The Declaration of Independence reads:
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.
Historically, we know that in 1776 all did not mean all.
It did not mean women.
It certainly did not mean indigenous peoples.
And it certainly did not mean people who had been kidnapped from Africa.
People like Dr King challenged us to have all mean all and in some ways we have made progress on that over the last 60 years.
But we are in a season of asking who is the all that is included.
As we have heard in executive orders issued the last two weeks, in this administrations eyes, all does not mean people from other countries, it does not mean people like me.
If we take a step back and listen to all the rhetoric of the last few weeks, it is a return to all only meaning wealthy cis white men.
You can hear it in President Trump playing the tragedy of the air collision in DC on diversity.
How dare the FAA employ people outside the dominant culture?
Diversity is our gift and our opportunity, not our scapegoat and fear.
Let us continue to stand tall in who we are. In those parts of ourselves that others might call profane. Until a day comes when all truly means all.
