Let me tell you a story.
There was a competition that an aspiring contestant, who we’ll call Px, wanted to participate in. Sadly, Px was not exactly the mainstream type obviously qualified participant. However they screened him, found him eligible and granted him the right to take part.
And thus began Px’s journey in challenging this competition on a rather regular basis, whenever it was held.
7th place, 3th place, 1st place! And that’s where the issue appeared. See, now the other contestants protested. Px is not naturally one of us! It is only an honorary qualification! It’s unfair! Px runs differently from us!
…Think about it. Where were these complaints when Px was but a lil’ aspiring contestant, still far from the supreme seat?
And yet when Px finally did attain that throne, even if well, technically they did let Px keep that title, they barred him from participating in any manner of said future competition anymore.
Let’s go back to the mechanics of things now.
When the committee of Ps first granted Px the right to participate in this competition, was the principle of inclusivity therein one that granted Px equal opportunity to fight for, secure and maintain the throne of their reigning champion?
Or instead, was it more of a way of being nice, to show that they were progressive and inclusive while demonstrating to Px that he was really accepted as a member of their community, and no different at all from basically the rest of them!
So now Px has gone from future champion to former champion, rather than the reigning champion that he so aspired towards. Well that’s fine really as Px understands. Px can just have fun playing it for fun in his future own, free time. But it’s kinda sad…
Basically we’ve all got to remember this about inclusivity.
Generally speaking, in a competition, all parties are on an equal playing field and have equal opportunity to win. I mean, sure, sometimes there could be a handicap for some parties. That’s up to the ones setting the rules.
And obviously, there are also cases wherein it’s perfectly acceptable as well as reasonable to set up a whole different playing field for an entire new category of people. For instance, it’s so thoroughly fair to have this Paralympics be an independent competition from the Olympics.
However, within the independent competitions themselves, everyone is on an equal playing field and have an equal chance to win. It’s fair fight then. I mean, that’s precisely why there are classifications in parasports. So-and-so! Category A1. So-and-so! Category B2! Because see, their deficiencies are in different areas, and these are all categorised well enough together such that they’ve fighting on fair, equal ground ideally in the competition for them.
Yet in the spirit of the competition itself, it’s truly the same wherever anybody’s at. They fight to the best of their abilities to secure victory. Although of course, sometimes it is truly good enough to participate. Milestone enough, that is sometimes.
But still we must realise that letting people participate is not just for show. If they participate and they win, how does it make sense if then controversy arises and they’re no longer allowed in it?
Now, there is one particular scenario where this is really most unreasonable and that’s where… the inclusivity was for someone with a disadvantaged ‘hand of cards’ with regard to their participation in the first place!!!
Hey!!! It’s obvious that said friend really put in so much extra blood, sweat and tears into it because they were dealt a worse hand from the start and truly not so well endowed, blessed as the other, typical ones who were participating as well! Because these Ps met the qualifications from the get-go!
So really, what’s all that complaining about? Complaining about your own inability to stand up to someone who so truly poured themselves therein?
Regarding equal playing fields.
Ultimately, I would say that your greatest competitor is yourself. To enter your highest conceivable state of potentiality is the ultimate goal. And it’s clear sometimes that you literally have nothing to complain about. True, sometimes, entire new playing fields need to be erected to account for some other categories of people because truly then it’s obvious! the chessboards are too different.
But beyond that, hey. Let’s all strive towards our utter best together.
And man, don’t forget to have fun along the way too!!! Carpe diem!
Salute to all those who’ve tried, and continue striving. Attaboy/girl!
Even in the face of uncertainties, we do tread on.
To live the best life – that is the way!! 🙂 Peace out.