But awareness and education go a long way towards this goal.
If more people understood the price of exclusion, the consequences of the lack of equal protection, and the harm and damage perpetuated when acts of hate, violence, and disregard continue, maybe they wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the importance of equal rights.
It’s harder to “other” someone when you realize they are a person, and that you would never want someone you love – or yourself – treated the way they are.
Equality on paper won’t solve everything, and if there’s anything we’ve learned it’s that equality on paper doesn’t always mean equality in reality.
But it’s a start.
Photo credit: Ben Townsend/Flickr
Photo credit: other98.com
JJ,
Well said. Thank you for this message.