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A quiestion related to "Harrison Bergeron" (film)

Rather than envy, which is resentment or discontent at seeing another's advantages or success, the desire for superiority seems to be the greatest motivator for competition. Competition is a natural phenonmenon, for without competition a species weakens.  Darwin's observations of "survival of the fittest" prove this to be true with animals. Likewise, unless one is competitive, one will not push to reach one's potential and will be less that he/she could be. 

However,if one goes beyond reasonable competitiveness, he/she then oversteps Nature in his/her desire for power.  This excess, not healthy competition, is what leads to the negatives of life such as violence and war (Friar Laurence's warning in "Romeo and Juliet" that virtue to excess becomes vice). Thus, Kurt Vonnegut's story is a telling indictment of twenty-first century people who complacently accept mediocrity and are, therefore, weakened and ignorant.  Harrison Bergeron's error is not that he rebels against mediocrity--he should do this--but that he wishes to usurp power.  But, accepting mediocrity, not competing in life, is not the solution to peace in the world, for there will always be those who seek corruptive power.

Wholesome competition is good for people; it is what drives them to achieve and better themselves. Forced equality does not satisfy people: Communism has not been successful, "Brave New World" has its flaws. The English poet Lord Byron wrote, "A man's reach should exceed his grasp/Else what's a heaven for?"  Great accomplishments come from the competitive spirit.

In reply to #1:

I guess John Knowles thought so in A Separate Peace. Gene's envy of Finny led directly to his act of violence against his friend. Gene's envy, as Knowles developed it, was rooted in his fear of being inferior and unable to meet the challenges of life. After a while, this turned into self-hatred for Gene.

I think there's a distinction between competition in general and personal competition with another human being. It is this second kind that can become dangerous if it is rooted in the wrong kind of emotions, like Gene's emotions of fear and insecurity. The term "healthy competition" is no accidental use of language; it acknowledges that there are two kinds. I think the healthiest kind of competition is internal, the desire to accomplish that which we have never done before. To excel. To create. To achieve. To push knowledge past the boundaries of the known. Progress. When "good enough" becomes the standard, we're in trouble.

As for war? I don't think war results from personal or national envy so much as from the inherent need for power, control, and safety. Throw in some greed, hatred, and ignorance, and armies start marching.