I was checking out two books the other day, one was titled "Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled-and More Miserable Than Ever Before," and The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement. Basically both books make an incredible argument that our society has developed a bloated sense of self-entitlement. This attitude is based upon a shoddy work ethic, a failing educational system, and the idea that consumerism, looks and "being special," is at the root of the problem. I didn't know what to think about this idea at first. I had always been taught that as a Black woman, I'd have to work twice as hard and know twice as much as the smartest person in the room. I've always been told to adhere to a work ethic that supports self-sufficiency and that modesty is a virtue and bloated pride a sin.
However, I have noticed that many of the students at my university suffer from this attitude. Just recently a report detailed how many students resent the influx of Asian Americans, women and other minorities into academia because they put Whites, especially White males at a disadvantage. Mostly because they do things like "study," and "read." I was shocked. I mean, isn't that what college is about? Studying? Tests? Lectures? Readings????? Once, after a class lecture, which boasted a mix of grads and undergrads, the undergrads began to immediately complain, saying things like "Dude, he's not going to give us a study guide? What are we supposed to be studying then?" I was like "Um, maybe the last three chapters of the book we've been reading from? Perhaps a few things from the class lectures????" They continued the rant with "Damn. There goes my weekend. Don't professors understand we have to have downtime?"
This idea of entitlement, this increased sense of narcissism isn't good for us, either. It may make us feel special and worthy, but I think it rewards mediocrity. If students are not taught to work hard and compete, and are instead given a false sense of self, then our society will not be able to match other nations who have harder working and higher achieving students. I look at shows like "The Office," and movies like "Idiocracy," and though they make me laugh, they also make me wince in horror. I've had incompetent bosses and co-workers who seem to be continually rewarded for their stupidity. These same people will deny their stupidity and trumpet the merits of their so-called intelligence. Even our former executive-in-chief, George W. Bush, was rewarded for being a "regular Joe," with a "C" average. People seemed to bask in his mediocrity, saying they could "relate," to someone like him.
I don't want mediocrity as leadership. But apparently this is the sign of the times. We're bombarded with messages saying that we're the best country in the world, and told that we are special, unique and better than everyone else. But what isn't shown is the hard work and dedication needed to achieve those declarations. But, this is just my opinion. What is your opinion on this?
