High achievers create more opportunities for all

The commentary “The ethics of gifted genes” (Aug 26) touches on an important and sensitive issue. There is always a cry for equality, but enforced fairness can be unfair to gifted people, whether they are favoured by nature or nurture.

Legalised equality would result in mediocrity. Everybody must be given opportunities to maximise his innate abilities, but he who is ahead must be allowed to use his advantage fully to forge ahead.

Let us not condemn efforts such as “parentocracy” for increasing the gap between achievers. A widening gap pushes the boundary of human achievement forward. This, in turn, creates more opportunities for all.

History shows that many discoveries and masterpieces were made by people whom we would today condemn as elites. Not all of them were humble enough not to be elitist, but they all contributed as none other could.

It is fashionable to deride paper qualifications, but none deride a cheque or a note as mere paper currency. Which cynic would belittle an Olympic medal as only a metal plate? Not all grapes inaccessible to me are sour.

The best way to make the poor poorer is to get rid of the rich. The best way to make progress less progressive is to prevent elitism. It is futile and wasteful to enforce fairness where Mother Nature dictates excellence.

Let us neither despise those who are less endowed, nor be jealous of those who are more fortunate. Let us neither leave the less gifted to struggle alone, nor rein in the more gifted from galloping forward.