Anthony-another good answer, as was Tony's. As human beings we are subject to many weaknesses and failings. Those failings are as important to knowing the complete truth of a subject as much as the honors and awards.

Honor brings responsibility-something we all know-and in the case of minorities-there is the added personification of that honored individual as an example to the whole group. On one side, the person may be glorified far beyond the normal view of a particular accomplishment. Using the Flipper example-certainly he faced challenges the average student wasn't subjected to-and just as certainly there would have been at least fleeting times when he felt elevated beyond others-possibly to the level where he felt "above" others and not subject to the same rules and regulations. {Remember, I do not know this for fact, and do not wish to present as fact what is merely conjecture-but it's safe to say that such feelings are only human nature} Similarly, it is human nature to elevate that person as a symbol and cease to see them as liable to human foible-and distance can add to the deification.

Certainly, with honor came both opportunity and challenge-of course, scrutiny was there-both to further elevate, and conversely, with the hope that cracks in the armor-feet of clay-weakness could be found, so as to detract from the honor. The particular view depended on the mindset of the viewer-did they seek a hero or a villain?

To Ninthcav
As for the comments about further research. Be very careful, or you will unleash a fury you can't contain. Your rope has gotten very long...and some of us are very good at creating certain knots. Remember too, that the strong friendships based on honor, committment, respect and truth will not disintegrate, and even the gentlest, most tractable horse may eventually take the bit in his mouth and toss his deluded tormentor into a nearby cactus.

Sharon