Blagojevich=Kanye=OJ Simpson

"O.J. Simpson was sentenced to up to 33 years in prison for his role in a sports memorabilia robbery. Afterwards, O.J. said, "Let that be a lesson to all you kids out there: Stick to double murder.'" --Conan O'Brien.

Kanye West was arrested for assaulting a paparazzi.

Federal authorities "accused [Blagojevich] of attempting to benefit financially from his position to appoint Barack Obama's Senate replacement."

In recent weeks, numerous infamous arrests took place by leaders of our community and role models to children. Too many people admired by thousands have thought that they are above the law. Authority figures and people looked up to should have a higher standard for the way they live their life, not the idea that they can do whatever they want. In Self-Reliance, Emerson says that "envy is ignorance... imitation is suicide... take himself for better, for worse, as his portion..." (20). The truth is that people should not follow others, but children looking up to their favorite singer or sports player getting arrestted think what they are doing is normal and ok. Our own govenor, Rod Blagojevich, attempted to sell a position for senator. The evidence against him shows him being arragent and obvious about his crime, not even trying to disguise calls or meetings. Imitation is bad, but everyone, especially children, do it, and when they decide who to copy, it can easily be someone famous for going to jail for thinking they are above the law. Imitation should not happen, but bcause it does, we need to make better role models for our next generation.

Whose Job is it to Donate?

This weekend me and other members of New Trier ELS (Enriching Lives through Service) and Special Olympics stood outside of Starbucks' around the North Shore, asking for donations. We asked everyone who walked by if they would like to donate, and although many people were very generous, some didn't even give us the courtesy of a yes or no. Some people walked into the other door, hiding behind their phones or jackets, trying not to make eye contact. Now, I do understand that not everyone donates to the same causes, some people give their time and money to other organizations that they are involved in. This is how Emerson is with his causes, and while I do acknowledge this and agree that it is their choice, the way that some blatantly ignored us seemed unnecessary. After buying a $4 drink, I wondered if people simply wanted to use their money on their causes, or just didn't donate at all (which is also their choice). Standing out for two hours in this 20° weather (some people were out there for longer), I thought about Emerson's views on the topic in Self-Reliance:

"I tell thee, though foolish philanthropist, that I grudge the dollar, the dime, the cent, I give to such men as do not belong to me and to whom I do not belong. There is a class of persons to whom by all spiritual affinity I am bought and sold; for them I will go to prison, if need be; but your miscellaneous popular charities... though I confess with shame I sometimes succumb and give the dollar, it is a wicked dollar which by and by I shall have the manhood to withhold" (22).

Emerson doesn't donate to a cause to look good to others, he believes in his causes and does what he needs to do for them. While this is probably true for some of the people who did not donate, I wonder if the majority had the same beliefs or just didn't want to donate. If someone had told us that they donate to another cause and that's why they didn't to us, that would be different than being completely ignored. Emerson believes that he shouldn't have to donate to causes just because, but I have to wonder whether these people had his views, or were just to uninvolved to acknowledge us.