We're not all Created Equal

Over the last several years we seem to have gone from being a society of people, as a whole, working together and working hard for what we have, to having a larger part of society who feels they are entitled or even owed things they have never worked for. Theft is on the rise, violence is on the rise, and all-around good people and good things seem to be on the decline.

Some people have their own theories as to why this is happening. I have mine as well. In my opinion, what it all boils down to are a group of people who think they are more important and more deserving of whatever they want, without actually having to lift a finger to get it.

I think it started with the “time-out” generation and the “participation award” epidemic.

We went from people being responsible for their actions and having consequences for those actions to a slap on the wrist and standing in a corner. We went from working hard, to everyone being equal on the playing field, in life, in school and in work environments. We went from those who worked hard being rewarded for their actions, to everyone being rewarded so no one feels left out.

I don’t think recognizing that others are different, or making people feel included is an entirely bad thing, but I do think we’ve taken the whole inclusivity thing to levels they never were supposed to be. And to be honest, it just rubs me the wrong way. In my opinion, by doing this, we have created one of the most babied and sensitive societies I could have ever imagined.

It’s also created a whole generation of “self-entitled” people with no regards for a good work ethic or common morals, and who seem to think their lives and opinions are the only ones that matter. They have their heads down, on their cell phones, not paying attention to anyone or anything around them. In my experience, they are the same people who walk up the center of the Walmart parking lot or aisle, without any care that there is anyone else around them. My instinct to want to scream at them and tell them to pay attention is a strong one. But I don’t… Why? Because of these things called respect and common courtesy which these individuals clearly know nothing about.

I believe it starts when we’re young, and to give you an idea, here are a couple examples from my childhood.

When I was a kid, like many of you, we played sports, we went to school and we participated in myriad other activities, both in and out of school. When I first started playing softball and soccer, I was young, probably 5 or 6. I didn’t get a certificate or trophy for participating. We had three awards at our team banquets: Most Improved Player, Most Valuable Player, and our team’s All Star of the Season. Our goal each season was to try to hit the mark for any one of those awards.

I made most improved player my second year in softball, and even at that very young age, I remember working hard for it. I practiced for what seemed like forever to a kid. My dad would play catch with me so I could get better at fielding pop-flies and ground-balls. He would pitch to me so I could practice my batting. I didn’t just show up for practices and games and expect to get better, I worked to make myself better. Partially this was because my parents instilled this in me, but also because I remember wanting to take home a trophy so badly. A reward for my efforts.

As youngsters, and all through school really, we wanted to compete. If we didn’t hit our goal, make the mark, earn the award or land the band solo, we learned to graciously accept defeat and - here’s the key - be genuinely excited for the person who did win. We were taught not to whine or pout about us not getting the award, but to clap, smile and congratulate the other person, and mean it. We need this back in our society today.

By earning things, we develop a sense of accomplishment, and a sense of pride for a job well done. By not “winning,” we strive to do better next time.

My point is this: maybe, instead of treating everyone the same (because they’re not), let’s start treating people the way they deserve to be treated.

As an individual, you don’t get to come into my home, my place of business or even my space, and disrespect me or those I care about and expect me to still treat you well. I don’t care that you‘re white, black, rich, poor, what you identify as, your political affiliation or your sexual orientation. If you act like a self-entitled jerk, that’s what I’m going to treat you like. Your ‘fill-in-the-blank” excuse means nothing.

If you treated people better, people would treat you better, plain and simple.

And, maybe it’s just time for us all to stop with our excuses and just get back to plain and simple.