-John Adams to Thomas Jefferson
"We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these, are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
"We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these, are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
-The Declaration of Independence
The first quote is taken from a letter that John Adams wrote to Thomas Jefferson, concerning why the latter is the better choice to draft the Declaration of Independence. The second quote is a famous excerpt from the Declaration of Independence, which was drafted by Jefferson.
The above quotes are meant to provide a certain perspective on the notion of 'equality'. I'm not a historian; I cannot provide commentary on the difference between the backgrounds of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. However, in my mind they are roughly equal. They were both founding fathers and, consequently, both significant figures in American history. They were both Presidents of the United States and both left their own distinct legacies for the future. So why did Adams believe that Jefferson was more qualified to draft the Declaration of Independence? And more importantly, should Jefferson have drafted it rather than Adams?
When the Declaration of Independence articulates the nature of equality, it becomes apparent that people are equal insofar as they have rights bestowed upon them by a Creator. Some of these rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Jefferson's vision concentrates on people in the abstract. He had no particular individuals in mind when he described the rights which they should be guaranteed. Examining a person in the abstract gives Jefferson the ability to describe notable rights which are candidates for being desirable to all people. In general, he succeeded with flying colors; people both desire and deserve the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.
People come in all shapes, sizes, colors, religions, and intellects. They vary in athletic abilities, attitudes, habits, desires, goals, and perceptions of the world. I find this refreshing; there is someone for everyone and there is always someone new to meet.
However, for the purposes of this discussion, people are not equal. The belief that people are all equal requires the use of a very well-defined context. People are equal insofar as they are all people; they deserve a certain amount of respect as such, which is what Jefferson alludes to in the above quote. Equality does not entail that everyone is equally talented nor does it entail that everyone is equally important to society. People have different aptitudes and capacities. These aptitudes and capacities create a divide between the average person (abstract) and any particular person (specific).
People with a background in economics understand the importance of specialization. Specialization leads to an increased efficiency in production and results in an increased quality of life when compared with systems without specialization. The same types of specialization occur in everyday life; people get educated in a specific area of study, so as to be as productive as possible in that area. There may be a value in liberal arts education, but there is no reason that the world's greatest engineer must also be a concert pianist.
Above, it is clear that Adams has yielded to Jefferson's expertise when it comes to writing. The Declaration of Independence had the opportunity to be one of the most significant documents in history and John Adams conceded that he wasn't the right person for the job. I'm going to point out the virtue in that concession.
The concept of elitism is a tricky one. Elitism is obfuscated by a general disdain for authority; a certain mistrust of those people who claim to be elite for no particular reason. However, certain people are elite. Similarly with equality, elitism will require a specific context; some people will be good engineering while others are good at music. Elitism should probably be evaluated with respect to a perspective which compares the relative utility of skills; being good at engineering is probably more useful to the world than being good at Yo-Yo tricks (although I'm sure there are plenty of elite yo-yoers out there). However, I'm not here to establish criteria for elitism; I'm only here to discuss the necessity and the purposes of elitism.
To deny elitism is to deny a need for personal specialization. If Adams had started an argument with Jefferson regarding who should be given the privilege to write the Declaration of Independence, then catastrophe would ultimately result for the document. Jefferson was simply the right person for the job and Adams's concession is a noble one.
To that end, elite people raise the quality of life for everyone. "Elite" is a dirty word in today's society and it should not be. There is nothing wrong with being talented. Moreover, there is nothing wrong with taking pride in your work. It might not be humble to acknowledge how qualified you are, but it's not arrogant to accept that you are talented. If Jefferson had replied to Adams with a humble letter, refusing to write on the grounds that Jefferson had respect for Adams, then Jefferson would have shown weakness in the face of necessity. At some point, Jefferson has to own up to his own abilities and write the Declaration of Independence.
The mediocre often reject elitism in favor of mediocrity. When a person says "people are all equal" in order to make himself or herself feel better about being less talented, it is a vote for mediocrity. It is fear of inequality.
One must never fear inequality. One must accept it and move forward, striving to become the best that one can be. Cowering behind the shield of equality will only reveal the shield to be a thin veil, incapable of protecting anyone from the ways of the world.
Elitism isn't something to be feared; it is something to be admired and respected. Elitism should be its own reward, instilling pride in those people who have proven themselves capable. Elitism is an ideal; it isn't specific to any shape, size, color, religion, or intellect. To that end, being elite is a choice and challenge to pursue. It is not for the feint of heart.
Elitism isn't a tool for dividing people. The elite are students at heart and teachers of their craft. They recognize that helping other people is a way of helping themselves. They understand that everything is a learning experience and that new perspectives have a way of becoming relevant. (After all, how could a well-known perspective provide new insight?)
I challenge everyone who reads this to affect the world in a positive way to the greatest extent that he or she can. I challenge everyone to take pride in who he or she is and to never settle for mediocrity. I challenge everyone to possess a level of authority indicative of his or her effort to become great. I challenge everyone to act courageous in the face of necessity, understanding that most decisions are bigger than any one person. In essence, I challenge everyone to be elite.
I cannot tell you that Jefferson was an objectively better writer than Adams. Either way, I can tell you that question is insignificant. Jefferson was the right person for the task at hand. Why? Because Adams nobly yielded to Jefferson and Jefferson nobly accepted the burden of drafting the Declaration of Independence. It may seem that Jefferson is more elite for having written the document, but I assure you that is not my contention. Jefferson was probably the better writer, but that's only true in virtue of Adams's concession. My point is that both men were elite in their own respective ways; they work together to make the best draft possible, even if, as in Adams's case, that means forfeiting a certain place in history.
Should Adams get credit for helping to write the Declaration of Independence? Not a chance. Should Adams get credit for understanding what is at stake in such a declaration? Should he get credit for owning up to his own limitations? Should he get credit for suppressing illusions of grandeur? Absolutely. For similar reasons, Jefferson isn't gaining notoriety for his humility. However, he should be credited with authoring one of the most important documents in history; he should be credited with accepting responsibility for his incredible proficiency in writing; he should be credited for aiding a nation which was desperately in need of leadership.
In an era of confusion and accusation, it becomes apparent that we must examine our past if we hope to be the driving force behind a better future. Elitism plays a critical role in the success of people in general. Although I issued you a challenge to become elite, this evokes the wrong motivation; a challenge implies competition. Rather, I actually mean to extend you an invitation, which evokes collaboration. Whether or not you accept is entirely up to you.
The above quotes are meant to provide a certain perspective on the notion of 'equality'. I'm not a historian; I cannot provide commentary on the difference between the backgrounds of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. However, in my mind they are roughly equal. They were both founding fathers and, consequently, both significant figures in American history. They were both Presidents of the United States and both left their own distinct legacies for the future. So why did Adams believe that Jefferson was more qualified to draft the Declaration of Independence? And more importantly, should Jefferson have drafted it rather than Adams?
When the Declaration of Independence articulates the nature of equality, it becomes apparent that people are equal insofar as they have rights bestowed upon them by a Creator. Some of these rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Jefferson's vision concentrates on people in the abstract. He had no particular individuals in mind when he described the rights which they should be guaranteed. Examining a person in the abstract gives Jefferson the ability to describe notable rights which are candidates for being desirable to all people. In general, he succeeded with flying colors; people both desire and deserve the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.
People come in all shapes, sizes, colors, religions, and intellects. They vary in athletic abilities, attitudes, habits, desires, goals, and perceptions of the world. I find this refreshing; there is someone for everyone and there is always someone new to meet.
However, for the purposes of this discussion, people are not equal. The belief that people are all equal requires the use of a very well-defined context. People are equal insofar as they are all people; they deserve a certain amount of respect as such, which is what Jefferson alludes to in the above quote. Equality does not entail that everyone is equally talented nor does it entail that everyone is equally important to society. People have different aptitudes and capacities. These aptitudes and capacities create a divide between the average person (abstract) and any particular person (specific).
People with a background in economics understand the importance of specialization. Specialization leads to an increased efficiency in production and results in an increased quality of life when compared with systems without specialization. The same types of specialization occur in everyday life; people get educated in a specific area of study, so as to be as productive as possible in that area. There may be a value in liberal arts education, but there is no reason that the world's greatest engineer must also be a concert pianist.
Above, it is clear that Adams has yielded to Jefferson's expertise when it comes to writing. The Declaration of Independence had the opportunity to be one of the most significant documents in history and John Adams conceded that he wasn't the right person for the job. I'm going to point out the virtue in that concession.
The concept of elitism is a tricky one. Elitism is obfuscated by a general disdain for authority; a certain mistrust of those people who claim to be elite for no particular reason. However, certain people are elite. Similarly with equality, elitism will require a specific context; some people will be good engineering while others are good at music. Elitism should probably be evaluated with respect to a perspective which compares the relative utility of skills; being good at engineering is probably more useful to the world than being good at Yo-Yo tricks (although I'm sure there are plenty of elite yo-yoers out there). However, I'm not here to establish criteria for elitism; I'm only here to discuss the necessity and the purposes of elitism.
To deny elitism is to deny a need for personal specialization. If Adams had started an argument with Jefferson regarding who should be given the privilege to write the Declaration of Independence, then catastrophe would ultimately result for the document. Jefferson was simply the right person for the job and Adams's concession is a noble one.
To that end, elite people raise the quality of life for everyone. "Elite" is a dirty word in today's society and it should not be. There is nothing wrong with being talented. Moreover, there is nothing wrong with taking pride in your work. It might not be humble to acknowledge how qualified you are, but it's not arrogant to accept that you are talented. If Jefferson had replied to Adams with a humble letter, refusing to write on the grounds that Jefferson had respect for Adams, then Jefferson would have shown weakness in the face of necessity. At some point, Jefferson has to own up to his own abilities and write the Declaration of Independence.
The mediocre often reject elitism in favor of mediocrity. When a person says "people are all equal" in order to make himself or herself feel better about being less talented, it is a vote for mediocrity. It is fear of inequality.
One must never fear inequality. One must accept it and move forward, striving to become the best that one can be. Cowering behind the shield of equality will only reveal the shield to be a thin veil, incapable of protecting anyone from the ways of the world.
Elitism isn't something to be feared; it is something to be admired and respected. Elitism should be its own reward, instilling pride in those people who have proven themselves capable. Elitism is an ideal; it isn't specific to any shape, size, color, religion, or intellect. To that end, being elite is a choice and challenge to pursue. It is not for the feint of heart.
Elitism isn't a tool for dividing people. The elite are students at heart and teachers of their craft. They recognize that helping other people is a way of helping themselves. They understand that everything is a learning experience and that new perspectives have a way of becoming relevant. (After all, how could a well-known perspective provide new insight?)
I challenge everyone who reads this to affect the world in a positive way to the greatest extent that he or she can. I challenge everyone to take pride in who he or she is and to never settle for mediocrity. I challenge everyone to possess a level of authority indicative of his or her effort to become great. I challenge everyone to act courageous in the face of necessity, understanding that most decisions are bigger than any one person. In essence, I challenge everyone to be elite.
I cannot tell you that Jefferson was an objectively better writer than Adams. Either way, I can tell you that question is insignificant. Jefferson was the right person for the task at hand. Why? Because Adams nobly yielded to Jefferson and Jefferson nobly accepted the burden of drafting the Declaration of Independence. It may seem that Jefferson is more elite for having written the document, but I assure you that is not my contention. Jefferson was probably the better writer, but that's only true in virtue of Adams's concession. My point is that both men were elite in their own respective ways; they work together to make the best draft possible, even if, as in Adams's case, that means forfeiting a certain place in history.
Should Adams get credit for helping to write the Declaration of Independence? Not a chance. Should Adams get credit for understanding what is at stake in such a declaration? Should he get credit for owning up to his own limitations? Should he get credit for suppressing illusions of grandeur? Absolutely. For similar reasons, Jefferson isn't gaining notoriety for his humility. However, he should be credited with authoring one of the most important documents in history; he should be credited with accepting responsibility for his incredible proficiency in writing; he should be credited for aiding a nation which was desperately in need of leadership.
In an era of confusion and accusation, it becomes apparent that we must examine our past if we hope to be the driving force behind a better future. Elitism plays a critical role in the success of people in general. Although I issued you a challenge to become elite, this evokes the wrong motivation; a challenge implies competition. Rather, I actually mean to extend you an invitation, which evokes collaboration. Whether or not you accept is entirely up to you.
so, in other words... I'm awesome. And you should know it... :D hehehe... xD jk. (kinda?)
ReplyDeletenice post :D, although halfway through, I had to mentally punch myself to keep reading. I have a very, very, VERY short attention span. :D