Equality.

Hear it a lot, probably use it a lot.

Think we know what it means.

This country’s founded on the ideal.

“All men are created equal.”

Sounds nice.

Except that most of the men in that room?

Owned slaves.

Got around that equality problem by declaring that those slaves weren’t people.

Problem solved.

When we talk about American values, American ideals, American greatness, we gloss over the messy bits.

We’d rather pat ourselves on the back than take the time to unravel what it is about this country that makes us problematic.

Give us a parade.

Leave the thinking to the next guy.