Topic 193: The Responsibility of Greatness

Carol:

“Whoever Would be Great Among You”

Does responsibility come with greatness? Charles Barkley took a lot of flak for refusing to accept the title of “role model.” In his typical blunt way, he reminded people that being a great ball player doesn’t make a great human being, and responsibility for being a role model is that of parents. “Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids” (Barkley). Fame and celebrity create false idols, especially in America, and we bemoan the human foibles of the famous when we should be looking elsewhere for our models of greatness. Charles Barkley was a great basketball player, but he was no Mother Teresa.
 

I said that as a bit of a joke, looking for contrast, but she’s a pretty good example of a person who never let her growing fame and international reputation interfere with her mission to not only serve the poor but to love them. Probably the secular apex of her life was receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. When she was given word of the award, she responded with characteristic humility and spiritual vision: “I accept the prize in the name of the poor.”

Mother Theresa accepts another prize.

The Nobel Presentation Speech referred to Mother Teresa as a bridge. She “has personally succeeded in bridging the gulf that exists between the rich nations and the poor nations.  Her view of the dignity of man has built a bridge. Unencumbered and naturally she has crossed the gulf by means of this bridge” (source: Nobelprize.org).
 

In her lecture at the Nobel ceremony, Mother Teresa spoke about visiting an elderly couple living in an institution, a nursing home full of beautiful things. But, no one smiled and it seemed to Mother Teresa that everyone there was looking towards the door. When she asked why they weren’t smiling, she was told that the old people were hoping that someone—a son or daughter, any family member—would come to visit. They felt  unloved and forgotten. Mother Teresa called that loneliness the greatest poverty of all.
 

I began my teaching career at a private school near Beverly Hills, and most of the students’ families worked in entertainment industry—producers, actors, writers-- people used to fame, even considered great in their fields. The principal of the school also knew how to bridge worlds. Sister Colette had spent years teaching in poor countries, so she knew first-hand the responsibilities of a life dedicated to the poor.  She also  understood “poverty of spirit” and the loneliness of emotional neglect. She considered it a special calling to serve the wealthy  with compassion,  to see beyond the outer bravado of wealth and celebrity and to encourage the humanity and dignity of each student, of each family. I don’t think she had the ego to consider herself “great,” but she was one of my role models. That’s why my daughter is named Megan Colette.
 

What is the responsibility of greatness? I guess Charles Barkley might say his responsibility was to practice hard and play well, to nail those free throws and slam those dunks.  Mother Teresa might say her responsibility was to love and obey her God, to love others so that “no child will be unwanted, and also that we meet each other always with a smile, especially when it is difficult to smile” (source: Nobelprize.org).
 

Somewhere far away from the professional athlete and the professional saint is… well, is me. My role models showed me the importance of accepting challenges , making commitments, loving what you do and who you’re with. It’s about learning the greatness of responsibility.
 

Sources:
Charles Barkley quote. Brainyquote.com.
    
The Nobel Peace Prize 1979. “Mother Teresa.” Nobelprize.org.
 

Megan:

“With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility” 

– Spiderman or Voltaire or Thomas Francis Gilroy

Anyway, let’s take a moment and look at the current events. We’re several weeks (or years, depending on how you look at it) into the News of the World hacking scandal.  I haven’t paid that much attention because since returning from New Orleans I’ve misplaced my remote control so I haven’t been watching any TV. But from what I can tell, it is unlikely that Rupert Murdoch had anything to do with the hacking, as the NOTW was only a tiny part of his media empire. I’m not sure what outcome to expect from these hearings aside from likely significant financial payouts and criminal charges for the actual hackers. Murdoch is the man in charge though, and the actions of his employees are his responsibility.

In addition to major corporations, celebrities and politicians are the two other groups of people in this country to whom we ascribe power, but only from the latter do we have a right to expect responsibility. I’m not saying politicians necessarily have a moral responsibility, I just mean that we elect them with the intention that they responsibly represent our interests. This expectation is one of the foundations of our democratic system.

Unlike corporations and politicians, celebrities have very little actual power.
We see their movies and listen to their music and sometimes they touch us on an emotional level.  These people become role models simply because they are in the public eye. We consider them trendsetters and we buy the products they promote because we recognize them and maybe consider them our friends.   And when they mistakes most of us get to make privately, we feel let down, and we turn on them.

One might argue that celebrities are financially compensated for forfeiting their right to privacy. They choose to act and perform, they allow their faces to become internationally recognizable, and in return, we have a right to look at stolen pictures of them with their children or to judge them after a night of heavy drinking. And then we accuse them of being bad role models, of being irresponsible.  This is unfair.

We have a right to expect great and powerful people to act responsibly because when they act without care or regard, actual real damage can be done. When celebrities fail, they are usually only hurting themselves. When corporations or governments fail, personal tragedies are exploited, minority groups are discriminated against, economies collapse and lives are ruined.