infecting children

While changing through the channels on my TV, I stopped at this very interesting advertisement. This was an ad for a vaccine against chicken pox.
The boy in the ad, is questioned by his entire family about the marks he has obtained in various subjects. The mark he gets in all subjects is extremely good by all standards. But he and his parents are still disappointed because, his fellow student a boy named Rahul gets more marks than him in most subjects.
Finally, he tells them that that he has secured 93%in science where as Rahul has got zero as he is infected with chicken pox, and the ad ends with the whole lot of them rejoicing this fact.

The most disheartening aspect about this ad is that it does not showcase competition in the right sense. How could the boy rejoice at another’s illness and how could his parents, instead of correcting him encourage him to do so?

Competition exists everywhere and in every field. It is a necessary evil. It is needed for each person to showcase one’s talents and to make a difference. Competition should be encouraged in the right spirit. The desire for approval and recognition is a healthy motive, but the desire to be acknowledged as better, stronger and more intelligent than a fellow student may lead to a destructive path.

Every parent should learn to judge his/her child based on the child’s own potential and abilities. They should stop setting benchmarks for their children based on other people’s performances.

And to the man who came up with the great ad (this is for u):
A sports man’s prayer

Dear lord,
In the battle that goes on through life,
I ask for field that s fair.
A chance that is equal with all in the strive,
The courage to do and dare and if I should win let it be by the code
With my faith and honour held high.
And if I should loose let me stand by the road
and cheer as the winners go by.
Lord, teach me to conquer if I can ,
Showing my worth in the play.
But if I should loose let me like a man , I pray.
Let me say” there they ride on whom honours bestowed,
Since they played the game better than I “
Let me stand with a smile by the side of the road
and cheer as the winners go by.