Somewhere along the way, we’ve seemed to lose sight of the past – it’s either been forgotten or denied…who we look up to mimics the type of person we hope to become. Maybe we should make those choices with a little more wisdom – get back to the basics of humanity…when the right thing was the most important thing.

TOP 10 ROLE MODELS OF THE CURRENT DAY

1. Lady Gaga – While she’s wild and off the wall…talented and rich…does she deserve this Number 1 spot? I would have to say YES. This is a woman who knows who she is and tries to better the world through her music and numerous charities…wear that crown, Lady Gaga…and be proud!

2. Tiger Woods – Being an outstanding athlete with an interesting background that got him there…I would have to say NO he doesn’t belong in the top ten. Maybe that thought would change if he could be admired for only his golf career…that’s no longer a possibility given his love for any lady who’s not his wife!

3. Armed Forces Soldiers – To any individual selfless enough to give of him/herself for the protection of others…the ability and dedication to defending the rights of this land…they deserve a solid YES for being mentioned here. Whether or not you support the war – you must be supportive of those brave men and women…for all that we shall become in the future because of their service today!

4. Abraham Lincoln – A name that echoes in our minds at the mere thought of fairness…his legacy has lasted longer than I’m sure he ever dreamed…being the president was “not his job, but a responsibility”. That statement alone makes him a YES for deserving this status…that along with how he cared about those who weren’t deemed equal at the time!

5. Charlie Sheen – How this name even made it here is beyond me…I’d have to say NO he doesn’t belong anywhere near this list…but, here he is. We shouldn’t be looking up to a man who prides himself on drug usage and pornographic escapades…making himself richer based off the sins of society. He’s rapidly accelerating the decay of human morals every time he opens his mouth!

6. Motley Crue – From one generation to the next…this group of men still reign supreme on many levels…they speak to us in a way that not many musicians can. That earns them a huge YES for being included here. Through all the ups and downs – including drug addiction…they rose back to the top where they rightfully belong!

7. Frank Lucas – A man who was the “Al Capone” of the 70’s…he stood up for what he believed in whether it was right or wrong. Does this earn him a spot here…I’d say YES it does! In this day and age, we need to look up to someone willing to go to extremes for their own beliefs and values.

8. Nelson Mandella – For someone to sit in jail for upholding his own personal opinions…this earns him the rank of being a role model. Look at the man’s life and determination, then you’ll see that his nomination to this list earns a solid YES vote from many!

9. Lindsay Lohan – How this woman even made it on here is beyond me…her grasp on reality is so far gone. Some people think their fame earns them “higher than God” status – and she’s one of them. Unfortunately, she is still looked up to and it’s hard to say why. Should she be on this list…that’s a big, fat NO…but, thanks to this generation – here she is!

10. Batman – The myth that we fight to turn into fact…someone willing to stand up in the face of evil to defend humanity on every level. It’s sad that we have to look towards fiction in our efforts to find a suitable role model…and I’d have to say there’s none better than Batman himself…does he deserve this recognition – YES…does he live up to his persona…YES!

This current day list of role models was aquired via my children and some of my Facebook friends…their ideas mixed with my personal opinion of those ideas. It was a pleasant surprise to me how open everyone seemed to be regarding this topic…and the portrayal of it shows that even though times have changed, there are some who still look up to those who are worthy. This leads me to believe that society’s downfall is related a lot more to environmental reasons than who we look up to – blame it on government, religion or family issues. It doesn’t really matter what the reason…all I do know is this – the time has come to improve who we are. Respect, values and morals have washed away…replaced with evil, greed and prejudice. As I make this plunge into the next section of this editorial, maybe I’ll notice that what I deemed as different…in all reality, is somewhat the same. The fact remains that we are only who we choose to be…regardless of the world around us.

TOP 10 ROLE MODELS OF MY GENERATION

1. Elvis – The legend himself who gave new meaning to Rock…while incorporating the Blues. With each lyric, he drew us into his message. This earns him a YES for the Number 1 spot on this list. When following the life of a rock star – remember his life and not his downfall…he was surely one that deserved our admiration!

2. Marilyn Monroe – She is an icon that remains on top in more generations than just my own. She had it all…fame, beauty and riches – none of which defined who she was. She’s the woman so many of us had dreamt to be…she fought to be recognized for who she was instead of what she had. To her, material possessions were just that…they weren’t there to determine her self-worth. This earns her a huge YES to being included in this list. May we sing her praises forever!

3. John F. Kennedy – A man who defied the odds and succeeded in winning the presidency of this great country. It took great courage and faith for him to reach his dreams…although short-lived, he left this world a hero. We won’t get into the corruption behind those against him…all that matters are the accomplishments left behind. While some may say he doesn’t deserve this nomination – I say YES he does. America was a better place back then! 

4. OJ Simpson – The name that draws many different thoughts…football, hall of fame, murder. He shocked the world with his amazing talents on the field – he was someone to respect. His sincerity within the community…his efforts to better life for struggling juveniles…his downward spiral into a life of crime. How someone can make such a drastic life change in that way still catches me off-guard. While given his career and moral make-up “back in the day”…what he allegedly did can’t be overlooked. With that being said – NO he absolutely does not belong on this list…he lost that right!

5. Charlton Heston – Defending our own constitutional rights seemed a lot easier with him standing alongside us…the NRA was lucky to have him provide a voice for their organization. From the big screen to the political scene – he understood the importance of what it meant to be free…in a country that was stripping us of our freedoms. My father admired him…I admired him…as did my children. This YES goes out to you, Mr. Heston…thank you for all you’ve ever done!

6. Jimmi Hendrix – Most people view him as nothing short of a drug addict musician…without understanding that he used both of those as a way to cope with real life. Dealing with racism and hatred, he found his mental release through the strings…through the psychodelic drugs. While I don’t condone drug use to that extent…it’s important to take into consideration the “times” in which he lived…and died. This earns him a YES for being included here…and another YES for the music he shared with the world!

7. Our Parents – When family was the core of life…of security and happiness. This is where we found comfort and learned values. Even during the bad times, it’s that family unit which kept us moving forward into a life that we deserved. People genuinely cared about people…and we protected each other. The biggest YES nomination goes out to those parents who were around for their children – teaching them right from wrong…simply because it was the right thing to do.

8. Martin Luther King, Jr. – A man with “a dream” who wasn’t afraid to share his viewpoints with a nation who wasn’t able to accept the truth. If he would have lived long enough…he would have been proud…his “dream” became a reality. It was an uphill battle in the political and public arena of life – and it’s far from over. Grasping the mission of such a great man is what shall move this country ahead…YES he does deserve to be included here…may he never be forgotten!

9. Madonna – With an amazing voice and beauty that would stop any man dead in his tracks…she went from sending a positive message to a negative one. Her views on life seemed to change over her long-lived career…this is what screams NO on her inclusion into this list. At one moment in time, the “Material Girl” deserved it…until the perversion instilled within our youth took over!

10. God – Whether you view Him as fact or fiction…a myth or reality…faith in God is what has gotten most of us through the hardest of times. Having a belief system is what keeps the world going…it’s the hope that there’s something greater awaiting us after this Hell on earth. Many people will chuckle because I saved Him for last…without thinking about why I chose to do that. With society lacking in any type of religious belief – if they would have saw God at the top of the list…they would have stopped reading. People may say they believe…but, they don’t show it in their daily life…it’s sad. God earns the highest YES rating for a role model of my generation!

While none of this is scientifically proven or fact based…it still shows some amount of reality. I’ve just been doing a lot of thinking on the way life has become – compared to what it was when I was growing up. While noticing a lot of differences between the lists…there are a lot of similarities. Throughout life – no matter our age group, we are drawn into the world of music and politics. Maybe it’s because that’s what’s expected…maybe it’s because that’s our only choice. Any way we choose to look at it – we all deserve someone to look up to…whether they deserve our admiration or not. I hope you enjoyed my little viewpoint here…and if you have any ideas on more comparison pieces…I’ll provide the voice for them too! 

In ending, I’d like to just say one last thing – instead of finding role models in the outside world…maybe we should all try becoming role models to others…in an attempt to make the world a better place!

Nobody can argue against AndAnotherThing’s view!

The only good reason that monarchists offer for keeping the “Royals” (as we call them in the UK) is that they bring in money via tourism. Who could argue that David and Victoria wouldn’t bring in more? I rest my case.

David is a King!

Apart from anything else, they are a lovely couple. David, especially, is a favourite of mine. Good to his family, a marvellous bread winner and family man. Did anyone see the documentary about him living in Madrid? He learnt Spanish, appreciated their culture and never paid for a meal. The Spanish adored him. In my research for this article I spent four days at Bar Real Madrid, in Vejer, Spain. The people there actually had tears in their eyes when talking of David’s imminent departure for LA Galaxy.

Victoria is a Queen!

But I like Victoria too. The film she made for Comic Relief 2006 was really touching. She is so obviously a warm and kind hearted person and very unlike the person as presented by British media. Not only that, when the Beckhams appeared on Comic Relief 2005, being interviewed by Ali G, Victoria made it. She showed that she doesn’t take her self seriously and enjoyed making people laugh. This is proof of a most wonderful character trait. (A video of the interview is available from google video clips if you want to see for yourself).

LA GALAXY

So now LA and all that offers. In the report I read, a spokesperson for the production company said “they appreciate Victoria’s wit”. I cannot tell you how much this cheered me up. This is surely indicative of a press media with heart and an eye on the good in people – not like here where exactly the opposite is the case and if there is no bad they invent it with titbits and innuendo.

The Beckhams Aren’t Stupid

Talk of the Beckhams’ wedding was almost malicious in the UK press. They came over as a bunch of jealous individuals who would have given much better reviews if they had been invited. Hello magazine really produced a brilliant article by their exclusive reporter. David and Victoria were brought to the wedding on purple throne, sedan chairs and this was taken by the press in England to be a delusion of grandeur, not two people having a whale of a time. The attention to details was spectacular and so Posh! Apple garlands, draped around pillars in amongst foliage and flowers, were pierced half an hour before the guests arrived to release a scent to harmonize with the flowers. How lovely.

The Beckhams and Nelson Mandella to Rule the World! Vote AndAnotherThing!!

If the AndAnotherThing team ruled the world David and Victoria would not only be King and Queen of England but the whole world too. Nelson Mandella, of course, would be Emperor, at which point the AndAnotherThing team would retire and go and work for
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