From as early on as kindergarten, teachers have encouraged students to have someone to look up to, a role model. As a child, these role models–moms and dads and brothers and sisters–play a key role in shaping one’s values, in molding one’s attitudes and behaviors. Besides family influence, though, the most influential people are the public figures, the superstar athletes and the pop singers and the corporate CEOs that children idolize.

Unfortunately, these figures do not always live up to the hero-worshipping. Last month, Baltimore Ravens’ running back Ray Rice was indefinitely suspended for his domestic violence crimes. When word of his arrest first hit the presses, Rice was suspended for only two games, but upon the release of video evidence of him punching his then fiancée the NFL reevaluated the severity of his actions.

The issue, however, is that a number of fans are willing to overlook his abusive crimes. While not all Ravens fans condone his actions, Rice was welcomed to training camp with a standing ovation. Even after the video evidencing Rice’s knock-out punch was released, many fans still proudly wear Rice’s #27 jersey to the games, insisting in the face of his crimes that Rice is a good person who simply made a mistake.

We at the Mill Stream commend the NFL and the Baltimore Ravens for their decisions to suspend and release Ray Rice. Rice committed a violent, abusive crime and deserves more than the slap on the wrist many fans are giving him.

If Ray Rice’s situation was an isolated incident in society, then the support for the running back could be passed off as a regrettable exception. However, even when otherwise punished by the law, the public has a history of ignoring the misdeeds of celebrity criminals, effectively pardoning their actions simply because of their status.

Justin Bieber’s U.S. visa risks review after his assault and dangerous driving charges in Canada last month. Jim Irsay, owner of Colts, was recently suspended for six games and fined $500,000 for driving while impaired and illegally possessing a large quantity of prescription drugs. Back in 2010, Bruno Mars, just two months after coming out with “Just The Way You Are,” was charged of cocaine possession. Yet, for most people, their merchandise, their team, their songs eclipse the significance of their crimes.

The Mill Stream staff urges the public to hold their figures to a higher standard, within and without the local community. Everyone makes mistakes, yes, but we cannot brush off the severity of one’s wrongdoing, not when the impact extends beyond the individual.

Public figures influence society’s trends and values, the attitudes and beliefs held on moral issues. While admiring people for their talents is understandable, we should encourage and emphasize displays of admirable character in our heroes. After all, public figures, the singers and the athletes and the actors, are watched, not just by the world, but by the children who look up to them.