What the Most Admired list says about us

By David Waters

The 10 men we most admire, according to Gallup, include four U.S. presidents, three world religious leaders, a billionaire philanthropist, a courageous historic figure and Glenn Beck.

With apologies to Sesame Street, "One of these men is not like the others, one of these men just doesn't belong."

Is there such a shortage of admirable men that we feel compelled to include a bigoted, bombastic, blowhard like Beck? Come on, America. We can do better.

Or can we? What does the annual Most Admired Man (and Woman) list say about us? Our values? Our beliefs? Our priorities?

Some observations and questions to consider:

-- Despite our hyperpartisan tendency, even need, to rip them limb from metaphorical limb, presidents have dominated the poll since it began in 1946. In fact, sitting presidents have placed No. 1 in 52 of those 64 years.

Since 1946, Ronald Reagan has the second-most Top Ten finishes are 31; Jimmy Carter is tied for third at 27. Four of this year's Top Ten are or were president. Even four of the Most Admired Women in America are or were First Ladies (Obama, Clinton, Bush and Bush).

Why do we so revere the men we revile?

Or maybe the better question is this: Why do we so revile the men (and women) we revere?

-- Despite the growing number of non-believers in America, and our incessant and divisive faith-based culture wars (led now by Gen. Beck), religious leaders also continue to dominate the men's poll.

Three of this year's Top Ten men are Billy Graham, Pope Benedict XVI and the Dalai Lama. You could make a strong case for a fourth -- South African leader Nelson Mandela, admired most for his faith-based, nonviolent struggle for human rights.

This is Billy Graham's 54th appearance in the Top Ten. Pope John Paul II (like Carter) has 27 Top 10s. Add other popes who have made the cut and the Bishop of Rome easily becomes the second most-admired man in the history of the list.

On the other hand, Graham, Benedict and the Dalai Lama all are over 75. The only male religious leader to make it to the top of the annual list was Pope John Paul II in 1980. Mike Huckabee and Jesse Jackson both made the list in recent years, but they're better known for their political candidacies and partisan activisim than their ordinations.

Do we really admire religious leaders or only religious celebrities?

-- Unless you count Oprah, none of the Most Admired Women are religious figures.

We admire the wives of presidents and kings (Queen Elizabeth), politicians (Suu Kyi, Palin, Rice and Thatcher) and entertainers (Winfrey and Jolie), but not female religious leaders.

In fact, since Mother Teresa died in 1997 (she was No. 1 Most Admired Woman four times), not a single female religious leader has made the list. And it's worth noting that none of the men on the list are best known for being someone's husband.

Do we not admire women religious leaders? Or do we just not know any?

Here's a quick test: See how fast you can name 10 NFL quarterbacks. Now, see how fast you can name 10 world religious leaders who are female.

Maybe it's time we redefine the word 'admire.' Or at least revise Gallup's annual question:

Not including presidents, first ladies or celebrities, what man or woman that you have heard about or read about living today in any part of the world do you admire now?

Now that would be an interesting and admirable list.

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