Reddit had a link today to a column from the Wall Street Journal which attempts to explain why the young people today feel so damn entitled. Turns out the blame lies squarely at the feet of Mr. Rogers. 
Signs of narcissism among college students have been rising for 25 years, according to a recent study led by a San Diego State University psychologist. Obviously, Mr. Rogers alone can't be blamed for this. But as Prof. Chance sees it, “he's representative of a culture of excessive doting.”
Prof. Chance teaches many Asian-born students, and
says they accept whatever grade they're given; they see B's and C's as
an indication that they must work harder, and that their elders
assessed them accurately. They didn't grow up with Mr. Rogers or anyone
else telling them they were born special.
By contrast, American students often view lower grades
as a reason to “hit you up for an A because they came to class and feel
they worked hard,” says Prof. Chance. He wishes more parents would
offer kids this perspective: “The world owes you nothing. You have to
work and compete. If you want to be special, you'll have to prove it.”
On the flip side, this is from a heartwarming commencement speech given by Mr. Rogers at Dartmouth in 2002.
Our world hangs like a magnificent jewel in the vastness of space.
Every one of us is a part of that jewel. A facet of that jewel. And in
the perspective of infinity, our differences are infinitesimal. We are
intimately related. May we never even pretend that we are not. Have you
heard my favorite story that came from the Seattle Special Olympics?
Well, for the 100-yard dash there were nine contestants, all of them
so-called physically or mentally disabled. All nine of them assembled
at the starting line and at the sound of the gun, they took off. But
not long afterward one little boy stumbled and fell and hurt his knee
and began to cry. The other eight children heard him crying; they
slowed down, turned around and ran back to him. Every one of them ran
back to him. One little girl with Down Syndrome bent down and kissed
the boy and said, “This'll make it better.” And the little boy got up
and he the rest of the runners linked their arms together and joyfully
walked to the finish line. They all finished the race at the same time.
And when they did, everyone in that stadium stood up and clapped and
whistled and cheered for a long, long, time. People who were there are
still telling the story with great delight. And you know why. Because
deep down, we know that what matters in this life is more than winning
for ourselves. What really matters is helping others win too. Even if
it means slowing down and changing our course now and then.
So-called Generation X'ers are often called “entitled” but I think that's as gross of a stereotype as the one the WSJ writer makes about Asian students versus North American ones.
What's my point? I wasn't sure how to end my “eulogy week” (er, Mr. Rogers is dead too, just for the record). But I think something as affirming as that last story – that life is something to enjoy, to celebrate, to live is as good as anything.
Tomorrow, back to your regularly scheduled Facebook and baby poop related posts!
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