The Missing Linc

The world today is full of problems. This is not news. Open a newspaper to something more than the comics, or switch on the evening news and you will see war, famine, turmoil and strife at every corner of the globe. Depressing, I know.

I don't profess to know how to solve the problems of the world (maybe once I become dictator though....), but my dearly departed and beloved Gramma always said "Take care of the pennies, and the pounds take care of themselves." By which she meant that if you fix small things, one after another, sooner or later the big things will be taken care of along the way.

So how does that work itself down to our level? I think most of us would say that we are going through life being as good a person as we can be. My question is, are we really?

If we truly examine ourselves, how good are we? How often do you say something that isn't true? Size really doesn't matter here, a lie is a lie. How often will you see or hear something and say to yourself "Someone should say/do something about that; just not me."

My point it that all too often we will let something go because we don't want the confrontation, we don't think it's our place to get involved, or we fear being seen as foolish. Even with my big mouth I'm guilty of that as well.

So what has been prompting this train of thought? Two words: Lincoln Alexander. He has always been someone I have looked up to and admired and back in December I had the chance to meet him again in Westdale when he was doing a book signing for his autobiography. Needless to say I was tickled pink, I was giddy the whole day.

Finally on Saturday past I had the chance to read the book. I was not disappointed. The things this man has done, the challenges he has faced, and the way he has lived his life have filled me with a deepening sense of respect and admiration for this giant of a man. If you are unfamiliar with him, I urge you to learn more about him.

The world I think, needs heroes. People of all ages need someone to look up to. Many today, and largely the youth are admiring and emulating sports figures, musicians, actors, essentially those with fame and fortune. While I don't think this is all together wrong (I always wanted to play like Grover Covington), I think that the reasoning has to be looked at.

To say that you want to play like Jerry Rice, sing like Pavarotti, or act like Robert Redford is not a bad thing. I believe you fall to the curb when you say you want to live like Jerry Rice because he can run and catch a football. I also believe that many in the public eye don't pay enough attention to the fact that they are role models whether they like it or not and that they have a responsibility to act accordingly. Comes along with the multi-million dollar contract. I've posted before a quote from Churchill "With greatness comes responsibility."

Lincoln Alexander is someone that always realized the responsibility that comes with each position he held. As an example, he was a smoker from a young age, and even during his vice-regal position as Ontario's Lieutenant-Governor (1985 - 1991). Most people didn't know that because he took great pains never to smoke in public because of the young people that might be looking to him as a role model.

How many of us can say that? Anyone that is in a position of trust and or authority is a role model whether they know it or not. I can tell you from my more than a decade of working with teens that everything you say and do is noted and at times emulated. It has been said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but to have someone tell me they smoke because they saw me smoking is a weight I don't want on my conscience.

As an officer, when I was a coach, even today in my job I always try to be aware of how I am acting and what I am saying when I'm around others. I'm not for an instant saying that I am good enough to be a role model, but I am aware that it may happen anyway and try to act accordingly.

So how does all this tie into the problems of today? If we all look up to and therefore emulate someone because they're good, honest and decent, how would we turn out? If we all tried to act good, honest and decent because of who might be looking at us, how would others turn out?

Lincoln Alexander is as good and decent a man as you can get. He has his flaws and has never run from them, but has done his best to be better than them. He is more a hero to me today than yesterday and I count myself fortunate that I was able to shake his hand.

I hope that someday, someone will say the same about me, and you.

Be well all.