Every person is unique; no two people are alike. But everyone is equal in value. Yet, in some ways, we are all the same. Equal before the law, for example. And in the contribution we are called upon to make to our shared values. We are free and equal. But that also means we are responsible for one another, for others, and for the whole. In that respect, we are equal.

Freedom

I sense a tremendous confusion surrounding freedom in society. The freedom to be who you are—LGBTQ+, regardless of beliefs, race, or background—is at odds with how you participate in or are part of economic, societal, and social life. Whether it concerns a family, an organization, an association, or society as a whole, we must establish rules for the sake of safety, health, and other shared values—regardless of one’s sexual orientation. Everyone has a responsibility to contribute to this. Often through rules, without regard to person. Showing consideration for others so that we can count on one another. Under the guise of “I am free to be myself,” that contribution is very often not made. Rights, yes; duties, no.

Before the pandemic, the trend toward individualization was unstoppable. Understandably so—after all, the freedom to be who you are is the greatest thing there is. COVID is teaching us (once again) to deal with restrictions. Not everything can always be taken for granted—in this case, access to social life. Dealing with scarcity leads to resentment and conflict over beliefs. Even when it comes to vaccination policy, there are believers and non-believers.

Responsibility

So the coronavirus makes it clear that there’s a limit to individualism. It’s simply a burden and a risk that we must bear together. Of course, everyone has the right to be who they are—everyone is equal! But that doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want in a community. To live together, work together, be together… to be part of the whole—something greater than yourself—you have to adapt to one another. One person’s freedom ends where another’s begins.

Paradoxically, you can’t truly be yourself in isolation. In fact, becoming yourself is achieved primarily by being there for others. Agreements and conventions lead us toward a higher purpose: health, safety, well-being, … And that purpose is inclusive, based on equality, for everyone. There is the freedom to be a part of that. And with that freedom comes responsibility—equal for everyone.

Unique, Equality, and Equal

That’s why we drive on the right side of the road. If I don’t, I pose a risk to myself and to others. Even though I believe that driving on the left is better, I drive on the right. However, I can—through political means—try to convince everyone that I’m right. I am free to believe and express whatever I want. Participating in traffic involves certain rules (of conduct). It’s not for nothing that church and state are separate in our society.

Now that the pandemic is behind us, we can slowly begin to take stock. We are unique, equal, and the same. Together, we are more—greater than the sum of our parts—as long as we look out for one another. That way, we can count on each other.