The Right Of Existance
The idea of equality has been dreamed of since the beginning of human existence, in the story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. portrays a skewed view of equality in the form of a utopia; or dystopia, for the future of the United States. This so called utopia has reached an apparent form of absolute equality were the physical and intellectual ability of people are to be equalized by force. This equalization is carried out via military force beneath the rule of “Handicapper-General” in which the individuals with physical and intellectual abilities are restricted. There are 213 amendments built from the original 24 established during the American Revolution; this “New United States” does not conform with Democracy or follow the original beliefs and ideals of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence. This defiance portrays many of the reasons that the American Revolution ever begun. Many of the rights guaranteed have been taken away and those who survived are not given the opportunity to be utilized. Harrison holds an extraordinary level of intelligence and physical capability which he used this to spark a movement with the people to rethink their world and respect the natural diversity of humans. Vonnegut expresses the strength of human nature in regards to their abilities endowed to them at birth, their rights as American people, and their primal need to improve and change.
Vonnegut explains that everyone is now equal and those with higher intellect will be forcibly handicapped with sharp loud sounds in there ear to scatter their thoughts; while those with athletic or physical ability are given weights to slow them down. Yet this effort shows the diversity of human potential and how we have improved ourselves out of pure human nature. Each type of restriction defines each individual person’s differences; if a person wears heavy weights; it means they are strong, if they wear an ear piece; it means that they are intelligent....
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