I guess we will see how the whole Einstein series plays out. We were probably too early dissecting it before all the facts are in.
Possibly the other points we are arguing about are the result of oversimplification of our respective points of view. Probably truth on both sides depending on how its emphasized.
My points about heroes were more generalized and less about Einstein than about the need for heroes. It has a lot to do with your definitions of heroes as I touched upon with the sports figures, entertainment stars etc in my earlier post.
I have never encountered a child that was discouraged by others’ success. Sometimes jealous and often lazy and looking for excuses not to put forth effort. That’s what parents and significant adults are for to help each kid discover where they can shine and help them strive. I don’t like the idea of making things easy for kids. Breaking things down into smaller bits, teaching strategies to succeed but I can’t imagine needing to put someone down to allow someone else to be encouraged to succeed. We may have different world experiences.
Be well.
I’ve encountered MANY kids that were discouraged by others success. Hang out on the poor side of town, that’s where you encounter a lot of kids that have a solid laundry list of what they’ll never be good enough for. Often times the parents are part of the problem, poor side of town parent also tend to have a laundry list of things they couldn’t achieve and their kids won’t achieve. Highly varnished success gives very different messages to people who see opportunities in life than to people who see obstacles. A little flaw goes a long way to breaking the “well they’re just better than me” view.
And anyway, it’s the truth. In the end the truth is always the right answer.