Role Models Gone Human

I’ve tried to teach my daughters that “role model” doesn’t equal “less human than me,” or on the flip side, which can be equally vexing, “more human than me.” I urge them look at things and people and take them for what they’re worth. If you look carefully at people as who and what they are, nothing much will surprise you, I tell them. I want them to understand that like it or not and for better or worse, ultimately, we are all role models.

Christian Bale, Michael Phelps, and President Obama. All three role models. All three in the press this week for various sticky situations. Their responses tell more than the predicaments themselves.

Christian Bale: The story of the actor’s meltdown on a film set last July possesses only shock and entertainment value. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if the release of the video was planned and timed by his public relations handler. A low level producer on the film where he went on his manic f-bomb dropping rampage, defends Bale as a “method actor,” who was so immersed in his character that he couldn’t help himself. No word from the actor, or anyone else associated with the incident, including the verbally assaulted director of photography. Bottom line is this dude with a ‘tude is an actor, a method one, and allegedly assaulted his own mother last summer at The Dark Knight movie premiere.

Michael Phelps: The eight time Olympic gold medal winner was photographed taking a humongous bong hit. I was slammed with a little pedestal reality with this one, because I had elevated Phelps to being more super boy than human myself. In no uncertain terms, we are reminded here that he is a 23 year old who also happens to be an amazing swimmer and nice to his mother. That the sheriff in Richland County, SC is talking about criminal charges, using Phelps as a negative poster boy reeks of self righteous hypocrisy. No one believes Phelps buzzed into town and single-handedly corrupted the entire University of South Carolina campus. Most telling to me about this incident and the state marijuana code, is that Phelps, or anyone for that matter, would casually allow themselves to be photographed breaking these laws. Through a representative Phelps swiftly issued a written apology.

President Obama:Yesterday’s withdrawal of two of his Cabinet nominees, didn’t make for his best day so far as President. Just as the media should, they questioned what this means for the “change” agenda president for whom expectations are extraordinarily high. Call me cynical, but frankly, I never thought I’d hear a real response, much less from the president himself. Instead Obama took his response directly to major media outlets from the Oval Office and said in various ways, “I screwed up.”

I loved hearing the President of the United States say this. I also loved him for saying it. It’s powerful, and makes me believe that he still cares what the American people, of which I am one, think. It’s in sync with pre-inauguration talk of transparency and accountability in government. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still the teeniest bit baffled how no one at the White House saw controversy surrounding his appointees coming, but maybe I shouldn’t be. Even though sometimes I wish it wasn’t so, the most visible role models will have ample opportunities to reveal themselves as being exactly the humans they are. The guy is the President of the United States. We have a responsibility to hold him to presidential standards. The luxury of waiting a few months or even total avoidance of a sticky situation isn’t an option the way it is for an actor or swimmer. Transparency and accountability will hopefully be the new norm.

Isn’t it stunning the things we get all riled up about these days? Last check of the news, the Christian Bale story seems to be getting the most coverage.

Turns out my daughters and I were guilty of the same thing when it comes to our definition of role model. Michael Phelps was the only one we had placed too high on a pedestal.

* This post also appears on my Skirt! blog

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