Everyone is not naturally adept at most things. But, the act of participating is equally important as being best at 'something', because when one participates, they become better at that thing that than they are at that craft/skill a day before. In today's society, it seems that winning is the only type of achievement one can have, however, I believe that participation should be given equal importance as winning is. In the movie "Meet the Fockers", we can see that winning is given more emphasis.
In the movie, Greg's to-be parents-in-law visit his parents. Upon arrival, Greg's father draws away a velvety curtain to reveal a wall ornate with certification that display all Greg's achievements as a teenager. No one of the certificates had 'first' on it. Greg's to-be parent-in-law are not impressed. From this example, we can see that in current time more emphasis is put on winning than participating. Greg's father highlights this de-facto when he says 'Most parents put emphasis on winning. We are proud of our son because participates.'
I have also observed that too much emphasis is put on winning in sport also. In the Olympics, the gold-winners are always given the most coverage. This idiosyncrasy of the media depicts the reality that we humans give too much emphasis on winning, The few seconds difference between the time it takes Usain Bolt to run 100 metres Yohan Blake to run 100 metres makes us believe the fallacy that if someone is better at something than someone else, then they must have done more hard work than the person who came second. This perception of ours should be changed - we should put less emphasis on winning.
I recognise the fact that winning is important because it encourages and facilitates us to strive to be the best, but it is equally important to appreciate participation. If winning is all that matters, than Usain Bolt should be only one running in the 100 metres, but the winner would never be the winner if there is no other contetestant contending.
In the movie, Greg's to-be parents-in-law visit his parents. Upon arrival, Greg's father draws away a velvety curtain to reveal a wall ornate with certification that display all Greg's achievements as a teenager. No one of the certificates had 'first' on it. Greg's to-be parent-in-law are not impressed. From this example, we can see that in current time more emphasis is put on winning than participating. Greg's father highlights this de-facto when he says 'Most parents put emphasis on winning. We are proud of our son because participates.'
I have also observed that too much emphasis is put on winning in sport also. In the Olympics, the gold-winners are always given the most coverage. This idiosyncrasy of the media depicts the reality that we humans give too much emphasis on winning, The few seconds difference between the time it takes Usain Bolt to run 100 metres Yohan Blake to run 100 metres makes us believe the fallacy that if someone is better at something than someone else, then they must have done more hard work than the person who came second. This perception of ours should be changed - we should put less emphasis on winning.
I recognise the fact that winning is important because it encourages and facilitates us to strive to be the best, but it is equally important to appreciate participation. If winning is all that matters, than Usain Bolt should be only one running in the 100 metres, but the winner would never be the winner if there is no other contetestant contending.
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