We have a real problem in the way we think about intelligence. There are so many dimensions to intelligence that having a single scalar value is very counterproductive.

Your friend seems to have a certain type of intelligence, while you and your other friends have a different type of intelligence.

Part of the current political situation is in part due to the traditionally intelligent people looking down on the rest of society.

For a functioning society we need all types of intelligence, and we need to value them all. Equally.