COMPETITION IN MODERN TIME
In modern life, it seems to be more and more competitive in every aspect of human activity with a larger or smaller degree, and the number of people indulging in competition is on increase.
When we start schooling, we compete together for better grades. Then we compete for getting a job. In the world of trade, the race for more profits is more frightening. The most dangerous competition is that countries try to conquer others by quantities of deadly weapons. As a whole, people are engaging in a mighty round of competition. No one wants to be the out-stander. The winner wants to compete more, and the loser tries other ways. They never want to give up.
Generally speaking, competition helps people develop and realize their abilities. In sports, that many athletes have broken many records makes us discover that human beings are capable of doing wonderful things. A few decades ago, taking ten second to finish a-100 meter distance was a dream. Now, any world-class runner can do it easily. In this case, we have to admit that training and competition have brought us much development and progress.
However, in any competition there are not only winners but also losers. It cannot be denied that the number of losers is more than the number of winners. A five-hundred-meter round has only one winner but also losers. A tennis tournament has one champion and many fails. In a competition, wining or losing is normal. Whoever is better is the winner. But many athletes have used tricks in order to win the game. For example, they use drugs or steroids to increase their strength and mind, but they do not know how badly these drugs effect their life later. Then, in football, to win the match, players do not hesitate to punch, kick and elbow their competitors.
Competitiveness in sports is nothing in comparison with one in our daily life. Because of competition in doing business, we can read, see, and watch abundant advertisements on newspapers, radios, and TVs, which annoy people a lot. Then comer competition in bidding on construction works. In order to win a bid, the bidder is willing to decrease his cost. As the result, many works are of bad qualities causing many serious consequences. In addition, it is competition in the political field. One leader holds on to power by getting of his enemies whatever the means. His opponents try any way to replay him later. It is no wonder the modern world is in its chaotic state. Among these competitions, wars are the most dangerous. Due to this kind of competition, many people die in the world everyday. There are many other competitions that we cannot talk al in one day of discussion.
In short, I could say that when we will compete, we have to suffer more bad effects than the good ones. We will have to suffer increased unemployment when we have more graduates. We will have to live with pollution when we produce more cars and motorcycles. We will see more broken arms or legs of players when we see more goals scored. So, should we compete together?
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Do you think in modern life, we compete together more and more? Why do we do that?
2. When you started your schooling, did you compete with others? If yes, in which fields did you do that? Did you win or lose?
3. What do you think of competition for getting a job among the young in our country now? What should they do to win this competition? Do you want to join this?
4. What do you think of trading competition? What are effects caused by this kind of competition? If this kind of competition does not happen, what will happen to our world?
5. What are the most dangerous competitions? What do you think of wars? What do you suggest to stop them? Why have they happened?
6. Do you think competition can help people develop and realize their abilities? What do you think of competition in sports?
7. How do you feel when many athletes suffer broken arms, legs, even heads? Do you think Vietnamese athletes will compete well in the 26th SEAGAMES for instance?
8. What are good and bad effects of abundant advertisements in doing business? What do you comment on the quality of public construction works in HCM city?
9. Do you want to be a politician? Do you think politicians have to compete together very hard? What happens to this kind of competition? Do you think wars in recent years are reasonable? What should people in the world do to prevent any wars happening in future?
10. What can you draw from today’s discussion?