Growing Pains

Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a kingdom created. That kingdom professed to believe in the equality of all human beings. Within this kingdom, there were Royalty, Wizards, Orcs, Elves. Royalty, in their declaration of the values of the kingdom, actually had considered only all royalty as being equal. They’d given not even a thought to Wizards, Orcs, or Elves.

One day, the Wizards told Royalty that they needed to be included. Because Wizards were useful, and thus strength, Royalty declared that their equality now extended to the Wizards. As soon as the Wizards had real power, they turned it agains the Orcs.

The Orcs asked for inclusion next, and for a while, were laughed at, scorned, and ridiculed by both the Wizards and Royalty. Eventually, though, the Orcs, after years of petitioning and fighting, were included in the concept of equality. This was predominantly because the Royalty needed both the Wizards and the Orcs to continue oppressing the Elves. The Orcs were only too happy to join in on oppressing the Elves.

When the Elves approached, Wizards and Orcs joined the Royalty in fighting against the Elves, and managed to keep them isolated and powerless. It wasn’t until many of the Orcs and Wizards convinced Royalty to include the Elves, that the Elves were included in the definition of equality. But as soon as that happened, many Orcs and Wizards and Royalty continued to mistreat the Elves. In fact, they were so offended by the Elves being included, that they tortured and murdered elves en masse.

This is the history of the United States: every time an advancement in human rights and inclusion is made, a boomerang effect follows. Leaf through your history, and when you’re done, take a listen to this episode to find out why it this sort of thing happens.