Is it just me, or does there seem to be a prevailing judgmental attitude in the media that is almost waiting for someone to point the finger at or to criticize.
Am I alone in feeling that in quarters of the media, the failings and flaws of others are reported with an certain air of GLEE that they have yet again brought someone else down. And the higher profile the better.
Now, admittedly there are a lot of people out there who must be accountable for their wrong actions. Those who by their behavior, actions or words commit crimes, display prejudice, demean women and a host of other unacceptable acts deserve to be called to account. And the media has done a thorough job doing that lately.
I am not arguing against that for one minute.
I just hope we do not get to the place where no-one will want to do anything for fear of criticism or the risk of public exposure or ridicule, justified or not.
In 1910, then President Theodore Roosevelt wrote “The Man in the Arena.” His words, especially the first sentence, are remarkably descriptive … almost prophetic … of what happens in our modern world:
It’s not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the do-er of deeds could have done them better.
But he goes on with these inspiring words:
The credit belongs to the person who is in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who errs, and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends themselves in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if they fail, at least fails while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.
I am not perfect, and neither are you, because no-one is. We all have our human faults and failings.
But we must never let that stop us from being the person in the arena. Spending ourselves in a worthy cause. Daring greatly.
I want to be remembered as someone who, even if I NEVER know the triumph of high achievement, at least can be remembered as someone who did their best … and never gave up the struggle.