The Austerity Of A Potted Plant

By John Katz , The American Dossier

The law in our country in the event of a crime is that one is innocent until proven guilty and that law must remain as such. Even in regard to the media circus surrounding actor Jussie Smollett we must stand firm in honoring our legal system instead of getting caught up in the gossip train. It is not so easy to do when the media fails to get its facts straight.

This is no way an endorsement of the alleged actions of Mr. Smollett. What needs to be addressed is much bigger issue. The reality that it is not a required role of a celebrity to be a role model. But yet here we are once again. Unfortunately the integrity of the underlying issue gets lost in translation. If indeed this man used his celebrity status and used a social issue such as racism he should man-up and except the consequences of his actions. Celebrity or not. If indeed proven to be true it also brings to light another issue that is often disregarded is that of the significance of mental health.

In American culture we are groomed and expected to look at celebrities as role models. I am sorry to disappoint but that is not what they are paid to be . Like you and I they have their personal faults and transgressions, and yet we look at them as gods. Whether he is proven guilty or innocent we are all guilty of putting “celebrity status” on a pedestal. Unfortunately what gets ignored is how we deal with the actual issues.

In closing, another issue that comes to mind. What is a role model? Where can you find one?

I am of the Generation X who grew up in a time when technology was slowly evolving. We had to rely and interact more with each other in an actual community . Not the virtual land of social media . Our focus was more about looking at integrity in a role model rather than status.

One of the silliest 'role modeling' exercises we learned in grammar school was how to grow a plant.

I remember this because in retrospect it was valuable life lesson.

We had a teacher who in retrospect chose to be and lived as a role model. Growing our own plants taught the importance that we could believe in ourselves as we planted our own seeds (as were not plant experts). She taught us the value of nurturing and being patient, in that caring for a plant takes responsibility . We were encouraged to help each other water our plants ,as a community serves and cares for each other.

The exercise taught us how to face fear and understand failure, if one’s individual plant failed to blossom.

As much like in life we are not perfect but can teach each other how to grow. Even more perhaps the austerity of a potted plant should be more shared on Social Media.

We need to look at each other and simple life lessons as role models rather than celebrity or other superficial status.