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story identification - Looking for the title of a futuristic book about enforced equality


I read this book in Middle School and I can't for the life of me remember the title, but I can remember what it was about for the most part:


Takes place in the future, the government imposes laws that outlaw people from being different in appearance and skill level. For example, if you are fast or strong or tall, they will put weights on you to weigh you down so that you'll be more slower/shorter and more like the average. Another example, if you are pretty the government issues you "ugly glasses" etc.


Basically, it's all about making sure everyone is equal and punishing the extraordinary.


One of the main characters (a man) decides to literally loose himself of his shackles and weights, breaking them to display his power (if I'm remembering correctly).


Any ideas folks?



Answer




Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut


The opening paragraph starts:



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 213th Amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General.



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