Equality in 2081

“Harrison Bergeron” is a short story by Kurt Vonnegut that was published in October of 1961 and was posted on The Mission nearly 60 years later, in 2017. In a single, powerful line, The Mission summarized the story as being, “what happens when people mistakenly pursue equality of outcome instead of trying to equalize equality of opportunity.”

What many people fail to recognize is that equality of outcome cannot exist in a free country. Because Americans are free to think, feel and act however they choose, and because no two people are exactly the same, outcome will always vary from person to person. Sharing the same religious or political views with someone else does not inherently mean that your lives will turn out the same. Life wouldn’t be an adventure if we were all walking the same path!

This leaves Americans fighting for equal and unlimited opportunity. After reading Vonnegut’s story, I have some notes to share on this subject.

“Harrison Bergeron” takes place in the year 2081, and in 2081, humans have been granted equality of outcome. No one looks better than anyone else. No one is more intelligent than anyone else. No one is stronger than anyone else.

How?

They gave up their opportunity.

In 2081, no one may rise above those who are deemed average. If they show even an inkling of potential stardom, they are handicapped.

Too pretty? Wear this mask. Too smart? Try this radio that will fill your head with obnoxiously loud sounds every 20 seconds. Too strong? How would you like to wear this giant bag of birdshot around your neck for the rest of your life? No? Well, get over it because your neighbor is offended by your muscles. It’s either this or a couple of years in prison for all that unnecessary hunkiness.

Outcome: Everyone is equally miserable.

Can you imagine a world where the individuals who would be brave enough to stand up and share their talents are never even given a chance? Goodbye to American Idol and the Olympic Games. No more NaNoWriMo and no more auditions of any kind. When we strive for equal outcome, we strive to rid ourselves of that blissful feeling of pride in our family members and friends as they pursue their dreams. We destroy any hope of ever having pride in ourselves and our one-of-a-kind abilities.

So, what happened to the opportunity in 2081?

I found it immediately interesting that many of the characters in Vonnegut’s story are ballerinas. Professional dancers are notoriously exclusive, graceful, alien in their beauty. Competitive. But in a world where everyone is equal, ballerinas are just like everyone else. No one knows if they’re beautiful behind their masks or graceful under their weights. No one–not even they themselves–know if they’re even good at what they do. How sad is that? They’re no better and no worse than the dancers around them. They’re… average. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think ballet would be so magical to watch if the performers couldn’t carry themselves with confidence and grace.

With no opportunity to become a better version of yourself, freedom ceases to exist, and you become one thing: oppressed. Equally as oppressed as your neighbors but certainly oppressed.

Is this the kind of country we want? A country where the Jennifer Anistons and Thomas Edisons and Tom Bradys are hidden and hammered and leeched?

Don’t be fooled, friends. We will need another lightbulb. We will need someone to take advantage of their equal opportunity and invent something. Probably very soon.

What if you are the next great performer, inventor or athlete? In 2081, you would never have the opportunity to know.

Hold on to your freedom like your life depends on it because it does. Kurt Vonnegut didn’t sit down to write a cute story. He sat down to write you and me a letter of warning. Like 1984, The Hunger Games and The Divergent Series, this story was meant to haunt us.

When you say “equality,” what do you mean?

Click here to read “Harrison Bergeron,” with an enlightening introduction by The Mission.