Editor,

This statement appeared in a letter to the editor this last Saturday: “Our nation was founded on the wholesome American belief that all men – mankind – are created equal and endowed by their creator with the undeniable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

In a year in which something may occur that never has occurred before in this country, we should not be practicing revisionist history. By adding “mankind,” the statement tried to change all that has occurred since the Declaration of Independence and seems to indicate that the original Founding Fathers believed all persons were equal. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

In 1776, “men” referred to Caucasian men who owned property. Furthermore, women were purposely not included as they were believed not to be competent or able enough to make the decisions that men made. They were women after all!

It took this country 144 years, and men kicking and screaming, to agree that women could actually vote in this country. Fast forward to 2016 and you’ll see women involved in all facets of society and the workplace, as well as the political realm, yet still no woman has been elected president of the United States.

Even with all the advances in women’s rights we still see a male-dominated society from work pay inequity to the realm of entertainment where most of the major professional sports are male-dominated.

The reality is that the only real difference in the abilities of a woman as opposed to a man is biological — women can have children. There is no difference in any other way that matters. Yet if we all take a look at ourselves in the mirror do we see that? How do we see a co-worker who is a woman in a workplace that is traditionally male? How do we see our role in a relationship with a woman — as an equal or as someone to be the dominant sex over?

These issues are immensely important given the possibility that in November we will fill out our ballots and for the first time there may be a woman representing one of the major parties in this country.

You may not agree with the policies of this person, or whether they would have the necessary leadership skills to lead the nation, and if that is the case, and you see someone better suited for the office, you should vote that way.

However, if you look at that ballot and see a woman and vote for someone else just because the candidate is a woman … then how far have we actually come since 1776?

Thomas Kosloske

Oak Harbor