Role Models

John Glenn is one of my heroes. I don't have very many these days, but Senator Glenn is one of them. Not just for his aviation exploits which are too numerous to mention in anything short of a book, but for other reasons, too. He's been a dedicated public servant for many years; he loves Annie (who wouldn't, speaking of heroes) and refuses to travel without her; he established a school of public affairs at The Ohio State University; he never hesitates to speak out for issues and candidates he believes in, regardless of the cost and/or derision it may include for him. On top of that he was and is a great father and grandfather, or so I'm told.
Why the homage to John Glenn? Once in a  while it's good to list our heroes, and the reasoning for the choice, I guess. Today I have another one, a new hero, with only one stipulation. I'll get to that. Yesterday a fellow who makes his living pushing a basketball through an 18 inch hoop, or preventing another fellow from doing so, announced for all the world to hear that he is a gay man in a sport that seems to ooze male (straight) sexuality. Jason Collins, newly freed free agent (in more ways than one), came out on national TV. "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay." Mr. Collins has for years been living a lie, pretending he was someone other than who he is. To come out is brave, and freeing and right. My only comment about this public focus on Jason Collins is this: when the geeky, nerdy kid, the pimpled, awkward gay boy or girl that neither side ever picks for basketball can be who they are freely and without reservation, that will be a day worth celebrating. Then we can all be heroes. We can all soar.