Thursday, January 16, 2014

5th hour--Spring fishbowl #1: "Harrison Bergeron"

If you are choosing to participate via comments on our class blog today, be sure you adhere to the same discussion expectations you would if you were in the inner circle:  respectfully challenging your classmates' thinking, basing your assertions on textual evidence, etc.

There is not a finite number of times you need to contribute; rather, I will check to see that you are thoughtfully and consistently contributing.  If you wait to post until 20 minutes into our fishbowl or you post once and are dormant for 15 minutes, that indicates that you're not using your time thoughtfully. If this is because you're a slow typist or perhaps you struggle with the multi-tasking nature of this activity, choose another way to show your understanding . If lack of focus continues to be a problem, you will be asked to hand-write a response to our next fishbowl or to verbally participate only.


A couple of things to keep in mind :
  • This is an academic assignment.  It should be properly written and proofread rather than assuming the appearance of a text message.
  • If addressing one person's post, respond to that discussion thread.
  • Support your thinking with evidence from the text
  • Contextualize question in specific passages or plot points

Happy posting!

57 comments:

  1. What do you think caused the amendments to make people equal?

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  2. Do you guys think that a world where everyone is equal would actually be better? and why?

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    1. I think the world would be a better place if everyone was treated equally but i dont think everyone being exactly the same would be better for the world

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    2. i say yes and no;
      Yes because of no racism or hatred to someone

      No because we could end up like this

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    3. I think that people being different is better then all equal because if everyone is equal then nothing would be different.

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    4. No because if all are equal than nothing positive will come, no advancements will be made the hole world would be in a stand still.The purpose of life will be eliminated by the restrictions.

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    5. We would end like what Jim? We would end like the people in Harrison Bergeron? And I also agree with NMarshall.

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    6. I agree with NMarshall, there is a big difference between being treated equal and everyone being the same. I believe that the world would benefit from everyone treating each other equally based on their own unique personality.

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    7. I believe that being completely equal would actually be worse because being different is what makes us who we are. In a way we're defined by it because when there's people that are better than us then that's what causes us to strive to be better. Individuality is for sure superior over equality.

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    8. I do not think full equality would be good. Without different skills, all competition in the world would be lost. All sports and competitions would become obsolete. With no place for people to show their dominance or superiority, people could form a low self esteem as well

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    9. I dont think everyone should be exactly the same, but everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed. Having different economic classes I think helps keep the world sane.

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    10. I also say yes and no. I think there should obviously be equality when it comes to uncontrollable circumstances (ex. race, gender, etc.) The world would truly be a better place if society stopped degrading people for things that we have no choice over. However, if every single person was equal in the sense of intelligence and salary, the world would remain static. There would be no motivation to excel, which would lead to no more advancements in things like medicine and technology. I actually believe that rewarding people for new ideas is equal. I think that if you work harder than your peers, then you should be rewarded. If you are paid just as much as your coworker who just sits around and doesn't contribute to the greater good, then you would consider it unfair, and unequal.

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  3. Do you believe that the way Harrison acted by freeing the musicians and the ballerina was for him to lead the rebellion or for him to show that all humans have the potential to act out against the government?

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    1. yes because these people are "normal us" while the normal ones in the story have problems so these people won't be able to know what is going on

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    2. I think Harrison was trying to lead a rebellion because most of the humans fear the government and wouldn't dare to act out against the government. Plus I feel like most people don't realize that they have the potential to act out because of their handicaps.

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  4. Ally made a good point that the sounds that the government is making them hear is based the thoughts that they have. I believe that this is a good theory because then they can keep track of the thoughts more easily.

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  5. Do you think that Harrison might have sparked a revolution? Because I think that not everybody would forget what happened on the tv.

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    1. Nick made a good point, maybe they weren't the only ones watching the TV when it cut to Harrison Bergeron, it might put ideas in some peoples head that might continue under the radar.

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    2. It is possible, but I feel that the government is already so strong that everyone is scared of them. I also agree that not everybody would forget what happened that day, it would just be the people without the handicaps.

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  6. What do you think would have happened if Harrison would have still been able to have taken over? I think that the handicaps would have been very happy and very greatful that he would take off their head gear and everything that they were forced to wear, but I think that he would have made them be his servants or something to make them pay back everything that he has done for them.

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    1. I think it really depends on his intentions. If Harrison intended to enslave them then things would get a lot worse than they were. Though if his intentions were to allow people to be free then I think they would be grateful because it sounds like the handicaps are quite painful and exhausting from how George and the ballerinas reacted. There would be ups and downs but there's always obstacles in life and that's part of what makes it worth living.

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  7. I think this story is satirical towards communism. I think Kurt Vonnegut is trying to point out the flaws to this system and the way it works.

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  8. I think that the author was satirizing the fact that we, as citizens, are often times blinded by the government. This is evident in the statement made by George about how if he attempted to get away with taking off the weights on his neck when he got home, that pretty soon they'd be right back into the dark ages. This shows that even though George had received the short end of the stick in the governments equal laws (oxymoron intended), he still believed that what the government was doing was in the best interest of the people because that's what the higher powers wanted him to believe.

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  9. It doesn't say whether or not Diana Moon Glampers has the handicaps. If she doesn't, why not? Shouldn't she be promoting equality?

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    1. Does this still show that there will always be power no matter what the situation?

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    2. The reason that Diana does not have the handicaps was because she was already at the base line of intelligence. The only way to reach equality in this society is to limit intelligence and physical abilities, not raise it in those who lack these abilities.

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    3. But where in this story does it say that she is at the baseline for average intelligence? I think that the government is not required to have them. There will never be a true equal in our world.

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    4. I think that Diana Moon Glampers not having handicaps satirized the fact that a communistic society, like in "Harrison Beargeron", puts the government in front of everyone else. Totalitarianism means that the government controls everything, and they are the only ones who benefit. Everyone else is below the government, even though it is supposed to be equal. Diana Moon Glampers was the government, and everyone was following her, so she was above everyone else. I think she represented the flaws in the communistic system.

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  10. When Hazel says, "That's all right, he tried. That's the big thing. He tried to do the best he could with what God gave him. He should get a nice raise for trying so hard." do you wish the world was like that? I personally think it is rediculous that he should be rewarded for trying. He needs to earn his raise

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    1. I think it depends on the task at hand because sometimes effort can come a long way in sparking new ideas and such, but in the case of this story I agree with you Zack

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  11. If we were all equal today our society wouldn't function. Everyone is different and we work together and use our different talents and ability to make or economy work, if we were equal then we would all be fighting over the same thing.

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    1. I don't think we would really be fighting over anything. There would be much more peace and harmony. Our society would not function if it was all the same. Diversity is a large part of this world.

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    2. I think that if those who are lazy were given the same rights as those who work really hard, then people would stop working because what's the point of spending so much time working when you could sit around all the time and be given the same benefits.

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  12. i noticed the General doesn't have a handicap why is that? I know sh is like George but doesn't need a earpiece

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    1. She doesn't need the handicap because she is the government and she controls the handicaps. This brings up the question, is everyone really equal? Is the government putting themselves above everyone else? Why?

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  13. What parallels can we draw from this short story to recent income and tax laws passed to prevent a deeper gap from the upper class and lower class.

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    1. This is such a great point. The rich are being "handicapped" because they have to pay so much more than the "average" people in society. Though this is not as extreme as the short story it is a good connection.

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  14. If we came to a point in time where everyone was equal, who do you think would be affected more? The ones who are discriminated against or those who have more rights?

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    1. If we were all equal then it wouldnt matter EVERYONE would be affected to the same extent

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  15. Do you think Diana was afraid that everyone would have loved the way Harrison would have lead and that is why she shot him before he could have an effect on the government and the people?

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    1. Yes, definitely because i feel that Diana wasn't ready for a major change. Diana wanted everything to stay the exact same way it was and she didnt think that would happen if Harrison could swing the mood of the people so quickly

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  16. What do you guys think that Harrison Bergeron represents? I think he represents change and rebellion.

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    1. I think he represents freedom and choice. People shouldn't be punished for having great qualities about themselves, and under achievers shouldn't be rewarded for doing nothing. Everyone should have the choice to do what they want in their life, and if you choose to do great things you should be rewarded with great things, and if you choose to rely on handouts and not earn your living, you shouldn't just be given things

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  17. If the government did take over, do you think you would be able to get out of the situation? Honestly I'm not so sure that I would be able to because they would be everywhere making sure that you are following orders and doing everything that you are told to do. Also, people may be afraid of change and not know how to deal with the situation, making it even harder to fight back or be able to stand up for yourself.

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  18. I think that this is a possibility in the future if the government goes corrupt, but I think that moral equality like we have now promotes enough difference to keep things unique, but is not too unfair. But when we move into biological equality and making things so equal that there is no diversity, that is too far. I think this story story reminds of a book called "The Giver" because there was no difference in that society either, and it had much of the same story as this.

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  19. "The year was 2081, and everyone was finally equal."
    -Kurt Vonnegut

    Is this showing that Vonnegut sees it as good the everyone is equal?
    Would you be happy if it was 2081 and you were equal to everyone?

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    1. Maybe back then, he thought that is what the future is going to look like. I don't think everyone should be equal because if you are not better than anyone else, how can you be successful?

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  20. When Dom said that he thinks that if Harrison did live that there would be craziness and war, why do you think Diana was so quick to shoot him if it wasn't going to be successful?

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  21. Do you think this has happened before? Right after Harrison makes his scene, the loud ringing turns on and then Hazel says, "I forget, something real sad on Television." The gov. is controlling their minds and independence as humans.

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  22. Do you think you would be able to get up and fight for freedom like Harrison did, even if you knew you may be killed?

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  23. Do you think the government could benefit from Harrison's intelligence? If they could, why do you think they restrict it?

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  24. There are tons of negatives to being equal, but are there any positives?
    There are two ways to look at being equal, you could look at it the stories way, or you can look at it as just being human... even if you're rich, poor, black, white, or even believe in something different than someone else, you may not be equal in society, but we're all equal as people and humans.

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  25. I think the government used manipulation and propaganda to convince the people to allow the government to make everybody equal just like how Adolf Hitler did to the people of Germany.

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  26. I think it is good to be equal to a certain extent. My idea of equality is definitely not bags, iron, and birdshot hanging off your body.

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  27. Hannah brought up a good point on my question, no one really is equal in this one is power hungry and is better than everyone else and the goverment is trying to be better than everyone else

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  28. is this story a satire or a clear warning for us of the future? our personal intentions?

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