Misplaced Heroes

Have you ever wondered exactly what it is that makes a celebrity celebrated? It gets confusing when you see people that are wealthy, well known and sought after; one may analyze their success and still come away stumped. We see stars (or more accurately, stars are paraded before us) that are renown because they’re physically attractive, and… and … well, they’re physically attractive! They may not have two connecting brain cells but …Wow! They look incredible. What’s funny is that even that isn’t a true requirement. One may get around that as well.
I’m thinking in particular of the actor Charlie Sheen. He’s been getting a lot of press lately just doing what he does. You know, the usual Hollywood fare: Wife beating, cocaine snorting and being an all around fine example of a role model to the viewers of his stupid show.
But one has to wonder if he is getting attention because we are on the edge of our seat, anxious for what he’ll do next, or if we are being spoon-fed the antics of this moron.
Maybe it is my personal bias against the man. I don’t think he’s funny or talented. And most of what he says is barely coherent. Hence, my curiosity about why he’s popular. Please don’t think this is a “Sour Grapes” thing. It’s not.
I just think that in a nation of three hundred million people, Charlie isn’t the most brilliant bulb in our collective string of lights. That’s all.
It’s not even a question of who is best, richest or most talented at all. It comes down to: Whom do you admire? Who would you be like if you could? Whose shoes would you like to wake up in?
How does your answer reflect your values? Well, for me, Mr. Sheen is in the “None of the above” category.
If not Charlie, then who? I have one answer. But most people have never heard of him.
I landed a job a few years ago. A GREAT JOB! It was for a family owned company based in Florida where I live. The father of the current owners founded the company many years ago. He started out small, worked hard and risked everything. He had exceptional standards that he demanded of everyone in his organization. The level of excellence was evident to his customers as well as competitors. As employees, we knew we had reached the top of the food chain. There was nowhere else to go. We were at the summit.
Unfortunately, the company was bought out by a huge corporation in 2006 and very little even remotely resembles the original organization.
However, I recently heard the familiar name mentioned on the radio. As I listened, I learned that it was one of this man’s sons that heard someone’s vision to start a Christian radio station in Central Florida. He wrote a check for over a million dollars to begin the project.
It has been several years since that took place. That station has become a network of stations that touch people’s lives everyday with the truth and hope of Christ.
What does this have to do with Charlie Sheen? Well, I suppose it is a fact to be aware of that true greatness often lies above and beyond those ones thrust before us in the media. There are people who influence lives and make huge differences but you have probably never heard of them because they don’t seek the spotlight. They are interested in making a difference in the world, not a splash on the tabloids.
Certainly, they are not alone. There are many others. One obvious example is our troops. These are young men and women who risk their bright futures to serve and protect this great Nation. They shed blood and lose limbs. Many even die. Obviously it is not for the money, because the pay is pathetic. They are patriots. They are heroes. Unsung heroes.
Not one of them gets the appreciation or a fraction of the attention that a Hollywood cokehead gets, or a spoiled brat jailed for driving drunk gets. That is wrong. Often our values are upside down. I believe a clear perspective is important to have.
We should celebrate heroes and greatness and regard the senseless chatter for what it really is: noise.

I Love the Gov.

One of the challenges that I remember having as a young person, was trying to land a job and learning that they required experience. No one was willing to hire you so you could gain some experience. A classic “Catch 22”.
I was thinking of this recently when the new governor of the State that I live in was sworn in as Governor. Rick Scott was criticized for lack of experience. He had never been elected to any public office before. He was a businessman that was inexperienced in state politics. So goes the criticism.
As I pondered the argument, I wondered if Florida voters suffered from schizophrenia. If a candidate is the incumbent, then he is attacked for being mired in “Business as Usual”. He has many alliances that compromise his ability to lead impartially.
On the other hand, if the candidate is unheard of in political circles, an unknown, an upstart; well then, that completely ruins his chances since he has never done anything. One could get dizzy following both logics to their eventual conclusion.
This was evident in the 2008 Presidential elections. Sarah Palin’s credentials were diminished by referring to her as the Mayor of a small Alaska town. Um. I beg your pardon. I don’t want to nitpick, but she was the Governor of our largest state.
When some leveled the same argument against Barack Obama, (who was never a Mayor or a Governor) it was summarily dismissed. Being recently elected to the Senate with no legislative accomplishments under his belt, makes him more than qualified for President. We just don’t have anything to point to as evidence. But, no matter.
As I pondered all this, I remembered the resumes of our Founding Fathers. They were inventors, farmers, and businessmen. They were elected to their post. They served their time in Congress, and returned home to continue their life’s work. It never crossed their minds that they landed a gig for life. They served because they loved the Nation. They served to protect the freedoms that self-serving politicians threaten today. You know the ones, the ones elected because they are experienced.
Yes, Rick Scott will make his mistakes like everyone does. But I choose to support him. We must take that chance. The status quo has led us down a dead end of entitlements, debt and bureaucracy that we may never find ourselves free from. We can go down the same road full speed ahead until we hit that brick wall. Or we can be a courageous people and make the tougher choice for the option without the guarantee but heavy with hope.