American youth are impressionable. They look to their peers and to their role models in order to find acceptable ways of behavior. In other words, they want to be like the people that they respect and admire. Actors, politicians, athletes and others in the public eye are often idolized and emulated by our kids, and it helps if the people our kids are growing up to be are acting in responsible ways. All too often, however, this simply is not the case.
Sports figures are supposed to be a shining example of the American dream, but these days we hear stories of basketball players pulling guns on people and athletes getting busted for lewd texting and even rape, claims a Brooklyn Sex Crimes Lawyer. Even lesser crimes such as drunk driving still do a disservice to our children because it teaches them that it is okay to break the law and risk the lives of others. Staten Island has experience with all of these crimes.
Last December, a Baltimore Ravens football player was charged with a DUI after police stopped him and determined that his blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit. He wasn’t just tipsy, he was toast, related the NY Criminal Lawyer. It is obvious that athletes are people, and not superheroes, and they, too are prone to mistakes and poor judgment. Perhaps the best thing that we can do, especially if our children have heroes that end up being seen in a less favorable light, is set the examples ourselves that we wish for them to follow. Not only does that put the ball back in our court, but it is better for everyone.