"Spare me son, it's over... there are no more heroes left in the world."
-From the Lethal Weapon Movie-

I enjoy this psychotic storm called life, but the other day I realized something. Where have all the intellectual heroes gone? I look around for answers but everything seems to becoming sour. Within a world full of technological and medical advancements, it appears that humanity is becoming unstable. In the past you'd learn about leaders, visionaries, and heroes such as George Washington, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Albert Einstein, Jesus of Nazareth, Aristotle and Socrates. Many men creating new ideas and guiding or inspiring people with hopes to better this world.

So we read and learn words from icons from thousands of years ago. Ancient scripture and outdated laws... we've learned from that already. Shouldn't it be time to evolve these historical ideas or truly give rebirth to their wisdom?

What's your definition of a mentor today? Do you have one? I find it interesting to ask a child, "Who do you look up to?" I recommend doing that sometime. Ask a child that. You can learn so much about a child/person by looking by learning about their mentors and heroes.

I can agree that teachers, parents, and friends have the power of a hero/mentor, but what about that one person or icon that brings forth a grand new concept encouraging people to come together, love, and better themselves? I know there are countless heroes out there who have the wisdom and are trying to talk. Perhaps people just think they're smart enough and don't feel the need to listen anymore?

Intellectual heroes seem to be on the endangered species list. Is brut strength the only form of heroism now? Many children play alone unsupervised, have a hard time finding help with their homework, or have to pop in an unhealthy microwave dinner to feed themselves... because many parents are forced to live in a duel-income household just so they can dress, feed, and provide their kids with an education.

We live in a new time where drug addicted and wife-beating sports icons are believed to be inspirations to our children. People are trying to survive in a society were fathers get into fights and kill each other at children's sporting events. Stepping in an arena were pro-wrestlers
(who are portraying people they are not)
are becoming new role models. And, we live in a reality were Presidents choke on pretzels! Where is the great vision of the future or the heroism within all of this?

I have faith in the future (I have to) and I'm not being pessimistic. Some people do find mentors and/or promising role models, but where can we all find that visionary who has the power or tries to bring everyone together? That person most people can look up to? This sucks for me to type, but recently within the United States, an intellectual hero didn't inspire people to respect each other... it took a VILLAIN, or a monstrous act of terrorism to inspire our common ground where people feel that beauty of standing together. I find that very interesting and very discomforting.