WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE MEN OF TOMORROW?

Originally posted on: Apr 5, 2007 10:20 AM

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"And Lord knows, kids like Henry need a hero. Courageous, self-sacrificing people. Setting examples for all of us. Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them, cheer them, scream their names. And years later, they'll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them how to hold on a second longer. I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride"
Rosemary Harris from Spider-man 2


I was thinking about my past last night, and what I wanted to be when I "grew up".

I started thinking about heroes...not the TV show on NBC, but the real life inspirations to the child that eventually grew up to be me.

I remember wanting to be a teacher because my first and second grade teacher was so helpful to this kid who was to antsy to sit still, and so eager to learn everything.

I remember wanting to be the Lone Ranger because he always fought for what was right and just.

I wanted to be Bruce Jenner because he was an incredible athlete.

I wanted to be Jumping Jim Brunzell because he was my "absolute favorite wrestler".

When I was 5-6 years old I needed heroes like these. Someone to set a standard so that I, as a kid, would have an idea of what a "grown up" should be. Back then stars. celebrities and athletes, whether or not they wanted to be, did know that they were in fact role models and heroes to many children and adults.

But as I grew older my heroes changed.

Soon it wasn't about the men and women who made the world a better place, but men and women who made their own paths, regardless of the consequences.

I went from positive role models to anti-heroes.  I talked a little about it yesterday.

As I get older, stars, athletes, and celebrities now claim that they are not heroes or role models. They state that they are who they want to be and it's not their fault if some kid emulates them.

Now I admit that this is partly true, but to deny that they have no influence on us is just a cop out.

Or who knows maybe I'm wrong.

Maybe there are no more heroes to look up to.  Maybe there never were.

Maybe I was just a delusional child that thought that there were people out there who would teach us to be better human being by their actions and their words.

Or maybe there are no more heroes for me as an adult.  Maybe I've grown disillusioned by the fact that too many people now only think of themselves, even myself.

Maybe the only real fact is that as a child I looked for those great qualities that would steer us all into superb human beings in outside avenues, because back than, everything was pretty much cut and dry, the heroes WERE the good guys.

I guess back then we were allowed to believe in that.

Sometimes I really miss back then.