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by Jerry Whorebach 12/13/2010, 6:52am PST |
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The first time I read Harrison Bergeron - as part of a language arts class in middle school - I took it at face value, as a caution against socialism, and assumed the author must be some kind of moron. It wasn't until years later, when I could put the story in context, that I realized Vonnegut was actually satirizing America's warped understanding of what socialism entails. Bergeron is essentially the Airplane! of objectivist literature, which I guess makes Vonnegut the Zucker Brothers of the literary world.
Scott Rothschild wrote:
Topeka — When the Kansas Supreme Court takes up the school finance case next week, it might well ponder a futuristic story from the 1960s by science fiction satirist Kurt Vonnegut.
Attorneys representing students from the Shawnee Mission district say the story "Harrison Bergeron" shows that a world of forced equality would be a nightmare, so unequal funding of public schools is OK.
Their legal brief says capping local taxes on schools was unconstitutional, and they cited the 1961 story, which depicts a future society where everyone is made equal by forcing impediments on anyone who is better.
"Nobody was smarter than anybody else," the attorneys quoted Vonnegut as writing. "Nobody was better looking than anybody else.
But in a telephone interview Wednesday, Vonnegut told the Journal-World that the students' attorneys may have misinterpreted his story.
"It's about intelligence and talent, and wealth is not a demonstration of either one," said Vonnegut, 82, of New York. He said he wouldn't want schoolchildren deprived of a quality education because they were poor.
"Kansas is apparently handicapping schoolchildren, no matter how gifted and talented, with lousy educations if their parents are poor," he said. |
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Help me out with a metaphor here by Mischief Press Corps 12/11/2010, 3:05pm PST
video game journalism NT by The Cliffs Of Dover 12/11/2010, 3:28pm PST
Glenn Beck NT by Gregory House, M.D. 12/11/2010, 4:14pm PST
Beavis & Butthead, Fat Boy Slim NT by Ray of Light 12/11/2010, 4:18pm PST
The hairmetal revival that ended up with bands like The Darkness. NT by motherfuckerfoodeater 12/11/2010, 4:34pm PST
Jeff Foxworthy / Larry the Cable Guy. Insane Clown Posse. Big Lebowski. by Last 12/11/2010, 8:07pm PST
Amber Lamps NT by Vested Id 12/12/2010, 12:08am PST
The Cable Brothers. NT by Souffle of Pain 12/12/2010, 11:35am PST
Born in the USA NT by Bruce Springsteen 12/12/2010, 11:45am PST
Yeah, or "In the Navy." NT by motherfuckerfoodeater 12/12/2010, 11:58am PST
Bruce may have been born to run, but he wasn't born yesterday! NT by Walter Mondale 12/12/2010, 7:38pm PST
Fight for Your Right NT by The Beastie Boys 12/12/2010, 1:08pm PST
Cheech & Chong NT by Hans Clastorp 12/12/2010, 1:10pm PST
Wall Street, Glengarry Glen Ross NT by Last 12/12/2010, 1:39pm PST
Any art that includes fascist imagery will invariably attract actual fascists. by Jerry Whorebach 12/12/2010, 2:43pm PST
Oh yeah, and Archie Bunker. NT by Jerry Whorebach 12/12/2010, 2:45pm PST
Starship Troopers NT by Entropy Stew 12/12/2010, 7:37pm PST
I don't think it was intended to be taken as satire by Vested Id 12/12/2010, 11:28pm PST
Son, do you have Asperger's? NT by Walter Mondale 12/13/2010, 1:19am PST
I don't think you know anything about the movie or Verhoeven. by Lizard_King 12/13/2010, 6:04am PST
I don't think splicing "SATIRE" into every 24th frame could make it more obvious NT by Entropy Stew 12/13/2010, 8:55am PST
I took the scene where the kids pound bugs while the riot cops bust a gut NT by literally as fuck, motherfucker 12/13/2010, 3:35pm PST
Previous post author. by Gutsby 12/13/2010, 4:08pm PST
Re: I don't think you know anything about the movie or Verhoeven. by Vested Id 12/13/2010, 4:16pm PST
Bad marketing is not intent! NT by Entropy Stew 12/13/2010, 9:42pm PST
Meh NT by Roland Barthes 12/14/2010, 10:57pm PST
I admit, Avatar made me want to cut down trees and pump iron and sip coffee :( NT by Jerry Whorebach 12/13/2010, 7:03am PST
Rorschach. NT by Gutsby 12/13/2010, 1:18am PST
Ooh, that's a good one. Also: Harrison Bergeron. by Jerry Whorebach 12/13/2010, 6:52am PST
"Airplane! of objectivist literature" should get you an award or something NT by Lizard_King 12/14/2010, 6:36am PST
Helldivers NT by E. L. Koba 03/03/2024, 4:03pm PST
I feel like The Producers is the exception to this, but I can't prove it. NT by Rafiki 03/03/2024, 10:01pm PST
Fight Club NT by E. L. Koba 12/12/2010, 7:27pm PST
The Cosby Show NT by David Duke 12/14/2010, 8:35am PST
Pride and Prejudice NT by E. L. Koba 10/08/2011, 11:01am PDT
The Cavemen from the Geico Commercial NT by Tansin A. Darcos (TDARCOS) 10/09/2011, 3:32am PDT
The Noid from Dominos Pizza ads, they eventually started selling plushies of him NT by Tansin A. Darcos (TDARCOS) 10/09/2011, 3:33am PDT
Sasha Grey NT by Worm 10/09/2011, 6:19pm PDT
This Is Spinal Tap NT by captain obvious 10/09/2011, 8:46pm PDT
Cow Clicker NT by talby 10/11/2011, 6:42pm PDT
Re: Help me out with a metaphor here by E. L. Koba 11/18/2018, 12:31pm PST
This is a win-win situation by It's Pretty Bad 11/18/2018, 2:52pm PST
DBZ Power Levels by E. L. Koba 10/11/2023, 3:52pm PDT
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