Quote:
Originally Posted by Raphael
Well, those who want role models for their kids need to direct them toward cops, firemen & high-school coaches.
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I somewhat disagree. There are lots of things that cops, firemen and coaches do that I strongly abhor.
Crooked/corrupt cops. They exist everywhere.
Firemen: not so much in general.
Coaches: I hate the "win at any cost" mentality. I hate the violation of the rules at the highest levels in college sports (witness USC and SMU's "death penalty" that really wasn't). I think that the "win at any cost" doesn't teach our kids any ethics, but the opposite.
In my day (and I'm going to date myself here) is was Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Hop-a-long Cassidy, and Cisco the Kid. Even the Robin Hood character of Paladin identified and fought evil. Nowadays, there don't seem to be any generally accepted heroes. So much so that CNN has a whole yearly program devoted to finding one real life hero.
I think if we're going to point to everyday heroes, it should be to
good teachers (there are mediocre and bad ones), Sunday school teachers (or the like in other religions/denominations) and the like. Everyday people who make extraordinary examples for our children and instill in them an ethical or right/wrong knowledge of conduct.
But we can't point to media icons like we could 50 years ago, and that, in some respects, is a shame.