How does one strive for what does not exist? It's like ending your criticism of my faith by telling me you're striving for heaven! Incidentally, you are striving for heaven but we'll get to that later. Human beings are equal or they're not. What leads to you believe we are equal in value? That we all have inherent dignity that must be respected?
Alleviating pain and misery has nothing to do with equality. One cannot reject equality and care for his fellow man.