How We Remember Others - Is the Legacy of Kobe Tarnished?

Is Kobe’s Legacy Tarnished?

As I have been doing a lot of personal reflection on the legacy of Kobe Bryant after his tragic death, I have noticed some other’s reflections that I find quite alarming in their hypocrisy. For a public figure who we know too much about, it is unreasonable to believe that there were never any mistakes made in their life. Where is this fantasy coming from that the influential in our society are somehow not like the rest of us, who have all had our fair share of mistakes made in life?

The Sensitive Role as a Child’s Hero

I believe this delusion started from a good place, the protection of our kids. When people become famous to our kids they are called to a higher standard of conduct. Kids, in their innocence, can still believe that their heroes are perfect and unlike all the other people in their life who hurt others whether intentionally or not. This places significant stress on famous athletes, Disney Channel stars, and the like and it is rightfully so. To be put in a position of influence over a child, and thus their sense of right and wrong, is a gift not to be abused or neglected. Still, these people, like all people, slip up from these high standards and make mistakes. And, since their lives are so open to the public the media does not relent broadcasting it when they do. This creates all kinds of negative attention on that person and the kids, who have made that person their hero, start to catch a glimpse of their imperfect humanity. This does not have to be a complete disaster in the child’s moral upbringing. Kids will come to grips with the harsh reality of our imperfectness sooner or later. When their hero’s blunder triggers that conversation sooner, it is up to the parents to step in and explain the misconduct. Parents who cast blame on the celebrity are attempting to transfer their own responsibility to be that moral upright person in their child’s life onto that athlete or child star. This is unfair to that celebrity and illogical for a rational grown adult to do.

 Adults Having Childlike Expectations for Others

Kids can believe that people don’t make mistakes, adults, having made their own, have got to know better. Do we really believe that our politicians, actors, and athletes are perfect people? Why do we hold them to a standard we know we would fail if someone put the same microscope on our life’s history? Should we be disqualified from our jobs if someone were to dig up the details on all the mistakes we made in life? Should we deserve that promotion we’re going for any less because of our past mistakes out of the workplace? If we are determined to be the right candidate because we fit the job profile best, should we be disqualified from the race because of a personal mistake we made in our past? These are unrealistic expectations. People make mistakes. It is what makes us people. It is not our mistakes that matter but how we grow from our mistakes that matters. As we expect forgiveness in our lives for the mistakes we’ve atoned for, so should we provide that same respect to others. We can use the opportunity to teach our children about forgiving others when they are repentant of their mistakes instead of showing them that mistakes are irreversible and that once you make one your reputation will be tarnished forever, even after you’ve spent the whole rest of your life turning it around.

The Choice We Must Make - How Will We Remember Others

f we can consider our personal and professional lives to not be tarnished based on the mistakes we’ve made, then we should not tarnish others for the mistakes they’ve made and grown from. If, however, we still decide to tarnish a person’s legacy because of a mistake they made somewhere along their journey, then we better damn well consider our own tarnished too.