They want the values if the 1950s and the conditions of the 1850s

People need to lose from time to time to be able to learn how to do it graciously. If you never lose, you have no incentive to grow or improve in any aspect of life.

I could never understand it, my competitive nature does not allow for the rewarding of the mediocre. Seeing that every child get to enjoy playing the game is important but, I fail to understand how rewarding them for just showing up is anything more than bribing them to play.

Speaking as a parent with 15, 11, and 7 year old children. I don't want participation trophies. My kids don't want them either. It alien to me why people would give out participation trophies at all.