Letter to the editor

Letter submitted to the Philadelphia Inquirer on July 28, 2021.

To the editor:
Simone Biles’ brave withdrawal decision offers a wake-up call about danger to parents and educators — indeed all who hold the well-being of our young as paramount — one that applies far beyond the Olympics. Biles frames this danger with precision:,…”what I love has been taken away from me to please other people. (It) hurts my heart.” Her words call attention to many of our young deprived of the opportunity to be, to play, to relax, to learn to think for themselves, and in this way, decide what they want and need. Instead, they are programed relentlessly, all free time filled with activities, pushed far too hard to accomplish perfection, Why? To please all of their important role models — to make others feel good about themselves. The dangers of this pattern, without the insistent intervention, “enough is enough,” echoed by Biles, are palpable: life marked by constant dangerous choices and decisions -- or an underbelly — lack of self-confidence, withdrawal, and giving up on life entirely

Sincerely, SaraKay Smullens