Posted by Jim Harris on April 14, 2007 at 00:40:34:
In Reply to: Kurt Vonnegut Dies at 84 posted by Webmaven Maggie on April 12, 2007 at 11:17:32:
"Harrison Bergeron" is my favorite Vonnegut story. Something about it wrapped itself around my brain as a kid, and it's never let me go.
I think Vonnegut hit upon an aspect of human behavior that is simply never discussed in this light. Since the abolition of slavery (at least in civilized society), we've become almost desparate in our clinging to the egalitarian ideal.
If someone is brilliant, we insist that he's "got no common sense." If someone is blind, we cling to the (scientifically baseless) belief that his hearing and other senses are far superior to our own.
It's as if we need believe that everyone is EXACTLY EQUAL, or our entire western philosphphy is doomed to implode upon itself.
It's why Hollywood's "beautiful people" are subject to viscious gossip, and why tabloids delight in the failures and frailties of athletes, politicians, and celebrities.
Our society tears down those that rise above, and elevates those that cannot. We become our own "Handicapper General"
The dark side of that, of course, is that it feeds the inner belief that the value of a human being is based on his or her capabilities. We fail to promote the concept that all human life is equally valuable, and substitute the pale imitation belief that all human life is equally CAPABLE, and that capabilities determine the value of the life.
Following that to it's logical conclusion, if we decide that a certain group is not as capable at something-or-other, we can de-value them - make them "sub-human." This is the very root of sexism, racism, etc.
Harrison Bergeron is NOT the same as everyone else in his society. He's smarter, stronger, and more attractive than most, which terrifies the populace who think his existence "de-values" them. His destruction is inevitable; our society *must* destroy those who achieve more...
OK - sorry for the book report... back to your regularly schedule programing....