THE CICAK.com

Intellectualism, the new caste system

By QU HSUEH MING

I’ve always wondered why modern society reveres those who are intelligent. It wasn’t always this way. Back in the old days where cavemen would beat poor sabre-tooth tigers to death with clubs for dinner, one’s worth was based on his ability to hunt. Stealth, cunning and brute strength were important characteristics that were essential. As society progressed, land, power and connections became the defining criteria, with barons doing as they pleased while serfs toiled for their masters.

And now, with the development of the tertiary sector, especially with intellects from the “Knowledge Economy,” there appears to be a new caste system.

The celebration of intellectuals is all too common in today’s society. Score 16A1s in SPM and you can be assured of an article in a few newspapers (although it should be added that scoring As, especially in the Malaysian system of education, is more an indication of how many tuition sessions you took and how many hours you studied a day rather than genius per se). Graduates of Ivy League or Oxbridge universities are assured of jobs. Parents send their children for IQ tests hoping that their kids will be the next Edison.

Today, a person’s self-worth is more closely linked to intelligence than ever before. Labelling someone a “retard� is just about as offensive as a racial slur.

Of course, in Malaysia you can get away with the latter given enough power; just ask our own Jerai MP. Being labelled “slow� or “stupid� can do more to crush one’s self esteem.

Intellectual people generally mingle with their own kind, birds of a feather and so forth. People are generally more comfortable among those who run at the same speed. And when you hang out with a certain clique, their attitudes will eventually rub off on you.

The point I am trying to make is that intellectual become smarter by interacting, stimulating and competing with one another.

We can also expect an intellectual to seek a life partner with roughly the same level of intelligence. While it hasn’t been proven that intelligent parents pass on the “smart genes� to their kids. However, it is likely that they raise their kids in a way that brings out their potential.

Less intelligent parents would probably find it harder to “bring out the bestâ€? in their children. Afterall, you don’t expect a non-fisher to teach someone how to fish.

What puzzles me most, however, is why these gifted individuals are so revered.

Both nature and nurture plays a part in forming one’s mental capabilities. However, both aspects are beyond the control of the individual.

Individuals has no say in their genetic makeup, and their upbringing. Therefore, if intelligence has nothing to do with a person’s actions of, why should he or she be celebrated?

Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against intelligent folks. In fact, most of my friends are top-scoring MENSA members. Being intelligent, however, makes you no more special than being able to roll your tongue. Good party trick, but you can’t take credit for it.

The only situation in which intelligence should be revered, is if it is used for the betterment of mankind.

Then again, humans can’t seem to treat everyone as equals.

“The masses live only for one purpose - to carry the special few such as you and I (Spider Man and himself) on their shoulders,� said the Green Goblin in the movie Spider Man.

This statement may seem egotistical, but there is truth in it. People need someone to admire, to revere, and to celebrate. This is why people take pride in winning competitions, prizes and awards. This is why there is always a clear distinction between the “winners� and the “losers.� And perhaps this is why true equality among mankind will never exist.

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QU HSUEH MING is a contributing writer for theCICAK.

He thinks writing in the third person is pretentious, but does it anyway because “all the cool people do it.” An A-Levels student at Sunway College, his teenage status is coming to an end.