Bieber v. Hamm

I mentioned in my previous post about young people and the people/things they obsess over. I would like to take this time to pursue that topic more in detail.

Typical.

Let me start with the phenomenon of Justin Bieber. I profess right now that I wasn't and will never be a "Belieber" but I do understand the draw that he has on most of the female population. He's talented, smart, and yes he did come from a low-class family but now he's making millions. 

Bieber was arrested in Jan. of 2014

Given the recent events he's been involved with, I'd say his "good boy" facade is tarnished and possibly will be burned to the ground for it never to rise again. This is a quote he gave in an interview in 2013, "So remember, this is Bieber's world. you're just living in it. Bieber or Die." I hope this isn't just me thinking that this isn't the best way to view his fan's and career. A do or die mentality for a career that is based solely on popularity manifests an unhealthy style of living because it's all about the "I". 

Now I want to challenge this "role model" with my own. Mia Hamm. She joined the USWNT in 1987 and retired in 2004. She held the record for international goals, more than any other player, male or female, in the history of soccer till 2013 when Abby Wambach passed it. Hamm was a instrumental leader during her stay and not only positively impacted the sport of soccer but also the lives of young girls looking up to her. 

She was a shy leader, she didn't want the attention for herself. 

Mia Hamm talking to the press after a game

She endured long press conferences and interviews because she knew the team needed the attention and sponsors. She said this in an interview in 2001 about the success they've had as a team and how instrumental of a player she is, "I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion." Selfless, determined, and team-minded. Those are the qualities that people should look for in a role-model.  

I know Justin Bieber has done some good. He doesn't have 50 million followers on Twitter for nothing. But I want to challenge you to assess what qualities do you admire in a person, any person, big or small! The celebrities and musicians that we let control our air-waves and television screens are lowering our standards of what's good and wrong. I know people aren't perfect but that's why we have people like Mia Hamm who are able to accept the responsibility of their "celebrity" status and set a good example for those that look up to them.