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Emulating the rich…
These days, politicians and celebrities always seem to be exhorting young people to find rôle models. However, what they mean by this, is to find a famous (i.e. rich) person, and hero-worship him or her…
Sorry, I mean try to emulate him or her.
Having a load of poor kids lusting after money and power in society suits the greedy, selfish élite down to the ground. It maintains the status quo, which is their goal. They don’t want to change a society in which they are doing very well indeed.
Local Rôle Models
I am not saying that people should definitely not have rôle models, but that they should choose them wisely. I would even suggest that you choose as locally as you can. Someone in your family, a family friend, or local altruist, that your family look up to. Someone who works tirelessly for your local community will be a far better choice than a Kardashian, a sports personality, a politician or a film star.
It is right to learn lessons from real people, not those who have learned how to use the system to present themselves in the best possible (media) light in order to promote their own interests.
Unsung Heroes
There are many unsung heroes. People from ordinary backgrounds that do extraordinary things for the needy who live around them every day. One of these wonderful people does more for their fellow men and women than dozens of celebrities do in their whole lives.
Yet, they expect no reward, no praise… nothing at all, and that is usually exactly what they get.
Our world is biased, and not in a good way. We are taught to be greedy and selfish by the greedy and selfish. Moreover, they justify this behaviour to us as human nature, the survival instinct or the law of the jungle.
The Unsung Majority
However, left to their own devices, without the powerful external media influences of the greedy and selfish, the majority of people are kind and helpful. I have travelled extensively, and mostly on a shoestring budget when I was young. Nevertheless, I don’t remember ever meeting any hostility anywhere at any time.
Don’t believe the propaganda. Don’t support greed.
If you want to excel, there is nothing wrong with that. If you need rôle models to help you, there is nothing wrong with that. But, try to excel in the field of helping others, not only yourself.