Comments on: Keep Swinging: Everyone’s Hero and the Last Lesson of Christopher Reeve http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/04/30/keep-swinging-everyones-hero-and-the-last-lesson-of-christopher-reeve/ culture blogging for the good of the planet Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:25:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Brutus http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/04/30/keep-swinging-everyones-hero-and-the-last-lesson-of-christopher-reeve/#comment-3007 Brutus Fri, 04 May 2007 03:56:56 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/04/30/keep-swinging-everyones-hero-and-the-last-lesson-of-christopher-reeve/#comment-3007 In her book <i>Generation Me</i>, Jean Twenge writes about the self-esteem movement that repeats the mantras "You can do anything" and "You can be anything you want" but without the limitations you wisely note. She also believes it's a recipe for disaster and reports on the depression and despair felt by an entire generation whose experience in life often fails to match such irrational exuberance. As for earning the right to inspire others to keep swinging, I think Christopher Reeve took it too far when he appeared in an "inspirational" commercial showing him walking again when in fact he couldn't. Sure, he overcame a lot and may have been superhuman in some ways, but he eventually died of his injuries. He doesn't deserve a pass on distorting reality and selling a bill of goods to the public. In her book Generation Me, Jean Twenge writes about the self-esteem movement that repeats the mantras “You can do anything” and “You can be anything you want” but without the limitations you wisely note. She also believes it’s a recipe for disaster and reports on the depression and despair felt by an entire generation whose experience in life often fails to match such irrational exuberance.

As for earning the right to inspire others to keep swinging, I think Christopher Reeve took it too far when he appeared in an “inspirational” commercial showing him walking again when in fact he couldn’t. Sure, he overcame a lot and may have been superhuman in some ways, but he eventually died of his injuries. He doesn’t deserve a pass on distorting reality and selling a bill of goods to the public.

]]> By: Tom Watson http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/04/30/keep-swinging-everyones-hero-and-the-last-lesson-of-christopher-reeve/#comment-2928 Tom Watson Wed, 02 May 2007 13:53:23 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/04/30/keep-swinging-everyones-hero-and-the-last-lesson-of-christopher-reeve/#comment-2928 Been meaning to watch this one with the kids on pay-per-view - but I take your point about the cliche - keep swinging. Taking a pitch or two is a good idea. At the little league games, we obnoxious parents tend to shout something along the lines of "wait for your pitch!" Which is far better advice for life - a short version of watch closely, know the strike zone, and be opportunistic. The people who know those less-glamorous rules tend to do well...Still, I like the look of the movie. They should've kept Phil Wrigley though... Been meaning to watch this one with the kids on pay-per-view - but I take your point about the cliche - keep swinging. Taking a pitch or two is a good idea. At the little league games, we obnoxious parents tend to shout something along the lines of “wait for your pitch!” Which is far better advice for life - a short version of watch closely, know the strike zone, and be opportunistic. The people who know those less-glamorous rules tend to do well…Still, I like the look of the movie. They should’ve kept Phil Wrigley though…

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