Competition for Last Place

The new bar in America has been set grievously low

in order to accommodate the mediocrity and

stupidity that pervades this country.

We have successfully ended competition and a

true system of rewards. Classes hand out

certificates for everything, jobs give out meaningless

titles, the media celebrates anyone and anything with

shock value--no matter how little effort or dedication

was invested.

Gone are the days of hard work and resilience and

actually producing something of value would

receive attention and accolades.

Kids receive awards for simply showing up to

class, treats for completing their work,

 and rewards for getting passing grades.

No more impetus of personal pride and

self respect or achieving goals.

Many children don't even have chores or

responsibilities in the home. Parents

allow them to care for selves and one another,

giving no instruction or compass to follow.

So the connection between how the younger generations

are being brought up and what the society on whole

idolizes is easily established.

People are getting lazier and stupider, and thus

are drawn to like-minded folks so they feel

connected and secure. Observing and being

(falsely) connected via computer takes precedence

over action, competition, accomplishment,

or striving.

There are graduation ceremonies for passing every

class, as opposed to graduating from an institution.

Candy and money and release from responsibilities

are the acceptable means of showing children they

have done well, instead of the more appropriate

and lasting glow of respect, admiration, and

one's own sense of accomplishment and pride.

No, we are building a generation of

weak and sedentary clueless wonders; they'll

have no idea what to expect in the real world,

and no means of coping.

Or will they?

They have all kinds of significant role models to

look up to and show them the way,

with such sound advice as;

* Money is all you need

* Bad attitudes get you far

* Privilege trumps hard work

* Knowledge is uncool

*Communicating well is a downer

The other side is that it isn't just how the kids

are being raised (or not raised, as the case may be,)

but they're getting their input and influence from

somewhere.

It's not just the images on TV that are corrupting them;

despite being prescribed one set of standards by

parents/caregivers, kids have always seen through hypocrisy.

(Why on earth would someone accept the

ridiculous provision of "Do as I say, not as I do."?)

The unreality of throwing a party every time

a child has hurt feelings doesn't soothe them or support them;

it creates weakness and isolates them from

developing skills that will help them handle

stress and hard times.

No more trophies for participation.

(Being left out is a part of life; teach them how to

address that instead of coddling.)

We lowered our national standards for what we call

obesity so we wouldn't have to address the truth of an epidemic.

We now say that 'young adulthood' is not finished at 18,

but has instead been extended to age 26, since 'kids' are taking

longer to grow up.

If kids don't pass tests or pass classes or pass grades,

we just lower the standards so they can.

(Or, like the state of Georgia, just commit mass fraud

on testing results, and cheat your way through

to the desired effect! And not everyone found

guilty lost their job--what kind of message

does that send about engaging in

inappropriate behavior.)

Illusion is everything,

and how it gets obtained or maintained

is inconsequential.

The appearance of doing well--that's equal to

actually doing well, right?

Sure. This is the Land of the Free, baby.

We're free to be as ignorant as we want,

and image is all we have.

***