The following is an exerpt from a Chuck Colson Breakpoint commentary. I think it
germane to the turn this thread is taking.
This brings us to the meat of the contrast between
Celebritism and heroism. We're seeing celebritism at
its worst in the merchandising of Monica. Celebritism,
you see, is the raw merchandising of human beings as
products. The object may be a serial killer, a
convicted government official--or
a flirtatious White House intern. What matters is not
what the person did, but the price that can be
generated and the market value of the fame.
In his book, True Heroism in a World of Celebrity
Counterfeits, Dick Keyes writes that a celebrity is
"one who is famous and well publicized," well known
"apart from how they became known. Celebrity itself
is indifferent to moral character," he adds. One
can be famous "but still a thoroughly obnoxious
person and menace."
Amen to that.
Keyes then contrasts celebrity with true heroism. A
hero is someone who excels at something we prize and
inspires us to try to emulate his achievements. But
this definition is incomplete, he says, because some
of the people best at getting others to follow them
have been dictators like Hitler and Stalin, or in
this case, young women who flirt with married men.
To distinguish heroes from these kinds of people,
we have to include a moral dimension. We should
identify as heroes, Keyes says, only those who "show
qualities of moral character."
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Hero and sacrifice are words that are interchangeable. Sadly, today we have
> cheapened the word hero and equated it with superstar.
> A hero sees what needs to be done, many times before others see it, and does
> it regardless of the cost to himself or herself.
> You Ranger leaders are my heroes. You labor in love week after week, many
> times unbeknownst to the rest of the Body. You're heroes to the boys and
> girls also.
> Your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you openly when the time is
> fulfilled.
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