Tolerance History of Competition

5. Tolerance

Americans are also aggressively equalitarian when it comes to making individual choices. A 1981 decision making information study asked respondents to choose between a “Mr. Smith” and “Mr. Jones”. “Mr. Smith” believes that consenting adults ought to able to do whatever they want in private. On the other hand “Mr. Jones” says, “there ought to be laws against certain kinds of behavior since many private actions have social consequences”. Despite concerns about pornography and lack of moral standards, 66 percent said they agreed “strongly” or “somewhat” with Smith, just 32 percent agreed with Jones. Pollster Daniel Yankelovich says Americans want to acts as they choose, and people should be able to conduct themselves according to their own lights. 41 This predilection for pluralism extends to highly unpopular views and unconventional lifestyles. National opinion Research Center studies show considerable public tolerance of persons who are against churches and religion, admitted communist, racist, homosexuals, or who are antidemocratic. In each case, solid majorities believe they should be allowed to speak freely and have books that advocate such beliefs on the shelves of the community library. 42 41 Bender and Leone, op.cit., p. 88 42 Ibid., p. 90

6. Competition and Equality of Opportunity

a. Competition

1. History of Competition

There is, however, a price to be paid for this equality of opportunity: competition . If much of life is seen as a race, then a person must run the race in order to succeed, a person must complete with others. If every person has an equal chance to succeed in the United States, then it is every person’s duty to try. Americans match their energy and intelligence against that of others in a competitive contest for success. People who like compete and are more successful than others are honored by being called winners. On the other hand, those who do not like to compete and are not successful when they try are often dishonored by being called loser. This is especially true for American men, and it is becoming more and more true for women. The pressures of competition in the life of an American begin in childhood and continue until retirement for work. Learning to compete successfully is part of growing up in the united, and competition is encouraged by strong programs of competitive sports provided by the public schools and community groups. 43

2. Definition of Competition