Eventually, your participation in the human race will come to a dead stop. Are you excited for that moment??
The general reaction to the question of slowing down appears skewed. It may be that we are flawed in our understanding of what ‘slowing down’ means and entails. Slowing down may not refer to speed as much as it does to focus. We may be stressed more when out thoughts are scattered because we feel the burden is more than we can bear. However, if not pressed, we will not grow and our shoulders will not be broadened to bear bigger loads of responsibility.
It is likewise incorrect to equate competition with the promotion of evil. Competition is a mechanism that exists in nature. This can be observed on a microscopic level within the human body. If competition reveals deceit and dishonesty in a person, such deceit and dishonesty was not ‘created’ by the competition but simply unveiled by it. Our character is made manifest in so many situations; competition being one of them (Others include praise, pressure, grief, promotion, etc.).
School Grading
If we don’t care about grades, then we don’t need the USDA to inspect Beef and rank it. We should be happy to eat whatever. And we don’t care what brain surgeon operates on our children since any old med student will suffice (Perhaps they were just socially inclined during med school and didn’t pay that much attention to details. We shouldn’t judge them for being who they are). No, rank is critical if baseline standards are to be maintained and improvement is the goal.
If a society of mediocrity is what we want, then we need not grade. Doesn’t grading cause stress? Of course. Examination is needed to scrutinize the quality of something. School exams determine whether or not the information is getting into our understanding faculties. If it is not, the problem may be on either of two sides, supply or demand; the teacher or the student.
Consider, as an example, our digestive system. Our body tests and scrutinizes every molecule of food that comes into our personal biosphere. Aren’t you glad it is not random; checking only every 10th molecule? If you have had food poisoning, you are glad for this excruciatingly exact biological system. If it were general rather than specific, we could create no medicines. It is the exactness of natural laws that have become the model for societal norms. ‘Garbage in, garbage out’ is not a human invention. It is a natural law that works on many levels.
Every culture values what it considers to be its ideal state of existence. However, what is ideal may not be realistic or practical depending on many factors. Are humans happiest when doing nothing or when they have achieved something? Psychologists tell us we are most satisfied with accomplishment. There are many well-rested individuals who suffer depression. The experience of slowing down in this lesson is so we can take a deep breath and re-evaluate what we really value and determine if we are on the best course or not. Eventually, everyone will slow to a dead stop. (posted 4/29/08)
