Role Models

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.  How many times did you say that or hear that has a child?  I remember both.  We know today that names do hurt, sometimes has bad (or worse) than stick and stones. 

For some they hurt worse than others, I wish I had a reason why.  Perhaps it is upbringing, perhaps it is education, family dynamics, individual fortitude, courage, faith, or luck. 

Households, educational facilities, businesses and governments are all lead by “professionals” or leaders.  As I watch the news, read articles and see the interaction with these “leaders” they are calling others names.  I am not sure how that works out to be being a role model, a positive influence, or someone I want to be.

I do believe that boys will be boys and girls will be girls.  I also believe that human beings have the right to grow up without excessive meanness, without bullying, and without being called names to the point of deflating self esteem or causing harm.  The trick lies in defining what is excessive and what is too mean and where to draw the line. 

Before we expect children and youth to not bully, call names and behave “properly” (perhaps it has to do with treating each other with respect) they need role models and people to look up to that set these standards.  I certainly will not say that no one is a good role model or they don’t exist, I will say they are in short supply. 

Sports players, coaches, politicians, corporate leaders, education professionals, law enforcement, almost without exception every segment of society is plagued with the way not to act instead of the way we are to act.  Perhaps media needs to be enlisted to help.  They could start promoting news from a different angle, more stories about what is right verses the top stories of what is wrong.  And stop saying that positive news does not sell, it has never been done nationally so please do not tell me about predictions.

We have to bring about this change one voice at a time, our voice.  We have to correct our own actions and be the example we want to the world to see, we want our family to see, we want our friends to see, we want our community to see, and what we want to be.

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves.  One day.  One journey.  One person.  One word at a time.

Royal D. Bush serves as a Multifaith Chaplain with Inclusive Life.  He studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary, and with the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling.  He holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. Chaplain Royal shares two important messages: You are beautiful, you are loved and you are worthy, just the way you are.  And: Now is time in this world that every human being is called to life up the weak, offer a hand UP to the impoverished, cherish our elders and stand up for the oppressed.

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