Participation Trophy generation indeed.
About five years ago, my son’s elementary school had Western Day, which is a Texas version of Track & Field Day. The kids wore their cowboy/cowgirl attire and participated in western-themed athletic events. They had this one relay event where a rodeo clown ran onto the track to block a certain runner from advancing but did so in a comedic way. Without fail, the best runners were always the victims. I commented on it to a teacher who was standing nearby. She grinned proudly and whispered in conspiratorial fashion that they had orchestrated it so the kids who did not perform well were not “made to feel inferior” but especially so the best athletes “did not feel superior” because, “we’re all created equal.” (Wink, wink.)
I was stunned.
Stunned wouldn’t have been the word I would use. The word I’d use would get me banned.
We’re all created equal but we don’t all die equal. In between, our strengths and weaknesses create the difference.
Oh my!! I take it she has never read Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron.” Then again maybe she did and thought it sounded like a great way to live.