Many people think that because someone does a certain job it sets that person apart from the rank and file.  Take, for instance, law enforcement.  Many cops are given special discounts (in fact they often expect them in some situations), they are regarded as somehow more honest or trustworthy, and they are often given a pass when they do break the law.  The same holds true for those who hold political office, certain athletes, actors and a few other “classes” of people.

I have been told by some that we, the rank and file, are not as smart as those who have been selected…hired…by the voters to represent us.  I have heard people say that police are more proficient with firearms than civilians.  Neither of these things are any more true than saying that a redhead has a hot temper or that one ethnic group is less intelligent than another.  Just because someone has a job doesn’t make them better than anyone else…or even qualified for the position that they hold!

Actors are people who get paid to pretend that they are something that they are not…is this a reason to revere them?  Or do we envy the income that they earn?  Do they really deserve our adoration?  Some do, many do not.  But it is not because of the jobs that they do, if they earn our respect it is because of the person that they truly are and not who they pretend to be.

So why do we have this attitude?  Partially because we are conditioned to, partially because we WANT  to have heroes to look up to, to emulate.  But we must choose our mentors wisely.  We can no more make a blanket statement about the honesty of law enforcement than we can about the dishonesty of used car salesmen.  There are good and bad characters in every walk of life.  So the next time you blindly trust someone just because of where their paycheck comes from, think about WHY this person deserves your trust…or do they?  Respect and admiration should be things that are hard-earned and not given freely.  There are a lot of great people in the world who deserve to be recognized.  Sadly, most of adoration goes to those who don’t care and don’t deserve it.