ESSAY_ ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL

Akeema Wignall Liberty University Professor Roach November 19, 2023 The intersection of military policy and gender equality can be seen in Army Regulation 600-13, which delineates the assignment policy of female officers. The regulation permits female soldiers to serve in various sectors but imposes restrictions on roles involving unpretentious combat missions. This scenario was the introduction of the G.I. Jane Bill to Virginia, where a graduate who applied for an officer position in a combat engagement unit was denied due to her gender, which is in accordance with AR 600-13. This essay will investigate whether AR 600-13 violates the biblical equality principles in the course materials. Genesis 1:27 states, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them." They were given equal tasks of ruling and subduing all creatures (Genesis 1:28). It is evident and one of the most explicit passages of scripture that position both man and woman as equal. This scripture alone should underscore the biblical stance on equality. However, before progressing any further, it is imperative to comprehend the inception of such a law by scoping out the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution during the birth of a nation. This is arguably the most renounced line uttered in the Declaration of Independence; we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. This has been a century-long debate as few words in American history are invoked as often as those from the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, published nearly 250 years

ago 1 . With such a bold declaration regarding human nature and natural rights, the central claim that “all men are created equal” had profound implications for the American regime of liberty 2 . This was an endorsement of principles that the common good could be achieved only through faithful adherence to the principle of equality for all men 3 ; nevertheless, common law was well suited to carry out this fundamental purpose of the Declaration, but not without some controversy such as the implementation of no special privileges 4 . Special privileges in terms of the Declaration of Independence based upon church affiliation were forbidden by provisions like Section III of the Delaware Constitution: That all persons professing the Christian religion ought forever to enjoy equal rights and privilege in this enjoy equal rights and privilege in this state unless, under colour of religion any man disturb the peace, the happiness, or safety of society 5 . AR 600-13 deals with a specific special privilege within the army that restricts female officers from assuming roles involving direct combat. It is within their rights that both Madison and Hamilton believe that one cannot have a government that grants entitlements’; otherwise, the government will be controlled by “special privileges” and will cease to be a republican government 6 . It is telling that in the Constitution now proposed to us, power is reserved to the people constitutionally to reduce every officer again to a private station: and what a guard is this 6 H ERBERT W. T ITUS , G OD , MAN , AND LAW : T HE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES 105(1998). 5 H ERBERT W. T ITUS , G OD , MAN , AND LAW : T HE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES 104 (1998). 4 Id . 3 H ERBERT W. T ITUS , G OD , MAN , AND LAW : T HE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES 99 (1998). 2 Amanda Hughes, D ECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE , AND PRINCIPLE THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL - CONSTITUTING A MERICA C ONSTITUTING A MERICA - ( Nov 19, 2023), https://constitutingamerica.org/90day-dcin-declaration-of-independence-and-principle-that-all-m en-are-created-equal-guest-essayist-tony-williams/). 1 Hillel Italie, C ENTURIES - LONG DEBATE CONTINUES OVER “ ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL ”( Nov 19, 2023),https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/centuries-long-debate-continues-over-all-men-are-cr eated-equa.

principles, challenging the notion that everyone possesses equal standing as per the teaching of the Bible.