I'm always hesitant to post about topics like this, because they can get so touchy. This whole ordeal doesn't bother me at all. Well, I guess I shouldn't say that. This might end up being a long post. I'll say it like this: I'm not surprised. Unfortunately, I have to disagree with many. I agree, undoubtedly, that what happened was wrong. What I don't agree with is people being so disappointed in him. HE IS A MAN, and by that I mean human, of the flesh. I agree, he should've known better. At the same time, the title REV. does not give him any special powers. He does not have a shield that protects him from temptation. Satan preys on him the most, probably, because Satan knows that WE create role models. Satan knows that WE follow people, so he preys most on the ones we follow. WE choose to follow PEOPLE. That, to me, in my OPINION, is walking a fine line of idoltry. Jesse shouldn't have no followers. Period. He is supposed to be leading others to follow CHRIST. If we strip him of his title of REV., we might as well take it away from each and every minister, priest, reverend, pastor, etc.
WE need to stop creating these role models. I mean, who determines the criteria for a role model anyway? Who made Jesse (or Bill) role models? They sure aren't mine. I can't think of a single human being that I can say, "I want to be like him/her." Not one. I have always had a problem with this. We have taken the "it takes a village" thing too far. And we never learn from it!!! We are constantly talking about these "role models" and how we are disappointed in them. Bill, Whitney, Jesse. Stop allowing these PEOPLE to be your role models. I mean, how many of yall know Jesse? Why would you allow someone you don't even KNOW to be a role model???? All we know about him is what we see on TV. For all we know, he coulda been beating his wife for years. The point of the matter is, we don't know about these people's private lives. We don't know them socially. All we know is their persona that they WANT us to see. It's for this very reason that I don't believe in role models. Leaders are one thing, role models are another.
What's the difference in a role model and an idol, anyway? This is not a rhetorical question, I really want to know.
[This message has been edited by Ideal08 (edited January 18, 2001).]