Commentary : It’s Not a Time for Mediocrity

“We hold these truths to be self-evident,” wrote the author of the Declaration of Independence, “that all men are created equal.”

“The only problem about that,” a former professor of mine was fond of saying, “is that most of them stay that way.”

Thomas Jefferson, I feel, would have appreciated the laconic observation. While directing his enormous talents and energies to the cause of freedom and the securing of those “certain inalienable rights” with which all men are endowed by their Creator, he nevertheless would not have been inclined to confuse the ethic of equal opportunity with an ethic of equal results. Not with his intellect, and certainly not from his experience.

For the history of the American Revolution--in which Jefferson played so large a role--was not written by your average run-of-the-mill taxpayer. It was the unusual coming together of a few men of broad vision and extraordinary genius, of masterful and articulate leadership that gave expression and direction to the ideals and principles of a new American identity. And insofar as this new identity has, during the ensuing two centuries and more, achieved the promise of its noble conception, we can be grateful for the dedication, inspiration and leadership of men and women of like stature. In a word: The greatness of this country did not derive from a well of mediocrity; if America is a haven for the common man, it is only because distinctly uncommon men and women have made it so.

This is, of course, a truism--but a truism that perhaps is in danger of being forgotten. There is a certain unhealthy tendency in American life today that would seek to erase the difference between equality of opportunity and equality of results, that would seem to confuse the right to pursue happiness with the right to happiness itself.

We refer to an extreme egalitarianism that has, for example, engaged special consideration in academic circles, with lower admission standards, few examinations and required courses, more emphasis on “relevant” materials at the expense of higher culture. All of which gave great concern to the National Commission on Excellence in Education a few years back. It deplored the “rising tide of mediocrity” in education, noting that “the ideal of academic excellence as the primary goal of schooling seems to be fading across the board in American Education.”

And all this in the name of “student rights,” which became confused in the minds of some with a right to a graduation diploma instead of to a qualified opportunity to work for it.

I, for one, would fear for the future of America if I thought that future rested on a pseudo-democracy that sought to reduce its citizens to the least common denominator and refused to recognize the patent fact that not all men are equal, that there are such things as relative degrees of intelligence, skill and competence--not to mention industry and virtue.

For that is the plain truth of the matter. To pretend that all men are equally gifted, equal in force of character, equal in abilities and talents and contribution, equally deserving of esteem, respect, admiration and rewards--this is irrational nonsense and carries within itself the seeds of destruction for any society.

If all men are equal, why do we spend so much money, time and effort in electing government officials? Why not just put a bunch of names in a hat and pull one out? For the very obvious reason, of course, that not all men are equally prepared to deliver. The ordinary man simply will not do; we want extraordinary men and women, uncommon men and women to lead us in these days of uncommon dangers, uncommon problems, uncommon needs. These are not the times for mediocrity.

The ideals of excellence and merit must once again be revived and encouraged in American life. It is for the truly gifted, recognizing the responsibility that their God-given talents impose upon them, to come to the fore and be willing to shoulder the burden of leadership. It is for the greater number of us to recognize singular talent where it exists--and it does exist--and to promote and encourage it to become operative in all sectors of life. Only then, perhaps, will our Founding Fathers’ dream of liberty and justice for all become an actuality.