Rambling thoughts on the 4th of July

4th of July fireworks

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. 

The above words are from the Declaration of Independence. They were written by Thomas Jefferson, with an assist from Benjamin Franklin. They are a distillation of John Locke and other Enlightenment philosophers' thoughts. 

It is a tremendously revolutionary statement, one that we often underestimate. In the bulk of human history, and its societies, individuals have been neither autonomous nor equal. There is the King and his underlings, and below them a stratum of ever more insignificant souls. Each in his own place.

This will seem like an odd detour for a 4th of July post, but bear with me. I've read one Chinese novel, the Story of the Stone (a.k.a. Dream of the Red Chamber) by Cáo Xuěqín. It's set in the 18th Century and follows the affairs of two clans of the Jia family that live in mansions next to each other and are at the peak of their power and influence. Aside from some mystical tomfoolery framing the novel, it is actually a very naturalistic look at going-on of the households. It is thought to be autobiographical in a lot of its details.

To get back to 'all men are created equal', that is certainly not the case in this story. There are some 440 characters in the novel, and each has their place in the social order. They range from the Dowager at the top, down through her children and grandchildren, their wives, husbands and children, and eventually to the consorts, maids and servants who are all either slaves or peasants.

The social order is very strict. The second volume takes place during a summer and the dowager is always throwing tea parties (which invariably turn into drinking parties). As each character enters the party, they have to calculate which chair to sit in. This is not a trivial choice; sitting too close to the matriarch is a gaffe because you are assuming a higher status than you deserve, while sitting too far away means you're losing face because you are minimizing your position. And if you're a maid? Screw up and you'll get a beating or, if worse comes to worse, you'll get tossed down a well.

I did that detour into the Story of the Stone because throughout human history, in some way, shape or form, almost all societies have been structured that way. Each person has their place; some will eat gruel while others sit at banquets. That is the way it is, and the way it should be. It is a sobering view. 

That's why on the 4th of July I am always drawn to Jefferson's 'all men are created equal'. It is a truly revolutionary thought. It levels castes. Further it states that all men, no matter what their station in life, are entitled to life, liberty and to pursue whatever path to happiness they desire. That passage, so plain and clearly stated, has planted a seed that resonates so powerfully that even despots feel they need to pay it lip service.

So that first 4th of July in 1776, in spite of the twists and turns that emanated from it, is an inflection point. You and I, and all the rest of us, are equal. While there are many would-be masters who would like me to worry about what chair to sit on, I'll not be bothered to make their desired choice. Happy 4th of July.