Should children look to athletes to serve as role models?

The creation and worship of false idols leads nowhere but downhill. Everyone is gifted and special in our unique ways. No Super Bowl MVP or Cy Young winner has anything on my family, co-workers or neighbors. The best character-builders/role models are parents.

I know I went to school in Youngstown, but isn't there an "s" in yes?

I also agree with you about false idols Non.

Too bad the question was about role models though. Care to try to answer the question that was posed?

I believe that kids should look up to anyone who is a positive role model . . . be it an athlete, or a parent, or a teacher, or anyhone else who presents a positive example. The problem however, is that there are too many poor role models who are athletes, or parents, or teachers.

As for me, Chairman Mao served as a superior role model for me during my formative years and continues to do so during my adult life as a Democrat (there Non, I beat you to it).

The Quail

I'm sure they'll change the "Ye" to "Yes" eventually...it’s only been like 18 hours since it was first pointed out.

Yep, Mao is dead and buried, as is "socialist philosophy" for the most part. Although every society on earth features some tenets of socialism, socialism has largely been rejected as a viable political philosophy.

The only ones keeping the philosophy alive today are the neo-cons, who publicize it extensively everytime a Democrat gets elected or tries to implement a new program. Only then do you hear the fearmongerers cry, "Socialism!"

The Quail

Lets see Kobe, Tiger, Vick, Bonds in a long list of "tarnished" athletes. Then you have the cult leaders in Gore, Obama so why don't we stick to teaching kids right from wrong and try morals and values.

But who's system of "morals and values" should we teach? There are many sets available.

I think we should all teach our kids as we see fit and shy away from initiating any kind of institutionalized system of "morals and values."

That's why I support eliminating forced prayer in our schools and a complete separation of church and state. I don't want anyone forcing me or my kids to pray to their god or adhere to their system of values. Would you?

I encourage my kids to embrace any positive role model, regardless of their occupation.

The Quail

Athleticism, success, wealth, notoriety, politics,social do-gooding, talent, artistry, winning, publicity, prince or princess, and sponsorships are not the stuff role models are made of, they are the stuff media makes role models of and almost always yield disappointment for the blind who follow and unfortunately even the most discerning of us are deceived by the likes of lions and Tigers and bears. Role models are made of hard work, sincerity, responsibility, respect, rules, dependability, kindness, tough love, and character, they err on the side of caution, they are kind but not suckers and die quiet anonymous deaths and leave good citizen children or students or leaders behind to do the same. By the way Mao killed millions of innocents, not my kind of philosophical role model or favorite winning athlete either.

And when you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao,
You ain't going to make it with anyone, anyhow!
Lennon and McCartney

There must be better role models than overpaid athletes and other celebrities who get too big a piece of a dwindling pie - while millions in the US can't find work or decent shelter. Kids are very impressionable and it's no wonder the values and morals are so out of wack given all the influences of celebrities (sport and otherwise), certain music, television, video games, etc. I grew up fairly lower middle class having moved to NE Ohio in 1971 as a young kid. From that old industrial hard working background we learned manners and respect, and to appreciate the basic needs and not the endless material quest that helped lead us to this economic disaster. I am moderate to liberal in my views, but I still believe in "spare the rod-spoil the child". Kids have to learn discipline, but it needs to be done with genuine love - and grounding in reality. How many kids can become pro athletes? I was the kid that got picked on in gym class - so maybe I'm not the best one to say. Physical exercise is critical and sports can be fun - but not when it comes with bullying and competition that some people say you have to be to become a man. That's a bunch of bull. If I had kids, I'd just want them to keep God in their heart and these words in mind at all times: "let me help."

No....definitely not any longer. Since the beginning of problems with Mike Tyson, continually many high-profile sports figures, in all venues, have become less than honorable figures: OJ, Kobe and a long list of other's; now it is Tiger Woods. There is no such thing as 'high standards' in sports any longer. How unfortunate!

Actually, I think we should hold up as role models only religious leaders who profess to embrace christian morals and values.

And we have so many from which to draw:

Teg Haggard
Peter Popoff
Innumerable Catholic priests
Jimmy Swaggart
Jim and Tammy Fay Baker
Lonnie Latham
Robert Tilton
Mike Warnke
An on and on

Maybe the christian moralists should forget the athletes and look in their own backyards.

The Quail