Thabith
The Illusion of Equality: Why True Fairness Still Remains a Struggle
Introduction
Every human being comes into this world the same way and eventually leaves it the same way. But in between, people create thousands of differences among themselves—based on money, popularity, connections, culture, religion, behavior, or appearance. Instead of seeing the shared humanity, people often end up judging others without considering their background or struggles.
Differences Begin at Home
Even inside one family you can see differences. Take a father, mother, two sons, and two daughters. Each of them will still be different in their way of thinking, their characters, their abilities, their dressing style, and the way they deal with life. So if differences exist even inside one home, how can anyone expect the world to look and act the same across different cultures, religions, and countries?
At the same time, the way parents treat children also matters a lot. It is not just about giving food, shelter, and school. How they speak to the child, how they treat them compared to siblings—all this builds the future character of the child. Many movies show villains with a traumatic past, and in real life too many criminals and even serial killers grew up with trauma. That does not excuse their crimes, but it shows us why fairness and equal treatment from childhood is so important.
Inequality in Schools
School is the first place where many children notice inequality. For example, a topper may become the teacher’s favorite. If he makes mischief, it is laughed off or punished lightly. But if a “last bench” student does the same thing, it is treated as a crime, and he is punished much harder. This difference plants an idea in young minds that some people are “allowed” mistakes while others are not.
Double Standards in Society
This problem continues in adult life. Ministers and politicians are often given special treatment when they break rules, while normal citizens face strict punishment. This is completely unfair. People forget that every human being is equal in value. Every religion teaches equality and kindness to all living beings, but in practice, people use religion to create barriers—insiders versus outsiders. This is one of the biggest hypocrisies of our society.
Selective Respect and Its Dangers
When someone does donations or good deeds, society tends to place them on a high pedestal. If such a person later makes a mistake, people say things like, “It’s okay, he has done a lot of good, so we can forgive this.” This is wrong. Good deeds should not erase mistakes, because that creates two dangers:
1. A person on the wrong path will lose hope of ever being accepted even if he tries to change.
2. A “good” person may feel safe to slip, thinking his reputation will protect him.
True kindness is often done in silence. Real charity does not need to be shown on social media. But nowadays many organizations use charity as a mask for money laundering or tax evasion, which makes people lose trust in genuine acts of help.
Misplaced Admiration
Another problem in today’s world is the way social media glorifies villains or mafia bosses with edits and praises. This is dangerous because it normalizes destructive behavior. Instead of wasting energy admiring criminals, society should focus on giving chances to people who are genuinely trying to change and improve their lives.
Respect That Turns Into Worship
Even respect can turn into corruption. For example, giving priests or religious leaders seats on buses may look respectful, but when it becomes a rule, it becomes blind worship. Many times, I have seen pregnant women or people in need standing while priests sit comfortably. Respect should be given out of free will, not by force. Sadly, many religious figures take advantage of this god-like status, which is completely wrong.
Sympathy Versus Support
Sympathy is another thing that is often misused. People who receive sympathy sometimes take advantage of it, while those who are truly suffering do not need pity but strength. A grieving person does not want to be treated as weak, they need a shoulder to lean on and someone to remind them they can still stand strong. Too much sympathy can even mislead someone into thinking they can do whatever they want.
Equality Between Men and Women
Equality is also often misunderstood. It should not be limited to jobs, salaries, or sports. For example, on a crowded bus, men are expected to give up their seats for women automatically. While it is a good act when voluntary, it should not be a forced rule. Women are not weak. They can stand strong both mentally and physically, just like men. Of course, in cases of pregnancy, sickness, or elderly women, offering a seat is respect—but ordinary women should be seen as equally capable, not fragile beings. True equality means giving opportunities fairly, not placing one gender above the other in everyday situations.
Global Perspective
Inequality is not just a problem in one place—it exists everywhere. In some countries, caste or class decides how people are treated. In others, skin color, language, or religion becomes the dividing factor. Even in modern democracies, rich people often escape justice while poor people suffer. Around the world, the pattern is the same: those with power, connections, or wealth are treated differently than ordinary citizens.
A Way Forward
So how do we change this? The truth is, change will not happen overnight. It starts with small actions—parents treating their children equally, teachers being fair to all students, leaders being accountable, and ordinary people practicing fairness in their daily lives. If everyone commits to small acts of equality, society as a whole will slowly shift in the right direction.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, every human being is a human first. No one should be valued higher or lower because of wealth, power, gender, or religion. People must learn to treat each other fairly, not because of what they have done in the past or the image they maintain, but because equality is the foundation of humanity. True change is not about one big revolution—it is about small daily actions that remind us we are all equal.
