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Monday, August 1, 2011

Iron Man a Conservative?

Before Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. was best known as a talented actor that threw his life away on drugs and alcohol. After years of finding trouble, getting arrested, going to rehab and relapsing, Downey finally was tired of his rockstar lifestyle and decided to seek help and rehabilitate himself back into society.

In an interview years after being released from incarceration, Downey had this to say “I have a really interesting political point of view, and it’s not always something I say too loud at dinner tables here, but you can’t go from a $2,000-a-night suite at La Mirage to a penitentiary and really understand it and come out a liberal. You can’t. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone else, but it was very, very, very educational for me and has informed my proclivities and politics every since.” It is incredibly refreshing to see a Hollywood Celebrity reemerge from the grave, really turn his life around, and come out of it viewing the situation in a mature way.

Instead of blaming society and the "the system" for his situation, he in essence took personal responsibility for his actions and sought to make a positive change in his life through hard work and determination. So often, people blame their upbringing and the inequalities inherent to society for their position in life, instead of realizing that the deep rooted problem isn't anyone else but themselves. The government can handout all it wants to people to try and level the playing field for them in society, but at the end of the day it means nothing if the person them self doesn't put in the effort and aspire to greatness.

I am really impressed with Robert Downey Jr., not only is he very talented, but he is willing to work hard to succeed. I applaud him for taking responsibility for his actions and being a real life example of personal responsibility.