Spring Break
A rags to riches story for the common man
Bryan Murphy
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Commentary
In times of trouble, we always turn to our heroes for inspiration. But we're no longer in the Age of Heroes - instead of Lincolns and Roosevelts, we've got Clintons and Bushes. Where have all the heroes gone?
Well, there is Barack Obama. He's become a messiah figure to many, obviously. Perhaps he will prove to be great, and historians can talk of the reign of the Second Coming of FDR. At any rate, Obama's election was one bright spot in a sea of gray news.
But there's not much in Obama's narrative that can inspire hopeful emulation in those who are truly honest with themselves. Sure, he had the necessary hard-times upbringing and rags-to-riches story. But he's also a fellow who rose to become the president of the Harvard Law Review and didn't break a sweat campaigning before millions. In short, he's basically superhuman. What I mean to say is, don't take too much solace from Obama's successes, because odds are, none of us is as smart, competent or chill to follow in his footsteps, even on a small scale.
However, there are perhaps more human, and more replicable, heroes towards which we can turn for guidance. Indeed, in times like these I turn to my favorite protagonist, one of the oft-forgotten heroes of American history and a leader who deserves his place in the pantheon alongside Lincoln and Roosevelt.
I speak, of course, of His Imperial Majesty Norton I, Emperor of These United States and Protector of Mexico.
Norton I had his dime novel success story, as well: the child of simple South African merchants, he rose to become a wealthy San Franciscan landholder, fell to become a penniless drifter, and returned from a three-year disappearance as the sole American Emperor - all without a great deal of intelligence, competence or psychological stability.
In short, he's someone you can look up to without straining your neck. Here's his inspirational story in a nutshell.
In 1859, there appeared on the streets of San Francisco a man dressed in a (somewhat ragged) second-hand British Admiral's uniform who proclaiming himself the Emperor.
Well, there is Barack Obama. He's become a messiah figure to many, obviously. Perhaps he will prove to be great, and historians can talk of the reign of the Second Coming of FDR. At any rate, Obama's election was one bright spot in a sea of gray news.
But there's not much in Obama's narrative that can inspire hopeful emulation in those who are truly honest with themselves. Sure, he had the necessary hard-times upbringing and rags-to-riches story. But he's also a fellow who rose to become the president of the Harvard Law Review and didn't break a sweat campaigning before millions. In short, he's basically superhuman. What I mean to say is, don't take too much solace from Obama's successes, because odds are, none of us is as smart, competent or chill to follow in his footsteps, even on a small scale.
However, there are perhaps more human, and more replicable, heroes towards which we can turn for guidance. Indeed, in times like these I turn to my favorite protagonist, one of the oft-forgotten heroes of American history and a leader who deserves his place in the pantheon alongside Lincoln and Roosevelt.
I speak, of course, of His Imperial Majesty Norton I, Emperor of These United States and Protector of Mexico.
Norton I had his dime novel success story, as well: the child of simple South African merchants, he rose to become a wealthy San Franciscan landholder, fell to become a penniless drifter, and returned from a three-year disappearance as the sole American Emperor - all without a great deal of intelligence, competence or psychological stability.
In short, he's someone you can look up to without straining your neck. Here's his inspirational story in a nutshell.
In 1859, there appeared on the streets of San Francisco a man dressed in a (somewhat ragged) second-hand British Admiral's uniform who proclaiming himself the Emperor.
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