Does Tiara Really Exist?

In the story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., we are introduced to a setting in 2081 where everything has to be equal. Nobody can be prettier, smarter, more talented or better at anything in general. This 'equality' is sustained to the point where ballerinas can't dance to their fullest or show their faces so that the audience won't compare their faces or talents to each other. This is also applied to people with above average intelligence. They are handicapped in order to prevent themselves from using their intelligence to their full advantage. Meanwhile, those who dare to defy the government's 'equality' are thrown in jail, executed or punished, just like how Diana Moon Glampers (the Handicapper General) executed Harrison Bergeron and the Empress. This got me thinking;        what is equality? The events happening in this story really made me question my views on equality. What do we mean when we say we want to end discrimination o...

In English class, we are currently learning about science fiction. We have read "All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury and "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. While they have very many contrasts in storyline and setting, they both made me realize small things about our culture (in Indonesia). To start, "All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury is about a group of school children in Venus who bully a girl that is looking forward to the sun's arrival after seven years of rain. The girl, Margot, is always being bullied and ends up being shoved in a closet while the other kids play in the sun. This story made me realize how important it is to understand the perspective and background of people's opinions and not to hate people for it. On the other hand, "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson is about a small town in the USA that does yearly lotteries (stoning people to death). This story really made me realize that the culture in different areas in In...