And Everyone Was Finally Equal

Revisiting a previous theme with a twist. I’m developing an appreciation for Kurt Vonnegut’s writing lately. Yes, he sees religion through a Marxist lens (the opiate of the people) and his works are often set in a dystopian society (opposite of utopia - people are controlled and dehumanized by the government - pointedly indicting the American government most of the time), but his creative genius is especially entertaining and thought-provoking.

“The year was 2081, and everyone was finally equal. They weren’t only equal before god and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments to the Constitution, and the unceasing vigilance of agents of the united States Handicapper General.”
----- from “Harrison Bergeron” in Welcome to the Monkey House

Ah, I think, he’s mocking something – and I’m smiling already. (I DON'T smile at all of his mockery.) The previous theme I mentioned above was a blog word or two about a Christian perspective on Egalitarian and Meritocratic societies. The basic notion is that Jesus didn’t come to set us free from political and economic constraints, but from spiritual chains; so even though justice and mercy are highly valued in a Biblical worldview it’s OKAY if some people are more rich and privileged than others as long as … you can see the drift. (But it’s probably pretty important to fill in the rest of that sentence… as long as…)

Anyway, the short story quoted above hooked me. I’m enjoying Vonnegut and even brought home a video of Slaughterhouse Five from the library (to Jo’s chagrin ;=). He always brings a new view, a new frame of reference, to whatever the setting or plot of his writing. It’s remarkable, and enjoyable. Whether it’s a morbid tale about inhumane treatment of prisoners or a charming love story (yes, he writes those), he will always surprise us and open our eyes to seeing from a vantage point that we wouldn’t have thought to consider.