“No it doesn’t. Equates means equal to. 3 and 7 are both prime numbers, but 3 does not equal 7.”
Previously posted:
In mathematics, yes. In linguistics, not as precise as that. Equating one thing to another in the way we communicate is used more broadly to categorize, analogize or classify things or ideas through comparison. Equating lower taxes with higher revenue or equating higher spending with better results, for example.
“All men are created equal” does not mean we are equal in every way one can imagine.
An example where a term is used incorrectly does not support your argument. It is obvious that all men are not created equal.
Only by defining a limited set of terms can the statement become accurate. The statement can then only be logically argued on the basis of the limiting set of terms. Comparison on the basis of any term not included in the set is not then part of the logical argument. All men are not the same height, so all men are not created equal. Exclude height from the limited set of terms, and height is no longer a disqualifier.