So intelligence of a person has no play in this belief? What is someone is born more smarter than the other? For this reason so many students drop off in college and the rest advance forward in their careers.
There are different types of intelligence, however lets assume for a moment that intelligence is more of the typical intelligence measured by IQ tests. In that case, genetics does influences the maximum level of intelligence a person is able to absorb and comprehend, however, whether such person reaches his/her maximum level of intelligence depends on the environment he/she grows in and the priorities embedded in such person from their childhood into early adulthood.
Obviously, there is no question that a person born with a handicap, such as Down Syndrome or retardation, such person doesn't have the same ability to absorb and understand the amount of intelligence that a person with an IQ of 130 or above would. That is obvious.
However, despite the limitations imposed by genetics in each person, whether or not such person achieves their full potential depends on their environment.
Unfortunately, most people, whether handicapped or fully healthy and able, don't achieve the maximum potential and the only blame for that is their environment.
Even though comparing a retarded individual with a mentally healthy person proves that everyone is not born equal, it is unfair to compare the achievements or lack of such that the two accomplish if we don't take into account their deficiencies. To do that without taking into account each persons limitations is the equivalent of comparing apples to oranges and leads to incorrect assumptions and/or unfounded stereotypes.
AZB said:
What about the dominican maids, why do you think they are paid so little? They are paid acccording to their level of understanding of their jobs.
Not at all. Maids are paid little due to supply and demand, there is more supply than demand, in this case.
However, smarter maids probably are paid more than not-so-smart maids, mostly because there are less smarter maids than there are not-so-smart maids.
If all Dominican maids were smart, their pay would be as low, if not a bit lower than it currently is, despite their "smartness".
Housekeeping is a blue collar job and almost all blue collar jobs are paid based on supply and demand AND by the hour, or week, or month. Unlike the jobs of the most productive people who tend to be paid based on productivity level and usually has complete discretion of their time, making their own schedules, working when they want, etc. as long as the work is done when due.
Let's not confuse the two.
AZB said:
So i think no one is born equal because some are born healthier than others and others are born just more intelligent so when they are all growing up, many excel forward and others get left behind. This is the fact of life.
That's part of the story, the environment in which a person grows and develops has much influence as well.
For example, among lower class Dominicans its quite popular for parents to discourage their kids from embracing competition. Among that class, competition is bad and should never be practiced.
Now, how can anyone be successful at anything when they have been taught from day one to suppress the competitive nature?
The answers is they can't succeed because they've been taught to be lazy, to take orders, to be dependent on others for everything.
The most competitive of the poorest are the one's that rise above poverty and become middle class and in some extraordinary cases reach the true top.
But, lack of ambition, acceptance of mediocrity, being reared with an emphasis of taking orders can only be blamed on the environment a person grows in.
This is only one of many examples.
-NALs