"Equality may perhaps be a right, but no power on earth can ever turn it into a fact."-Honore de Balzac

Men and women alike, have never been, are not, and will never be equal.  Disregarding the suppositions about racial segregation, religious beliefs, gender, and various other controversial equality topics, allow me to focus on the primitive subject of man himself.  We may lay claim that we are as important or equally influential to society as our neighbor, believe me I have once felt so myself, but I, you, we, and everyone else are misled.  

A Thousand Splendid Suns is the quintessential example of a complete mockery of equality.  On the surface we can all agree that man and woman's rights differed from equivalence on the most basic principles of life, such as law.  But law is not what I am referring to.  My raid against equality is limited to the specific integrity, personal strength, and value of the individual.  Centuries of consistent mistakes have led us to accept that there is good and evil in everyone.  But what if the cups were unbalanced?  What if some deserved more than others?  What if we could condone the death of one and stake revenge for the slaying of another?  Abraham Lincoln once said, "Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal," but Lincoln lived quite a different life than the individuals of this world today. 

Before you stake your disagreement with me right away, observe the evidence.  During the course of reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, conceptions began to spring within my mind, some disturbingly hostile towards the cruel and unusual tendencies of the creatures of this world.  When individuals state proudly that all men are created equal, picture in your head Laila and Rasheed.  Are they created equally?  Rasheed brutally beats his wives because of his distaste in minor aspects of his lifestyle.  Resentful of uncontrollable facts, Rasheed takes vengeance in a violent and inconceivable manner.  Laila, on the other hand, stands in her husband’s face and states his faults, cowardice tendencies, and unjust behavior.  She looks him in the eye and mocks his cruelty.  He hits, she hits back.  The strength within Laila’s character exceeds Rasheed’s tenfold. 

Some will claim justification for the actions of others.  The way an individual is raised affects their character.  It does not have to.   Some are just stronger than others, perhaps not physically, but mentally, emotionally.  Take Mariam for example.  She was raised to believe she was a bastard child, an unwanted child.  Her mother consistently reminded her of the hardships she had caused and the shame of her existence.  Even after Mariam is dejected by her father, she still maintains a sense of self strength, love, and power.  She is a different person, a better person than those around her.  She cannot be compared with Jalil, Rasheed, or even Laila.  In the end, Mariam had the strength and courage to face the unfairness of law as she offered herself to the Taliban for the murder of Rasheed.  Despite the tears and indecencies of the “bravest” men, Mariam faced her death with pride and acceptance.  She was unlike other people.  She was not equal. 

Everyone has choices no matter what the circumstances are.  Different choices lead to a different class of human.  Take My Lai for example.  Dozens of Vietnamese citizens, who were unarmed, were massacred over the course of a day.  Many argued that the mental conditions of the American soldiers caused their actions.  It is a primitive instinct to defend oneself.  Is it a primitive instinct to rape?  To desecrate?  To torture?  A group of American soldiers utilized their helicopter to attempt to air lift some of the Vietnamese citizens to safety.  They aimed at their own crazed brothers in an attempt to protect the innocent.  Is this not what Mariam did?  Would you equalize a hero with a rapist?  A slaughterer?  Some men are stronger than others and can make difficult decisions.  They are not equal.

Allow me to present a proposition that contradicts our existence.  For some people, the wrath of years of injustice is acceptable.  How many actually felt pity for Rasheed when he was killed?  How many rather felt relieved?  I will not lie, I smiled.  The only regret I mustered within me was for the child that so dotingly loved him.  But even he forgot his father. 

Some individuals are a different class of people.  Whether it is our right to define them, I take no claim.  I do, however, believe that we are not created equally, and A Thousand Splendid Suns is evidence to justify my assertion.    

“Virtue can only flourish among equals.”-Mary Wollstonecraft

It’s a shame immorality reigns our world.