Fermi mentioned Bell curve. Such curves apply to many talents. I am confident that Fermi (and probably all of us who post on this board) are somewhere in the higher end of various bell curves.
But just as there are those that are gifted, there are an equal number of people of average or lower ability. Are these people as able to excel as Fermi? Should they be blamed for their inadequacies?
Next is the general issue of the opportunity that each of us have available to us. Would Fermi's success story been so sweet if he had been born in Chad, or Mississippi, or South Central LA?
What if Fermi had only one parent? What if that parent got laid off? What if that parent were an alcoholic, or child abuser?
What if Fermi had suffered a crippling accident early in his career? Or what if his children were chronically ill?
What if Fermi were autistic? Would things have worked out so well for him? Would some other person be here now posting in his place and explaining why everyone get's exactly what they deserve?
