The Last of Six Facts With Which to Humble Oneself


The Fact: Role-models are social gadflies, challenging social barriers and norms of empathy.

How It Works: This is a paradox for people who follow role models. Remember those WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) wristbands? I think that idea is awesome--but one thing Jesus wouldn't do is be governed by a process of asking what someone else would have done. The same is true of Nobel Peace Prize nominees like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. All great role models are like that--to trully follow them requires that we stop following, and start leading. Thus, they undermine following, and give those who attempt to follow the kind of humility required to keep empathy and role-following in balance.

Diverse Citations: 
Moses broke class barriers, leading people his family oppressed. Shemot 2:10

David broke class barriers, being both shepherd and king. Shmuel I 18:1

By this sign is he known: being of equal grace to comrades, friends, chance-comers, strangers, lovers, enemies, aliens and kinsmen; loving all alike, evil or good. Bhagavad Gita 6.9

Krishna is a friend to all kinds of people. Bhagavad Gita 9.29

The Sage never fails in saving people, therefore no one is rejected. Laozi 27

Because he has pity on all living creatures...a man is called elect. Dhammapada 270

Confucius broke class barriers, teaching diverse students. Lun Yu 7:7

The Master expressed a desire to go and live among the Nine Yi Barbarian tribes. Someone asked him, "How could you bear their uncouthness?" The Master replied, "If a gentleman were to dwell among them, what uncouthness would there be?" Lun Yu 9:14

Jesus broke class barriers, healing lepers, befriending both the rich and the outcast. Mark 1:40-41, Mark 2:15

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...then you’ll be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.  Matthew 5:44-48

Mohammad the Prophet broke class barriers as outcast and leader

On the objectivity (i.e. non-following) of role-model scientists, see Daston, L., & Galison, P. (2007). Objectivity. New York, NY: Zone Books.

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