Living Outside The Lines: Lessons From Blue Bloods

Although fictional, Blue Bloods provides a realistic portrayal of the difficult times in which we live, and how even in the midst of chaos, it is possible to remain true to yourself. 

by, Becky J Miller

Magnum P.I. starring Tom Selleck ran on CBS from 1980 – 1988.  The series, set in scenic Hawaii, quickly became one of my favorite shows and Selleck, a favorite actor. It would be twenty-two years before Selleck landed another hit television series; 2010’s Blue Bloods.

Blue Bloods, set in New York City is about a family full of the good guys; present and former police commissioners, a detective, a police officer, and an assistant district attorney.  Selleck provides a strong lead character as the present NY City Police Commissioner who often confronts difficult circumstances.

Sunday dinners reflect the family’s unity along with the occasional disparity of opinion.

The show’s creators do a fantastic job portraying Selleck’s character as one with strong convictions yet a willingness to hear the other side and work towards mutually satisfying outcomes that don’t go against his character.

Although fictional, Blue Bloods provides a realistic portrayal of the difficult times in which we live, and how even in the midst of chaos, it is possible to remain true to yourself.

In one episode Selleck’s character, Frank Reagan, is scheduled to speak on his granddaughter, Nikki’s college campus.  As the scheduled appearance draws closer, there is unrest in the city and protests against Commissioner Reagan and the entire NY City Police Department.

Knowing the ultra-liberal students on campus feel the police are out of control, and the commissioner himself is a fascist and racial profiler, Nikki tearfully begs her grandfather not to go. His response to her, “I’m used to unfair, it’s part of the job.”

Against the counsel of his closest advisors, Reagan attends the event, saying, “Someone has to tell our side, I have to try.” And knowing Nikki looks to him as a father figure, he must lead by example.  Sadly, as Nikki watches with tear filled eyes, Reagan is booed and cannot calm the crowd enough so he can say the words he has come to deliver. Defeated, he leaves the stage.

Sunday dinner following the occasion is notably silent until Nikki takes out the Teddy Roosevelt speech Reagan read to her fourth-grade class, making the point that her grandfather was a success simply because he stepped into the ring.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

While Frank Reagan and the supporting Blue Blood characters exist only in the fantasy world of Hollywood, Roosevelt was a real man, who spoke these inspirational words in his Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, France, April 23, 1910.

For indeed, even in 2017, it is not the critic who counts, but all acclaim goes to the man who steps into the arena, despite the insurmountable odds and although he may leave dirty and stained, he shall not know defeat, for even if he fails, he did so while in the fight!

We could all learn a thing or two from good ole’ Frank Reagan and Teddy Roosevelt.

Until Next Time,

Becky J Miller ~ Warrior Princess 

Becky J Miller is a contributor and is exclusive to SM Corridor News. You can read more of Becky’s columns in Lifestyle.