We all live with models. We identify with a model aiming to become alike, to in a way take in the model's characteristic behaviour, to copy it so we become a bit of who the model is.
Sigmund Freud saw the "identification" with a model as a psychodynamic process, which aims to have the own self to become even with the model self. By this identification we gain the ability to solve inner conflicts like e.g. the fear of being alone is resolved by the inner image we create of, and the behaviour we copy from the model. This explains the phenomenon of having models. They provide safety. They guide us in life. They feed our formation. With a positive model we gain a positive attitude towards life. It makes us feel good to identify with our model's recognition, with its success and popularity.
Our first models are our Mom and Dad. We imitate them without ever questioning it. We copy our parents' actions and so we learn how to talk and walk, how to eat and get dressed, how to brush our teeth or ride a bike. Growing older, we begin choosing our own pick. The choice we make in general depends on (1) the recognized similarity between us and our model, which could be on aims, attitude, behaviour, strength and so on, (2) the model's success we perceive and (3) the conviction that we are indeed able to emulate our model.
Those models with a good and healthy relationship to us and those, who are publicly seen in great esteem, are among the most effective models. They teach us to deal with complex social situations like rituals of greeting one another, appropriately moving in a specific social setting or situation or even how to handle forms of aggression.
Models can be people from the neighbourhood, friends, a priest or a teacher, a sportsman, a singer, a movie star, a celebrity, a comic character even or a politician. All it takes is, we see the similarity and the success and we feel: we, too, can make it.
Knowing these we may consider, that even an ordinary house wife may serve as a model. Just a woman with a great heart, a wife with strong faith, a person convinced of democracy and strong enough to stand up for her convictions. Just a woman. Just a house wife. An ordinary person, just like you and I.
Fate threw her into a situation where she had to decide. And she decided to make the best of it. She decided to follow the calling, even if that meant to guide and lead an entire nation to break free from dictatorship and to pave the way for democracy, even if back then she did not know where that path would finally lead her and the nation to.
Of course that was never "just so". Of course it was much more than only the moment of decision. It was a hard and dangerous fight, and it was never easy. I, a German, am not to tell this story, but I may share that it is perceived with immense respect and appreciated with sincere admiration that a president remains authentic and true, despite all the administrative power around her, despite all the easy ways out which just so open doors to personal advantage and convenience. Cory however did not betray her faith, or her authenticity, or the people she guided. She remained the person she was: The woman with a strong faith and a great heart. She remained true to herself and to her convictions. That is what makes her a model.
How many ordinary house wives live all over the world? How many also have a strong faith and a great heart? Don't we? Can we not identify with Cory? Are we not also a bit like her? And do we not see this woman's success? The entire world does. She freed her nation. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. And as she has always been one of us, as we are also a bit like her, do we then not believe we can emulate her, our model?
We lost that model on August 1. But true also is we never really lost her. We made us a part of who she was. She is still there, among us, who chose Cory as our model. She left us to ourselves now, to our own responsibility, but she showed us, that indeed it is possible, that an ordinary person can change the world for the better. Through Cory we know, that we, the ordinary people, can also change the world. It only takes us to take up our responsibility, to remain true to our convictions and to not give in to opportunity, convenience or the easy way out. We can do it, because Cory did it earlier to us already.