This AP-AOL News poll was released yesterday:
Worst role models:
1. Britney Spears (29%)
2. Paris Hilton (18%)
3. Mel Gibson (12%)
4. Tom Cruise (9%)
5. Michael Richards (6%)
Best role models:
1. Oprah (29%)
2. Michael J. Fox (23%)
3. George Clooney (12%)
4. Angelina Jolie (8%)
Biggest villains:
1. George Bush (25%)
2. Osama bin Laden (8%)
3. Saddam Hussein (6%)
4. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (5%)
5. Kim Jong II (2%)
6. Donald Rumsfeld (2%)
Biggest heroes:
1. George Bush (13%)
2. Soldiers in Iraq (6%)
3. Oprah Winfrey (3%)
4. Barack Obama (3%)
5. Jesus Christ (3%)
6. Bono (2%)
The truth is that most of us don’t live in the People Magazine world. Our biggest heroes were people we know who’ve navigated 2006 with courage, faith, and compassion.
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I enjoyed these “Resolutions We’d Like to See” for 2007 in USA Today:
“Use my head, not lose my head.” - Zinedine Zidane (French soccer star)
“Get a decent haircut and not blow up the world.” - Kim Jong II
“Visit Auschwitz and the Holocaust Museum.” - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
“Ignore Donald Trump.” - Rosie O’Donnell
“Ignore Rosie O’Donnell.” - Donald Trump
“Wear underpants.” - Britney Spears
“Retire gracefully after my 754th home run.” - Barry Bonds
“Play golf left-handed, to give others a chance.” - Tiger Woods
“Shut my mouth and catch the d——– ball.” - Terrell Owens
“Stop trying to tell jokes.” - John Kerry
“Stick to telling jokes.” - Michael Richards
“Be The Listener before being The Decider.” - President Bush
“Aim before I fire.” - Dick Cheney
“Augment wonky policy prescriptions with personal style.” - Hilary Clinton
“Augment personal style with wonky policy prescriptions.” - Barack Obama
“Blame America second.” - Hugo Chavez
My personal hero for 2006 is my grandmother. Witnessing her take care of my grandfather as he slowly died of cancer was powerful for me. And her presence after his death was calming and peaceful. God Bless her.
I meant to say role model but she’s still my hero too.
Signs the Apocalypse is near: more Americans think our own president is the villain than they do Osama bin Laden or Saddam Hussein. Good grief.
HA HA HA….excellent.
Those lists show the lifestyle we live as Americans. Too many people forget their biggest hero were their parents.
Thanks for sharing.
wait how can George Bush be ‘Biggest Villain” and “Biggest Hero”?
Worst role models:
Most any living, breathing human being that refuses to follow Jesus’ model for living.
Best role models:
1. Jesus
2. Our Elders/Pastors/Teachers
3. Amish survivors of school shooting
4. Anyone but T.O.
Biggest villains:
1. Anyone that makes one of these little ones fall!!!
All others are redundant
Biggest heroes:
1. My LORD, Jesus the Christ
2. My kids and their kids and their kids
3. My Brother
4. Our Elders/Pastors/Teachers at Highland
5. Highland Members
6. Missionaries
7. Bill Cosby
We were stranded in the Denver airport for 3 days, 2 nights right before Christmas. The manager of the ticket counters at OUR concourse(& second home)became a role model for me. He held briefings every hour on the hour, was INCREDIBLY patient, kind, & funny to EVERYONE—race, color, gender, old, young, mean, grumpy, dense, you name it, he conducted himself through the whole ordeal, with great dignity. What could have been a terrible time(& some of it was), was made bearable, & at times, enjoyable, because of Scott Hill. Our family will always remember his actions & kind words.
I have heard that Barak Obama has ties to the COC. Has anyone else heard the same?
I believe that Barak Obama is associated with the United CoC, not the CoC.
While I don’t agree with everything he stands for, I find his calls for government transparency to be refreshing.
I’d have agree that missionaries are a top role model for me. They deserve our prayers and support.
Loved the blog. Well done.
Trey
Kinda scary that Michael Richards got 23% of the Best Role Model vote. Wonder which “role” that 23% wants to model: the Michael Richards on the stage, or the one who tried to be contrite? My hope is the latter, but . . .
I was wondering about Michael Richards being a good role model, also. Is that a misprint? I hope you’re right, Gary H, if it is not a misprint. I hope his contrition is what people were thinking about when they voted for him.
Oops. My bad. Definitely a mistake. Let me see if I can track that down. Certainly wasn’t Michael Richards.
Correction made. Michael J. Fox. Thanks.
Thanks, Mike, for the correction.
There’s an interesting editorial by Lawrence Downes in the NT Times. To read the full editorial, go here.
Establish mutual attraction and consent before kissing: Hank Jr.