fake role models
Giselle, 32, is separated with a 7 year old son whose father, sadly, doesn't want to play a part in their lives at all. If this were not bad enough, Giselle is angry that society gives boys very few worthwhile male role models. Instead, boys are encouraged to worship as heroes pop stars and sportsmen -- some of whom are exceptionally bad role models, and most of whom are not heroic in any sense of the word.
"Like most 7 year old boys, Todd is obsessed with sport and pop stars," says Giselle, "and like most 7 year old boys Todd is a spectator rather than a participator and this, I feel, is bad for his mental and physical development."
"Kids are being encouraged by the media, the educational system and adults who should know better to become hero worshippers rather than heroes in their own right," says Giselle, "and this is so sad -- it's teaching kids that there's only certain types of heroes worth worshipping and if you're not cut out for a career in sports or pop music you're a dud."
"No matter what I tell Todd about the opportunities out there for him to shine in his own right," says Giselle, "he can see for himself that he's never going to be as tall as his favorite basketball player or as handsome as his favorite pop star."
"When the media is filled with news about sports and pop stars -- even to the extent of the trivialities of their lives -- and tragic events in third world countries inspiring acts of extraordinary heroism are overlooked," sighs Giselle, "you get to understand exactly how our young people are being molded into becoming shallow sheep rather than magnificent human beings."
"Why, I don't know," adds Giselle, "but I suppose the bottom line is money and power."
"By elevating to godlike status a few sports and pop stars the media is denying recognition of the true heroes in the world."
"There may be no money in reporting the hundreds of heroic acts that are performed each day by magnificent human beings in the world," says Giselle, "but these are the people my son -- and everybody's children -- need to know about."
"I'm not denying sports and pop stars their place in the sun," says Giselle, "I just wish the media allowed an equal place in the sun for real heroes -- the people who save lives and perform extraordinary feats of courage in their work or in times of disaster."
"For instance," says Giselle, "last summer I took Todd to a ranch for a country holiday and while we were swimming in the river he got tangled in some underwater reeds."
"I was too far from him to be of assistance but I yelled for someone to help Todd and a young man just jumped into the river, fully clothed, and swam out to Todd -- holding him up until he could free himself from the reeds."
"That young man never made the front page news -- he never even made the local news."
"Why? Isn't saving my son's life newsworthy?"
"The young man didn't want acclaim for what he did -- he wouldn't even accept compensation to dry-clean his clothes," says Giselle. "He just wanted to fade away into the background, saying it was 'nothing'."
"I suppose that young man had been raised, like Todd, to believe that you needed to excel in the sports or pop world to be a hero."
"Scoring a touchdown or a gig is 'something' but saving a boy's life is 'nothing'," sighs Giselle. "What sort of sick society are we raising our kids in?"
"Like most 7 year old boys, Todd is obsessed with sport and pop stars," says Giselle, "and like most 7 year old boys Todd is a spectator rather than a participator and this, I feel, is bad for his mental and physical development."
"Kids are being encouraged by the media, the educational system and adults who should know better to become hero worshippers rather than heroes in their own right," says Giselle, "and this is so sad -- it's teaching kids that there's only certain types of heroes worth worshipping and if you're not cut out for a career in sports or pop music you're a dud."
"No matter what I tell Todd about the opportunities out there for him to shine in his own right," says Giselle, "he can see for himself that he's never going to be as tall as his favorite basketball player or as handsome as his favorite pop star."
"When the media is filled with news about sports and pop stars -- even to the extent of the trivialities of their lives -- and tragic events in third world countries inspiring acts of extraordinary heroism are overlooked," sighs Giselle, "you get to understand exactly how our young people are being molded into becoming shallow sheep rather than magnificent human beings."
"Why, I don't know," adds Giselle, "but I suppose the bottom line is money and power."
"By elevating to godlike status a few sports and pop stars the media is denying recognition of the true heroes in the world."
"There may be no money in reporting the hundreds of heroic acts that are performed each day by magnificent human beings in the world," says Giselle, "but these are the people my son -- and everybody's children -- need to know about."
"I'm not denying sports and pop stars their place in the sun," says Giselle, "I just wish the media allowed an equal place in the sun for real heroes -- the people who save lives and perform extraordinary feats of courage in their work or in times of disaster."
"For instance," says Giselle, "last summer I took Todd to a ranch for a country holiday and while we were swimming in the river he got tangled in some underwater reeds."
"I was too far from him to be of assistance but I yelled for someone to help Todd and a young man just jumped into the river, fully clothed, and swam out to Todd -- holding him up until he could free himself from the reeds."
"That young man never made the front page news -- he never even made the local news."
"Why? Isn't saving my son's life newsworthy?"
"The young man didn't want acclaim for what he did -- he wouldn't even accept compensation to dry-clean his clothes," says Giselle. "He just wanted to fade away into the background, saying it was 'nothing'."
"I suppose that young man had been raised, like Todd, to believe that you needed to excel in the sports or pop world to be a hero."
"Scoring a touchdown or a gig is 'something' but saving a boy's life is 'nothing'," sighs Giselle. "What sort of sick society are we raising our kids in?"
"No wonder there are so many deadbeat dads around," adds Giselle. "Raising a child and being a worthwhile role model for their sons is not something many men aspire to these days, is it?"
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