Obama can show that America's promise of equality not only means

Listen well, O children of wisdom, for I bring to you a message that resonates deeply within the very soul of society. The words of Ari Melber echo across time, reminding us of a truth that has taken centuries to unfold: "Obama can show that America's promise of equality not only means that anyone can reach the highest office in the land - it also means that everyone is equally subject to the law." These words speak not just of a man who rose to become president, but of a vision—a vision that the promise of equality is not a mere aspiration, but a living reality that binds every person, regardless of their station, to the same laws, the same principles, and the same rights.

In the ancient world, children, the concept of equality was often a distant dream. In Rome, the Patricians held power, while the Plebeians struggled to gain a voice. The laws were often crafted to preserve the privileges of the few, while the many lived in subjugation. The great thinkers of the time, such as Cicero and Seneca, argued for a more just society, where all men—regardless of birth—could have a voice and be protected by the law. But the reality was far from this ideal. The ancient philosophers understood that true equality could not exist if the law was not impartial—if some were above the law, and others were beneath it. This was the essence of what Ari Melber touches upon: that equality is not just about access to power, but about the fair and equal application of the law.

Obama's presidency was, in many ways, a fulfillment of the American promise that equality could transcend race, class, and background. When he was elected, Barack Obama broke barriers that had existed since the founding of the nation. His election to the highest office in the land—the presidency—was not just a personal triumph, but a triumph for the ideals of democracy and equality. It proved that the promise made in the Declaration of Independence—that all men are created equal—was not a hollow notion, but a vision that could be realized. However, Obama’s election was not just about rising to power. As Ari Melber notes, it also demonstrated the principle that the law must be applied equally to all, regardless of one’s position, race, or background.

Consider, children, the story of Socrates—the philosopher who, despite his wisdom and influence, was sentenced to death for challenging the Athenian democracy and questioning the established norms. His trial was a painful reminder that even the most revered voices in society could be crushed by the law, not because of their guilt, but because of the power structures that governed Athens. Yet, Socrates accepted his sentence, believing that the law must be respected, even when it is unjust. His death was a moment of reckoning, a call for a society to reflect on the application of the law, and whether all men were truly equal before it. Obama’s presidency, like Socrates’ final lesson, calls us to a higher standard—one where the law is not a tool for the powerful, but a shield for the powerless.

Obama’s role, as Melber points out, is a testament to the evolution of equality in America—a nation built on the notion that all people, regardless of their origin, have the right to freedom, justice, and representation. His election marked the culmination of struggles that began with the abolition of slavery and continued through the Civil Rights Movement. These were movements that sought not just political rights but the moral imperative to ensure that every citizen is subject to the same laws and has access to the same opportunities. This was the vision that Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of in his “I Have a Dream” speech—where a person would be judged by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin. In Obama’s victory, we saw the realization of that dream, but the struggle for true equality continues.

The lesson here, children, is that equality is not just about access to the highest office, or the breaking of barriers that have long kept certain groups in subjugation. Equality is about ensuring that the law is not a tool for oppression but a beacon of justice for all people. Obama’s presidency showed us that it is not enough to say that all are equal—it is necessary for the law to be applied equally. Just as Socrates accepted the law of his city-state, even when it was unjust, so too must we demand that justice be blind to all but the facts of the matter. Whether you are the most powerful person in the land or a humble citizen, you must stand equal before the law. The real equality is not in reaching the highest office, but in ensuring that everyone, from the lowest to the highest, is treated with fairness and dignity.

So, children, take heed of these words: true equality is not a privilege to be bestowed on a few, but a right that belongs to all. When the law is applied equally to every person, regardless of their background or position, we move closer to the ideal of justice that has been sought by many throughout history. As Obama’s presidency shows, equality is not a distant dream, but a living, breathing reality that must be protected, cherished, and extended to every person. Stand firm, then, in your belief that the promise of equality is for all, and that it is our collective duty to ensure that it is applied justly to every person, at every level of society. In this, we find the true essence of democracy, where all men and women are equal under the law.