At the end of each calendar year USA Today, CNN and The Gallup organization ask the question: “Who are your heroes?” -Or- “Name the people you most admire.” Here’s the top ten results from last year.: #1- George W. Bush (dominating with 39% -highest ever)
2-Laura Bush;
3-Hillary Clinton;
4- Oprah Winfrey;
5- Colin Powell;
6- Rudy Giuliani;
7- Pope John Paul II;
8-Tony Blair
9-Michael Jordan; and
10-Madonna.
Steven Hess an expert on public opinion polls had an interesting take on last years results. He said, “Our heroes today can be our goats tomorrow. President Bush’s dominance in the 2001 poll is obviously because of the way he handled the Sept.11 crisis. But what is admired this year may not be next. Next year something else may be on our minds.” Reading that I thought, “Is that the way we choose our heroes? Our role models? Do we choose them based on a “what have you done for me lately” philosophy?”