ABSTRACT
This chapter tells the story of Jefferson's Dilemma. In the Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, Thomas Jefferson declared: “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.” 1 Self-evident? In 1776? Nothing like these 32 words had ever been written before. They helped change the course of history. A revolution was fought and a new nation established based on them, with far-reaching implications. 2 First, these few words implied that both African Americans and Whites should have the same civil rights and the same ability to succeed in light of their talent and skills. The struggle by minority groups for equal opportunity follows inexorably. And the value orientation expressed by these words is generalizable to all other ascriptive classifications—by gender or sexual orientation, for example. Second, these words signify the emergence of class-based societies with their movement from an emphasis on ascription to achievement. Any society that values personal freedom and democracy should apply achievement-oriented criteria to all. Finally, the Declaration created an altogether new moral standard for nations to live up to. A government's legitimacy must now reflect the will of the people—all of whom possess inherent dignity and self-worth. In the modern world, both nations and individuals are judged by this standard.
