Harrison Bergeron Imagine a world where an oppressive government captures what many call diversity. Where ugliness is known as beauty and intelligence is insignificant. “They were not just equal before God and the law. They were equal in every way. Nobody was smarter than anyone else. No one was more beautiful than anyone else. No one was stronger or faster than anyone else. (Vonnegut) This is the future that Harrison experiences, in the story “Harrison Bergeron”, by Kurt Vonnegut. It is the year 2081 and the government hinders every citizen with tricks or burdens to create equality. Where there are more than 200 amendments and the government has full control of all citizens, that is actually contrary to what America was built on. Harrison Bergeron touches on civil rights and how communist a government has become. Freedom of independent thought, freedom of speech and diversity of people have been taken into account in this new government. The government has no right to take away people's freedom of speech, thought, or diversity for any reason. Free thinking is what allows humans to surpass others and create unique ideas. Without free thought people would be brain dead zombies who would listen to anyone, even an oppressive government. “…Stupidly repeating his comment that “that was stupid”” (Gale) this is what a person without free thought becomes. A dull and easily controlled citizen, who forgets all thoughts in a few minutes, is the future that most ordinary men and women have to look forward to in this short story. In the story, Harrison's father George is forced to wear a machine developed to scramble the brains of those who think too much. The government not only takes away the freedom of thought from...... middle of paper ......rt Vonnegut highlights the dangers of a communist government in his story and invites people to catch a hint of this possible future and decide carefully the fate of their new government. Works Cited Farrell, Susan. "'Harrison Bergeron'." Critical Companion to Kurt Vonnegut: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts on File, Inc. March 9, 2010. http://www.fofweb.comReed, Peter J. "Harrison Bergeron." Literary reference center. Ebsco Host, 1961. Web. February and March 2010. "Themes and Construction: 'Harrison Bergeron'." EXPLORING Short Stories. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Discovering the collection. Storm. Cherokee High School - NJ. February 9, 2010Vonnegut, Kurt. Harrison Bergeron. New York: Mercury, 1961. Print.