Americans nationwide are nostalgic for the “normal days” we once experienced. The days when children went to school and learned how to get along with everyone. The days when it was okay to disagree with others without the fear of losing your friendship. The days when meritocracy was championed and anyone could achieve their American Dream through hard work.

No one was prepared for the sharp turn our culture took. Today, parents distrust public education, and friendships are lost if political beliefs differ. Meritocracy is under attack, and it is considered “white supremacy” to work hard to achieve your dreams. The current White House occupants want equal outcomes for all. They believe that good is bad and bad is good.

In high school, back when reading rich literature in the classroom was still a priority, I remember reading the short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut. This story takes place in a dystopian version of the United States. The story is depressing, and I couldn’t believe that such a world could ever exist. I never thought that our country could take such a dark turn.

The first paragraph of the story reads: “THE YEAR WAS 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren’t only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else. All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213 the Amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General.”

One can’t help but think that we are almost at this point. Intelligence is no longer a positive attribute. If a child attends a public school, parents now are taking a gamble on their child’s academic achievement. Nobody is stronger or quicker than anyone else unless you’re a mentally ill man inserting yourself into women’s sports. The current trend among women is to look like the typical artificial Instagram model with fillers in their faces and lips, making all women look identical.

The story further reads: “And George, while his intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. He was required by law to wear it at all times. It was tuned to a government transmitter. Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brains.”

Although this type of governmental overreach is not a reality yet, it’s, unfortunately, something that is within the realm of possibilities.

As dystopian as this story is, the optimist in me still believes in the American people. Our country was founded on the unrelenting belief in freedom, and many Patriots in our nation still hold this belief and will lay down their lives to protect our God-given Liberty.