Roles and Qualifications

Many of these modern-day role players have learned from many role-players before them.

Many of the Marilyn Monroe generation wanted Marilyn to be successful in her role. However, Marilyn Monroe in playing her role helped others to learn how to play that role and how not to play the role. She continues to be an icon and a teacher for her society and for the many starlets that go into that role. Of course, they are “no Marilyn Monroe,” nevertheless these icons become the standard for that role, whether they are an exemplary standard or a flawed and foibled standard.

Madonna in playing her role is teaching many of this role, as Jesse Jackson or George W. Bush or Richard Nixon or the various popes. These are public role players that we study and learn from.

However, we all have private role-players in our communities, whether they are naive role-players and/or self-conscious role players that we can study and learn from.

Before people go into any role in any society they should learn the minimum qualifications for those roles as that society determines these qualifications. Nevertheless, when they get into the role, they are the people defining that role, not another.

For many blacks of the twentieth century, Malcolm X came to define the highest role, greater certainly than Mr. Jackson. And for that, there are still those continuing to gnaw at the legacy of the great Malcolm–by any means. Yet the role is the role. Understand the metaphysics of manly independent African leadership and the role is still the role. Certainly enemies of African people or any peoples who have ongoing independence struggles, including Native Americans–are going to continue to discredit the independent leadership for the more agreeable types. That’s “human nature,” nevertheless the role is the role. Geronimo is Geronimo. Moses is Moses. The role is the role. Understand the metaphysics of role-playing.

We should speak of Moses here, because he represents for many of the faithful of many faiths an icon of independence struggles. Nevertheless, Moses played his role and then understood when to stop playing that role. He understood how far he was allowed to go with the Jewish people. At some point the Jewish people had to continue with “the spirit of Moses,” the metaphysics of Moses. Most Jewish metaphysical teachers understand Moses as Abraham as a metaphysical role. Moses (we assume) is celebrated as Moses but also as a corporeal manifestation of the metaphysical. Most peoples with a spiritual foundation understand this.

Most peoples with a spiritual foundation continue their spiritual roles even in a secular society. Many understand this. Others do not. Spiritual peoples continue their spiritual roles even in modern secular society.

Many role-players seek spiritual guidance when playing their roles. Many public leaders speak of seeking such guidance, because the decisions they make affect many people and the roles they play. And this is true even in private role-playing as some parents seek spiritual guidance in how best to raise their children.

For example, once Muhammad Ali, who considers himself also a spiritual person and not just some boxer, set the highest standard for African American boxers Almost every other boxer is told, You are not Muhammad Ali. Of course, they are not. Nevertheless, when they get into that role, boxers define and redefine that role.

Since Muhammad Ali no boxer has gotten into that role who can compete with that icon.

Metaphysically the role is still the role. Your role can be a purely secular role and/or if you are a spiritual type–and by this we don’t mean the crude fundamentalists–then your role is both a secular and a spiritual role.

Boxing is no longer considered by many the great sport because most of the people getting into the role cannot compete yet with the icons. But the role is still the role. And it can be a spiritual and/or a secular role and/or both.

Muhammad Ali is the exemplary modern-day gladiator. And almost every society has its equivalent of this as a role.

Understand the roles and qualifications for playing roles.

And furthermore, understand the metaphysics of role-playing.