In A Season Of Renewal, Philadelphia and The USA Desperately Need Heroes
First of all, happy holidays to everyone.
I find this season and this time-period in general, the final quarter of 2011, is seriously grim. From the Sandusky crisis at Penn State, the Bill Conlin mess, the gutless political mindset in Washington, the hypocrisy of so many of our leaders, it has been a season of disappointment and doubt. And yet the American people are better than the negative stories that have enveloped the nation. When I meet people, I still see smiles and optimism, individual bursts of kindness and courtesy. It has always been that way; the people rising amidst the turmoil surrounding them.
It is amazing. After all, we’ve watched selfish political leaders, hardly patriots, more like pretenders, walking away from compromise. They are the men and women of vengeance rather than the representatives of the people. We worry about the safety of our children, especially when we read the accusations of abuse. In a more bizarre way, some lawmakers in Washington shame their offices with ego-curdling attacks on the First Lady and others in power. There are so few class acts on the national scene.
Open microphones pick up slander and sinister intentions.
Our candidates are, sometimes scary. We have a man running for President, a doctor, who favors pot-smoking, some forms of prostitution, and rejects any form of health care legislation. The man, Ron Paul, attacks our strong ally in the Middle East, Israel, while disgracing our living and dead soldiers who did so much, and care so much, by suggesting that we stay away from wars, even when the national interest is a priority. We live in a land where politicians and some radio broadcasters play the race card every day. Remember Rwanda?
It’s grim. But you feel a little better when average people do extraordinary things for others, and do it quietly and with resolve. It’s what many of you do all through your lives.
The problem is that we have few heroes among our public figures, and millions of rather quiet heroes who do their thing out of the spotlight. Sadly, though, it’s the public people who set examples and lower the bar for gross human behavior. When a stupid celebrity does something stupid, they are setting examples for young people. When a petulant athlete acts badly, younger athletes take the ball and repeat the examples .
We need some public heroes, especially in this community, people who take risks for the common good, especially in a time when many public people are accused of ugly crimes, bad behavior, and hateful acts.
Peace on Earth? Maybe.
Good Will Toward Men? We’ve got a way to go.













