Search for perfect role model neglects considering self

Society is on a persistent search for the perfect role model for our children. Carrying a formidable portfolio filled with such attributes as honor, integrity and altruism, this person would capture the attention of the nation's young and lead them down a path of virtue. Imagine parents standing idly by-their eyes gleaming with joy and admiration-as they reap the benefits of this surrogate parent's positive influence on their young ones.

Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, the role models that society has picked for its children are the exact opposite of what they should be. Society's focus seems to be on superficial happiness that such things as personal beauty and money provide. Young women today starve themselves so that they can look like the supermodels in magazines. At the same time, athletic rather than intellectual prowess is highlighted by the media-thereby promoting the exorbitant salaries that these athletes receive. Who can blame kids for their disinterest in education when putting a ball through a hoop makes far more money than any minimum wage job?

While these examples may be gross generalizations of how our society actually operates, there is an underlying shred of truth to it all. Very rarely do I ever hear a child, or young adult for that matter, champion the likes of someone with a propensity for knowledge and intellectual stimulation. Even here at Duke, students with whom I am in contact often focus more on ways in which they can augment their future income instead of their minds. That is not to say that money is their sole concern, however, just that it's overemphasized. In no way do I claim to be exempt from this phenomenon.

So if society has failed to produce an acceptable set of social icons who will promote virtuous citizenry, to whom can we possibly turn? We need to take a step back from hard core reality and instead look more closely at the fictional side of life-cartoons and comic strips.

Take Wile E. Coyote, for example. His violent tendencies notwithstanding, he really has a lot to offer in terms of valuable personality traits. I, for one, applaud Mr. Coyote for his incredible tenacity and ingenuity when trying to capture his superior opponent, the Road Runner.

I would have given up trying to attain such an obviously futile goal long ago; he, on the other hand, gets up every Saturday morning to continue stalking his prey while using every contraption known to man-and ACME too. What better role model could kids have these days than someone who never lets failure get him down, even if it means falling off a cliff hundreds, if not thousands, of times. Now there's determination.

Mr. Coyote may not be the ideal model-after all, he is an animal and a scavenger at that. Let's try someone a little more down to earthÉ how about Lois Lane? Miss Lane is a woman journalist in a man's world. Despite such discriminatorial adversity, however, Lois has ascended the ranks of her field to become the leading newspaper reporter for the city of Metropolis. In light of all the fuss about comparable worth and a woman's potential in society, I think that she has a lot more to offer than Kate Moss. And let us not forget that she gets to date Superman, which is no small achievement, considering that he and all of his other superhero friends are some of the heavy-hitters in the realm of role models.

Obviously, not all comic strips or cartoon characters demonstrate admirable qualities. Look at Garfield: What positive influence could he possibly have? Gluttony? Laziness? Or how about young Calvin and his propensity for procrastination and disobedience? Or Dennis the Menace?