Today’s kids feel too entitled, that’s why they riot when they lose
When the rioting began after Donald Trump won, my first thought was, “It shows what kind of people support Hillary.”
But I can't cast all the blame there. Our permissive, entitlement-motivated society must shoulder a good bit of the blame.
We are raising a generation of children who don't know how to lose. Grade schools have a sporting tournament. One team wins and everyone on the team gets a trophy. The other team, in order to not damage their self esteem, is given “participation” trophies. After all, they showed up.
Fast forward 15 years, and these same children are now adults and don't understand why they didn't get a promotion and raise. They showed up, after all.
We need to go back to when there were winners and losers. The losers were encouraged to try harder, practice more and not whine. The winners were taught not to gloat. Most of all, no one is entitled to anything. You have to work hard, play fair and do your best.
And if you should lose - do so with dignity and grace.
The Cubs won the World Series and got the trophy. The Giants lost and did not get a participation trophy. That is not how the real world works.
Ellie Kloes, Longs
This story was originally published November 18, 2016 at 8:38 AM with the headline "Today’s kids feel too entitled, that’s why they riot when they lose."