Quote Originally Posted by The Barry View Post
It is an unfortunate truth that those who are availed to privilege in life do better than those that aren't. This is the "gap" that is talked about at length in sociological studies. This gap is unfortunately widening. I hope that the playing field levels out significantly in the near future.
I tend to think that the playing fields are about as level as they can be, at least in the Western Hemisphere. Unfortunately for social engineers we, as people, aren't all the same size, shape, or race. We don't all have equal mental acuity, or the same level of artistic ability. Nor do we all have the same desire to dress like Snoop Dog or wear a kilt. We do, however, live in a society where-- all things being equal-- anyone can achieve a full measure of success.

And here's the problem.

No matter how you slice it, things will never be truly equal. While we can all enjoy a fair degree of social and legal equality, it will still remain a fact of life that the child with an IQ of 78 probably won't do as well in school as the child with an IQ of 110. The 6 foot tall, 175 pound man will probably outlive the 6 foot tall 260 pound man, and neither one will play professional basketball. And yes, the pretty girl will be asked out more often than her mousy sorority sister.

Rather than demand "special status" because of perceived inequality, people have to recognize the fact that we aren't all the same, and that they have to capitalize on those meager abilities that they were born with. Yes, some people are born with superior abilities-- the voice of an opera singer, the looks of a movie star, the brains of a mathematical genius.

How does society compensate for the basic traits that allow some to excel while the majority fall by the wayside? By enacting laws limiting the height of basketball players? Banning all music but Rap? Sorry, it can't be done.

The playing field is a level as it can possibly be, and the game is in full play. It is up to the individual to either go out and play as best he can, or sit on the sidelines and be, at best, a mere spectator.