Our Role Models

A sports team job is to entertain by being incredibly strong, fast, agile, etc. The undeniable outcome of this is people look up to them. They want to be faster or stronger. They see these athletes as something they can achieve if they work a little harder. They become dreams for those that are not included in the term “athlete”. Little kids tell their parents they want to be a football player when they grow up. They’re role models. They have always been seen in this society as the elite. They get paid more, they are seen as the most attractive, who doesn’t want to be an athlete? When an athlete acts out and is seen swearing often or stealing or acting inappropriately, the public WILL see this. They will see it and judge it and then they will think “this is how all athletes think and act”. But society is always unwilling to change. The thought will be “This is how all athletes act” followed or preceded by “I want to be an athlete.” If there is no one to check how athletes act, societies role models suddenly are showing everyone that this is okay, I’m allowed to act this way. There needs to be punishment for acting this way. It needs to be said in big, bold letters that “THIS IS NOT AN ATHLETE! THIS IS NOT HOW AN ATHLETE SHOULD ACT.” America is so easily persuaded by the media. It shows us the people to look up to, the people to shame, the people that we never talk about. Seeing the people we worship act out without punishment sends a big message. If a person is going to sign themselves up to be a role model they should be willing to act as such or face losing that position. It is in their job description. It is important to America’s well being that some form of punishment be served. If we are going to tell people that these are the citizens that have excelled and made it to this special position, we cannot allow them to take that for granted.