It’s everywhere. The constant attempts to keep things fair and to make sure no one is uncomfortable. Today’s society is focuses non-offensive content, which is difficult when people take offense to nearly everything. We live in a politically correct world. A world where you must watch what you say and who you say it to. Our society trumps fairness and equality above excellence. Standards are lowered to make goals more attainable for all and the thought of exclusion is unfathomable. We see it in politics: political campaigns have become like reality TV. It’s all about who makes the most noise and how much attention each can draw as opposed to whom will be the best fit for the job. The military is changing physical standards to better equality instead of ensuring the most premium training, and businesses are pressured towards diversity. With so many institutions being warped by fairness and equality, there seems to be one institution that remains pure through all others: sports.
Sports in America remains a constant beacon of hope among all others. Participation trophies aside, only the best athletes in their respective sports will succeed. In sports there is no hiding, no pretending; only the best succeed and all the rest are left behind. Sports are an institution where Darwinism still exists: the fittest survive and the weak are eliminated. The only way to get ahead in athletics is to have the desire to be the best; nothing is given, it must be taken through perseverance and hard work. No athlete is able to bluff their way to a professional level; sports force each individual to lay their best on the table and hope it’s enough.
The lessons obtained from sports are irreplaceable; they teach us how to compete, sportsmanship and how to win. In a world dominated where success is smothered by political correctness, athletics provide a safe haven to highlight true champions. Not only do sports provide an outlet for men and women to succeed outside of race and politics, it also unifies us as a country. No matter how you feel in regards to social or political issues, sports can be a unifying component on a global scale. As the world undergoes minor to drastic changes, the spirit of sports remains untainted.