code: public static boolean areEqual(Object value1, Object value2) {
  		if (value1 == null && value2 == null)
  			return true;
  		if (value1 == null || value2 == null)
  			return false;
  		return value1.equals(value2);
  	}
docs: Checks if two values are equal. The operation can be performed over values of
  any type.
  
  @param value1 the first value to compare
  @param value2 the second value to compare
  @return true if values are equal and false otherwise