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[somedaybitch]

technosage linked to the Kurt Vonnegut short story Harrison Bergeron. it's a haunting, terrifying story of political correctness, the notions of equality and the nature of competition taken to horrifying extremes....or, in other words, communism.

Comments

[pualaridesagain.livejournal.com]

That's an amazing story. Scary, too.

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

isn't it? makes me all shivery.

[arthurfrdent.livejournal.com]

communism never existed like that on the large scale... because ultimately the revolutionaries that started communism, were unwilling to give up the power... they were unwilling to become equalized...

If you have a chance, try to track down a PBS show called Morning Sun... it is a very interesting Doc about China and Mao's incapability to release the power, and how humans in general tend towards mob rule when left without law. Each one of those mobs destroys the one before it. It'an interesting take.

No, I think a world of equality extreme will be a product of the dark side of democracy. One man, one vote? It's only fair if everyone is equal... The incredibles, and X-men have certainly explored the territory about how threatening people can be when they are different... "when everyone is super, then no-one is." I recently saw exactly this at my sons 5th grade continuation ceremony. The kids are going on to middleschool 6,7,8 and so the parents and the school made a big deal about the awards and so forth... but they were swerving towards equalization "everyone's special at X school"... at least the didn't mess with the acedemic awards.
I think by aquiecence, and boredom, this is the future that will await us, unless we wake up, and smell the toast burning.

Communism may demand conformity, while we give our independance away by making everything "fair". It's a razorblade and no mistake, but I think a lot of people don't even realize it's there. With our covenant controlled gated communities, where plastic Jesus is loathed equally with plastic lawn flamingos...

accepting difference is not the same as forcing there to be no differences, and we both know that, but it amazes me how insideous the force can be. if you go into a MickyD's, you might expect that everything will taste the same, worldwide. it's not far from the truth, and in some ways it's a GOOD thing. if that expectation becomes a demand, if that demand becomes a law?

unintended consequences. sometimes we just don't see 'um coming.

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

communism never existed like that on the large scale... because ultimately the revolutionaries that started communism, were unwilling to give up the power... they were unwilling to become equalized...

well, yes.