Are we teaching young people that quitting is the way forward? Anyone noticed the trend of blame we are seeing in our culture? The scapegoat has never been a more popular hate-figure than right now.  Recently many people have been forced out of their roles because they have made mistakes; Silvio Berlesconi as Italian PM, Dr Liam Fox as defence secretary, Brodie Clark as  head of the UK Border Force, Andy Coulson as special advisor to David Cameron. And in other (maybe less important!) roles; Frankie Cocozza as an X-Factor contestant  Countless football managers who are directly blamed for the terrible performances of their teams. And the news i am seeing today is that the world is calling for Sepp Blatters head. The world leader of football today seemed to dismiss racism in football and asked victims of racism to simply forget about it, shake hands with the oppressors and get on with it. A disgusting viewpoint. Whilst i NEVER condone or accept illegality, corruption, racism or wrongdoing, I DO know that the people i have named are human beings, human beings who have made mistakes. But what are we teaching the young people growing up, in and amongst this name and shame culture?  That quitting is the way forward. All of the people i have mentioned were forced from their roles, all made epic mistakes, with epic consequences and in some cases left a massive trail of destruction in their wake. And yet, there is no culture or attitude of righting those wrongs.  I have made many mistakes in my life, but was always taught to learn from them, make them right and avoid such pitfalls in the future! I am really worried that we are teaching this generation the opposite.

Are we teaching young people that quitting is the way forward?

Anyone noticed the trend of blame we are seeing in our culture? The scapegoat has never been a more popular hate-figure than right now. 

Recently many people have been forced out of their roles because they have made mistakes;

  • Silvio Berlesconi as Italian PM,
  • Dr Liam Fox as defence secretary,
  • Brodie Clark as  head of the UK Border Force,
  • Andy Coulson as special advisor to David Cameron.

And in other (maybe less important!) roles;

  • Frankie Cocozza as an X-Factor contestant 
  • Countless football managers who are directly blamed for the terrible performances of their teams.

And the news i am seeing today is that the world is calling for Sepp Blatters head. The world leader of football today seemed to dismiss racism in football and asked victims of racism to simply forget about it, shake hands with the oppressors and get on with it. A disgusting viewpoint.

Whilst i NEVER condone or accept illegality, corruption, racism or wrongdoing, I DO know that the people i have named are human beings, human beings who have made mistakes. But what are we teaching the young people growing up, in and amongst this name and shame culture? 

That quitting is the way forward.

All of the people i have mentioned were forced from their roles, all made epic mistakes, with epic consequences and in some cases left a massive trail of destruction in their wake. And yet, there is no culture or attitude of righting those wrongs. 

I have made many mistakes in my life, but was always taught to learn from them, make them right and avoid such pitfalls in the future! I am really worried that we are teaching this generation the opposite.

  1. Date Posted Icon 17th November 2011