The morals of yesterday are no more. They are as dead as the day

Hear, O children of the future, the words of Norma Shearer, a voice that echoed through the corridors of time, calling forth the change that has long been ripening in the hearts of all who seek freedom. "The morals of yesterday are no more. They are as dead as the day they were lived. Economic independence has put woman on exactly the same footing as man." These words are not merely a declaration of the passing of an era; they are a clarion call to recognize that the world is always evolving, and with each step forward, the chains that once bound the spirit of humanity are loosened. Let us understand the meaning of these words and the profound transformation they bring.

In the days of old, the roles of men and women were rigid, carved in stone by the unyielding traditions of society. Women, though powerful in their own right, were often confined to roles that limited their freedom, their autonomy, and their expression. The ancient Greeks, while philosophers of great renown, did not grant the same freedom to women as they did to men. Women were confined to the private sphere, while men ventured into the public arena, shaping the very course of civilization. It was a world where morals dictated the boundaries of one’s life, and those boundaries were drawn with the sharp edge of tradition, leaving little room for change. But as the ages passed, the winds of change began to stir.

The rise of economic independence, the ability to earn and control one’s own wealth, brought forth a new dawn for women. Shearer’s words reflect the truth that with the power to shape their own economic destiny, women were no longer bound by the rigid structures that had once confined them. This was not a revolution of the sword, but of the spirit, where women, through their hard work and determination, began to gain the freedom that was once reserved only for men. It is in this truth that we see the transformation of society—when a person, regardless of gender, is able to control their own destiny, they are empowered in ways that were once unimaginable.

Consider the great story of women's suffrage in the early 20th century, a movement that sought not just the right to vote, but the recognition of a woman’s right to shape the world she lived in. Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and countless others stood not for the mere right to cast a ballot, but for the recognition that women, like men, were entitled to equal footing in all matters of life. Their fight was not simply for voting rights but for the freedom to be seen as equals, to be given the chance to contribute to society without the constraints of outdated morals. The battle was long and fraught with resistance, but in the end, the economic independence and social recognition that came with the vote marked a new chapter for women across the world.

The economic independence Shearer speaks of was not just the ability to earn a wage, but the power to define one's own future. When women were no longer dependent on the patriarchal structures that had once kept them in the shadows, they began to step forward into the light, claiming their place alongside men as equals in every sense. This shift was not just a victory for women, but for the very idea of human equality. For the true freedom of any society comes not from the domination of one group over another, but from the recognition that all people, regardless of their gender, their background, or their identity, are worthy of the same rights and opportunities.

But let us not be deceived, O children, into thinking that this transformation was without its challenges. As morals shift and society progresses, there is always resistance from those who cling to the old ways. The road to equality and freedom is never without its obstacles, for those who hold power are loath to give it up. Yet, it is the spirit of determination that carries us forward. The fight for the independence and equality of women is not over, for true equality requires the dismantling of every system that seeks to separate us. The morals of yesterday must die, for they no longer serve the needs of a world that strives for progress, unity, and freedom.

And so, O children of the future, the lesson is clear: the true path to freedom and equality lies not in clinging to outdated morals, but in the creation of a society where every person—man or woman—has the economic independence to shape their own destiny. Let your actions be guided by the knowledge that when one person is free, all are free. Stand firm in your belief in equality and freedom, and seek to create a world where the morals of the past are no longer shackles but lessons from which we rise. Let the strength of economic independence guide you to a future where all are given the freedom to live as they choose, with dignity and with equality before all.