Interesting commencement speech given at a high school graduation ceremony to kids who likely have been told how special they are their entire lives. It should be repeated everywhere. http://tinyurl.com/d4f749q
I heard for the first time the other day a term which I had not known before but fit very well. From my cousin's 25yr old boyfriend, he said that his generation is known as the "Trophy generation" because growing up, they all got those 'participation' trophies and were told they were all special and they were all winners, etc. I thought that was profound and completely accurate, yet scary that these are the kids that will be taking care of us in our old age and eventually be in charge of the country...the world.
Lets hope some of this generation doesn't have trophies on the shelf.
That being said, what would the Olympics be if everybody got a medal? I think they wouldn't last too much longer.
Certainly worth the time to read. Of course, I always wonder if most messages throughout life are for the general public, and am I included therein. After all, I dislike being common, but wouldn't recommend my life choices for anyone else. 'Cause I am special. Just ask me.
tbolt - spot on man. Yeah, its all about everyone being equal. Not keeping score cause that means there is a winner, which mean someone has to LOSE. Everyone gets a trophy and juicebox.
I hate how there is the trend the past few years for kids birthday parties where all the kids who attend get a treat. For what? Again, it comes down to "well one person cant be special and different from the rest"
Im sick of fifth grade graduation. And middle school graduation.
I feel good that my generation (im almost 30, another month) didnt have some of this garbage.
The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers. ( Attributed to Aristotle by Plato ).
"What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?" (Plato?).
"I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise [disrespectful] and impatient of restraint" (Hesiod, 8th century BC).
My daughter "won" a bowling trophy in a youth league. Her team came in last. I explained that it should have been the south end of a north bound horse! I believe she understood why I was pissed.
The worst part about all the trophies is ENTITLEMENT.
When these poor kids DO encounter some fairness, and get told "you lose, sorry", they're gonna get upset because they've been trained that they DESERVE a trophy. Or award. Or raise. Or that mortgage loan, or car loan, or whatever it is.
Speaking of laziness and entitlement - wondering how many people actually THINK that a rant on the interwebznetz does anything beyond exercising their copy and pasting skills.
Gave up TV more than 15 years ago and internet connection may be on last legs.
Instant gratification is only an illusion. This is further reinforced by the belief that ranting on the web is a productive exercise. I kind of look at these circumstances of THINKING (and believing) that internet "action" is real. Superficial rants without even requiring one to leave their comfy chair seem to be more and more the norm... while the "ranters" are given more and more to rant about by those who actually DO something.
My pet peeve on Farce Bark:
quote:
Share if you agree
Here's your trophy.
Now I got a motorcycle to finish tuning, crash damage to fix. Lecture to prepare for work. Might even be away from a keyboard until Monday. THE HORROR. (that's a Joseph Conrad quote - NOT a movie quote)
Speaking of laziness and entitlement - wondering how many people actually THINK that a rant on the interwebznetz does anything beyond exercising their copy and pasting skills.
Similar things could be said about the ease of repeating information in print due to the printing press. The ability to share and spread information is an amazing thing. True that it is often wasted on the frivolous, but it is also used to promote great ideas. I'm not saying that what you said is wrong, just that it isn't the whole picture.
Slaughter: "Instant gratification is only an illusion. This is further reinforced by the belief that ranting on the web is a productive exercise. I kind of look at these circumstances of THINKING (and believing) that internet "action" is real. Superficial rants without even requiring one to leave their comfy chair seem to be more and more the norm... while the "ranters" are given more and more to rant about by those who actually DO something.
Hey! That sounds like me. Thanks for the wake up call. I needed that .
My kids all participated in sports at various levels of capacity and results. I never saw any them happy with a second place finish. I have, however, seen them happy when they have lost to a superior team but played their hearts out trying. And that's not just my kids but the entire team. It's pretty universal - no?
Look at the Olympic hockey finals. See any happy faces getting the Silver medal placed on their necks? nope.
Anyone of age to think for themselves has had life teach them what is in this OP speech. Still true and always has been since people started acting like people.
Drying my eyes, had tears of joy and appreciation throughout.
Speeches like that are truly works of art, the product of a brilliant and clever mind, and desperately needed by the fallow minds of our graduates. Hence their importance.
One of Robin Williams' best roles was that teacher in Dead Poet's Society- all teachers should aspire to lead their pupils with such passion.
This thread reminds me of something I heard back when I was still in high school:
(paraphrased...)
"When you graduate with a Bachelor's, you think you know everything.
Then you trudge on, finally complete your Master's, and you realize you really don't know anything.
If you continue on, a glutton for punishment, and get your Doctorate, you realize that you still don't know anything, but neither does anybody else."