Other celebrity sportsmen before him have been found to be fallible, such as Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong, but few find themselves accused of murder - OJ Simpson was acquitted of it, but then was jailed for other crimes by which time he had lost all credibility with the public. His case fascinated too, but Oscar Pistorius's fall from grace is far greater because of his fame as a blade runner and Paralympian, a man who overcame great disability to become a world champion and public figure. As one of South Africa's most famous sons, he was someone who was loved, and who inspired a generation worldwide, and the sight of this idol being led away by police for possibly killing his model girl friend, along with reports of a history of violence, will be most painful for those who admired him so much. Whatever the outcome of this case, his many achievements for disabled sport will be overshadowed by the tragedy which he may have brought upon himself, and upon a beautiful young woman on the verge of stardom.
It is interesting how far we can be so beguiled by the glamour of the facade of an individual, for this is what celebrity is all about: we create gods and put them on a pedestal, but the danger of a pedestal is that it is easy to fall off, and the image is smashed. It is what lies beneath the image which is most important, and it is that which identifies a true God.
Oscar Pistorius is a hurt, angry, reckless young man who pushes boundaries and who enjoys the stardom he was given and he claimed. Perhaps he forgot, or never learned, that with adulation comes responsibility; it is a lesson he is learning now, in a very hard way, and it may be he is teaching others too.
Claire Montanaro is a spiritual teacher, channel and blogger with special interest in esoteric philosophy and the world in transition. Loves nature and wildlife. Author of
“Spiritual Wisdom”.]]>
Indeed...`celebrity and the desire to be "recognised & appreciated" has really become something people desire greatly. interesting the lengths that they will go to to achieve this. It just shows the separation & the not knowing who they really are... the need for approval/love from others when we cant love or approve of ourselves.