Question # 1: How can people be treated equal when everyone knows no two people are alike in any respect?

Answer: All men and women can be created equal in three ways. They can be treated as equals 1. in the sight of God; 2. in the sight of the law; and 3. in the protection of their rights. Beyond that we are treated according to our innate abilities.

Question # 2: Where are these words found, and in what context are they used by Jefferson?

Answer: These words are found in the Declaration of Independence, in the first sentence of the second paragraph, which begins with "We hold these truths to be self-evident ..." and they are followed by ... "that are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights ..."

There are "certain words and phrases" that literally jump off the page when one reads the first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence. This month’s issue is one of those phrases. It took Jefferson 17 days to draft the first two paragraphs of this document, choosing carefully, with, one assumes, much prayer, his words and the proper placement of each word and phrase. Taking 16 days to draft two short paragraphs supposes the difficulty he had in choosing his words and placing each word in just the right context. His choice and placement of words was near perfect as they have stood the test of time: 228 years of both praise and criticism, by millions of people looking for words to justify their actions, thinking these words are in the Constitution. They are not, but they part of America’s two foundational documents.

Many see only the word "Rights," to justify their particular lifestyle and ignore Jefferson’s "foundational" words – "the laws of Nature and of Nature’s God," – from which their "unalienable rights" are derived. His positioning of the words "endowed by their Creator" just ahead of "unalienable rights" provides a deep insight into Jefferson’s strong beliefs in God, and of his understanding of the responsibilities each person has to use their "unalienable Rights" within the context God had provided. His use of the word "created" is another lead back to "the laws of Nature’s God," which few people regard today, yet are still in force, whether man, and nations chooses to obey or ignore them. Jefferson’s use of "Nature’s God" and "Creator" are strong evidence supporting the belief the Founding Fathers were well aware of God’s involvement in creating America, and the responsibility America has to live by His guidelines.

America was created to eliminate the bondage of one man to another. America has struggled with this premise of Jefferson’s. A Civil War was fought to provide equality among the races, entire communities have been dislocated and driven into the wilderness, but with persistence the years have brought more understanding and tolerance to this nation. Yes we continue to have flair ups, and yes people are still targeted because of their race, their nationality, or their religion, but only in America has the gap been narrowed so much, and, as many believe, only because of Jefferson's choice of words - "the laws of Nature and of Nature's God," "endowed by their Creator," "self evident," "created equal," "unalienable Rights," "divine Providence," each divinely inspired word or phrase purposely placed in this document.

Some nations are still one race, one religion and tolerate few outsiders, and then only as second class citizens. But in America, which is a nation of minorities, minorities which have begun at the bottom of the ladder, then rose up and assimilated themselves amongst all the other minorities, and because of Jefferson’s foresight, in spite of what some think, progress has been made. In one scripture God states "Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another. And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land. By the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood." And Jefferson was one of those He raised up, for "this very purpose."

The Founders, in their wisdom, distinguished between equal rights, and other areas where equality is impossible. They recognized that society should seek to provide equal opportunity but not expect equal results; provide for equal freedom but not expect equal capacity; provide for equal rights but not equal possessions; provide equal protection but not equal status; provide equal educational opportunities but not equal grades.

Alexander Hamilton said: "Inequality would exist as long as liberty existed ... It would unavoidably result from that very liberty itself."