It's only been 5 days and there is a long ways to go, but the actions so far seem to be a good "earnest of intent," to inspire hope. And I have been reflecting on the whole subject of self-identification. It can go awry, where people take their role models from criminal gangs, etc. Or maybe, late in life, when a person has just been acting narcissisitic and mercenary all the while, he is forced into a ROLE that he must play. So, he begins to play it. And discovers he is good at it. And that he receives respect and accolades. And maybe even that he finds the goals of the role to be something his conscience agrees with. And that it is more agreeable and natural to be in the role, than to be who he was.
I think about this a lot. It just seems that people tend to show more courage and resolve when they see themselves in a role that demands those qualities, as in father or husband or leader. I think the whole corps of the military may be an example of those who, for the sake of their role as guardians of freedom, family, and fellow Americans, are willing to commit acts of bravery and self-sacrifice that otherwise would be unthinkable.
So, I'm not saying McCarthy is out of the woods, or ready for a Batman suit, but if he now is on some kind of personal evolution, that is not a bad thing. Thoughts?
It's only been 5 days and there is a long ways to go, but the actions so far seem to be a good "earnest of intent," to inspire hope. And I have been reflecting on the whole subject of self-identification. It can go awry, where people take their role models from criminal gangs, etc. Or maybe, late in life, when a person has just been acting narcissisitic and mercenary all the while, he is forced into a ROLE that he must play. So, he begins to play it. And discovers he is good at it. And that he receives respect and accolades. And maybe even that he finds the goals of the role to be something his conscience agrees with. And that it is more agreeable and natural to be in the role, than to be who he was.
I think about this a lot. It just seems that people tend to show more courage and resolve when they see themselves in a role that demands those qualities, as in father or husband or leader. I think the whole corps of the military may be an example of those who, for the sake of their role as guardians of freedom, family, and fellow Americans, are willing to commit acts of bravery and self-sacrifice that otherwise would be unthinkable.
So, I'm not saying McCarthy is out of the woods, or ready for a Batman suit, but if he now is on some kind of personal evolution, that is not a bad thing. Thoughts?