Our leaders are only human — but does that give them license to mess up?
Whether you’re talking about politicians, film and TV celebrities, or prominent sports figures, our culture thrives on putting individuals up on high pedestals so that we might “look up” to them, perhaps see them as role models, even point to them and encourage our kids to say, “Gee, Dad, I wanna be just like Joe when I grow up!” (Not sure, but I think that expression “just like Joe” was connected to New York Yankees great of the ’30s and ’40s, Joe DiMaggio.)Maybe the recent death of former NFL Quarterback Steve McNair will pound one more nail in the lid of a coffin in which we can bury that cultural thriving. Whatever the final story is about McNair’s death, he plainly wasn’t living the heroic life we would want our children to emulate. And that only makes him one in a line of such folks we really don’t want for childhood heroes — names like former President Bill Clinton, Gov. Mark Sanford, former Sen. John Edwards, et. al. — well, pretty much “et. al.” back to the beginnings of recorded history.
I personally have a hard time understanding why fame, wealth, and power seem to cause the worst to show in so many people. But I think there must be such a connection: Fame, wealth, and power seem to 1) make people targets of those who would prey on their fame, wealth, and power, 2) cause people to think they are somehow entitled to break the rules, and, 3) make it easier to “get away with” breaking the rules. But maybe that’s just my opinion and doesn’t begin to touch on all the realities surrounding infidelity.
All I know is this: My two children grew up understanding that honesty, hard work, and integrity matter in every relationship, from employment to matrimony. I thank God (really, I do) for the way their lives’ turned out — and I thank God for the incredible wife I’ve been in love with for 42+ years. My purpose is not to condemn the Mark Sanfords and Steve McNairs of the world, but simply to cause anyone reading this to reflect on the matter of heroes.
Who are your heroes? Why?
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