The Leading Role: Another Commentary on Role-Playing

There are roles in civilizations and there are leading roles. When you go into an area of knowledge and/or wisdom, sometimes you are qualified for a role in that area of knowledge and/or wisdom, othertimes you’re qualified for the leading roles.

For example, you have many actors. Some of these many actors are qualified to be actors, however, they are not all qualified to be the leading actors. Who determines those qualifications?

When other actors state that Anthony Hopkins is the leading actor of his generation, what does that mean?

Who determines this?

Or if people say that Marlon Brando is the leading American actor of his generation.

Who determines this?

Most actors look towards their peer group to determine this. Sometimes they look towards their fans. Sometimes they themselves know that they are leading role actors. However, if you are in a profession like actors, others help to validate the leading roles–peer group of other actors, directors and producers, fans, and the actors themselves in how they approach their leading roles and what type of leading roles they accept or reject.

This acting metaphor is similar in other professions– teachers, scientists, intellectuals, business professionals, etc. This is true whether these professionals are public people, like a Donald Trump or Oprah Winfrey, who have leading roles in their professions, and/or whether they are private people who have leading roles in their communities.

Some people who have leading roles in one profession having supporting roles in another. Some people who have leading roles among certain classes or ethnic groups, are relegated to supporting roles among another.

There are many types of leading roles. But whether you’re assigned a leading role or not, you should try to meet the highest standard of that role, to the best of your knowledge and understanding.

However, if others try to assign you a leading role and you don’t think that you’re the appropriate person and/or you think another deserves and/or is more qualified for the leading role, you can reject leading roles and/or you can accept them.

Suppose for example when other actors state that Anthony Hopkins is the greater actor of his generation, if he agrees with them, and based upon his knowledge and assessment of acting, then it’s acceptable for him to accept the leading role. However, if he thinks another actor is greater than himself, then it would be great if he would say that he appreciates this acknowledgement, but that he himself must acknowledge a greater actor than himself.

Again, this is true of other professions.

If you think you’re the greatest, accept the leading role. If you think others are greater, then acknowledge them.

Not every person in a role wants or even deserves the leading role. This is an assessment that you yourself must make.

There are leading roles in almost every art, science, or talent. There are professional, moral and spiritual leading roles in every society and every civilization.

Try to be the best that you can be in the role(s) you play. If you think others are better than you, acknowledge them.

If you think you are better than they are–you cannot force people to acknowledge this. But try to set your best example, according to the highest standards that you know.