Trophies and Licenses.

I generally don't try to be too politically incorrect but at some point I think enough is enough. I really don't know what the world is coming to these days and I am beginning to worry about the future of our nation. I don't want to be rude, but I am not a big fan of this "No Child Left Behind" thing that is happening in schools. I am not a big fan of all kids getting trophies and ribbons for just participating in events. At some points kids need to be told that aren't good at something.

At some point in life kids have to realize that no, you can't be whatever you want in life. If that was true, I would be a professional baseball player for the Giants. However, when I was a kid and I played Little League, I sucked, and I knew I sucked because the coaches tried to find a position for me where I didn't have to throw, catch or hit. (Maybe I could have been a bat boy) So I stopped playing baseball and played basketball, which I was better at. (Not great or I would be in the NBA).

I am worried that if we keep telling lies to our youth, they will grow up to believe it. Then what is going to happen when they get older and they don't make the team? They won't understand why because they always made the team and got a trophy as kids. What happens when they get fired from there job because their work sucks, when in school they were told they were OK because the school didn't want to leave a child behind.

Let's face it, not everyone is good at everything. So instead of telling lies to our youth and misleading them into thinking they are good at things they are not, let's tell them the truth. I am not saying we shouldn't encourage them to do things and try to be the best at what they do but if my Little League coaches kept telling my I was good, I may have spent many years trying to be good at something in which I had no talent. I may have never found my true passion, accounting.

Now this brings me to my next point. Not all grown-ups should have drivers licenses. I know to get one you had to pass a written and driving test, but what about between the time you are 16 to the time you drive that Cadillac to the sky? You never have to take that test again. I have noticed that some drivers on the road may have had the ability to get their license when they were 16 but have lost some abilities since then.

Now I am not just blaming the elderly, although living in Mesa, Arizona around a massive amount of "55+ Communities" I have noticed that during the winter time there are a number of elderly drivers from WI, MI and other such states that drive very poorly. I am not saying it's because they are old, it could be that they are from the mid-west.

There are definitely some younger drivers that should not be driving. Perhaps the driving test itself is flawed. After all, when you take the test, you typically aren't doing anything other than driving. Maybe they need to make it more realistic and see how you drive on the freeway while talking on the cell phone, listening to the radio and eating a hamburger all at the same time.

Now I am not saying we need to be critical of everyone, I think we just need to be more honest with them. If your driving sucks, you shouldn't have a license. If you don't get first place, you shouldn't get a trophy. Kids should learn disappointment when they are young.

All I am saying is that perhaps we should hold off on giving everyone a passing grade, a trophy or a drivers license. Let's get back to getting what you earn. Isn't that the best thing we can teach our children, you get what you earn.