Brown: Celebrities not quite role models
Younger generations look to Spears, not Superman
By Jesse Brown (Contact)
Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
One day in the near future, parenting may become a task to undertake, if it has not already.
We will have the responsibility to raise our children to be wholesome, good human beings. It’s a heavy responsibility and is unpredictable to how they will turn out when they reach adulthood.
For that matter, nobody should be held up as role models, because we are all fallible human beings.
Although I am no Dr. Phil or some child-raising expert, I know one of my decisions that I will carry out, and I urge each one of you future parents to do as well: Do not let your kids find a role model in a celebrity.
I remember it like yesterday when Britney Spears was first gaining fame, and all the little girls adopted her to be their role model (with the approval from the parents.)
It’s easy to see the appeal of a celebrity from a young and impressionable mind’s standpoint.
People praise celebrities for looking beautiful and elegant on the red carpet.
They are making loads of money on movies, CD sales, tours or any other way that is making them richer.
They live in huge mansions that a small starving nation could reside in with swimming pools, basketball courts or any other ridiculous thing they could add to their lavish lifestyle.
They are dating models and beautiful actors or actresses. They are driving $300,000 Hummers and Lamborghinis.
The list could go on.
Recently, however, fame does not seem to be all it is cracked up to be.
The media are overwhelmed with the meltdown of celebrities.
After the death of Anna Nicole Smith, the mental breakdown of Britney Spears, the still-trying-to-sober-up Lindsay Lohan, the suicide attempt of Owen Wilson and many other celebrity problems, why would we want or encourage our children to have these people as their role models?
Even though I’m not trying to defame the aforementioned names, I’m only proving my point: They are human beings.
They are not perfect. They make mistakes. They have their own problems and should not be held up as role models.
For that matter, nobody should be held up as role models, because we are all fallible human beings.
We don’t want our children to grow up to be young alcoholics, pill poppers, a little insane or depressed, do we?
Children should be allowed to dream and to aspire, but society should not instill a specific role model for young people to look up to, but instead encourage them to practice certain values.
Teaching values could be done in a variety of ways: through religion, literature, customs, culture or many other possibilities.
A child could learn ethics from Superman or could learn morality from Jesus Christ. These values are important to teach as parents instead of being lazy and have them follow a celebrity.
Of course young Americans want to pursue being rich and famous, but we should let them develop a sound mind that is not distracted by the glamor of Hollywood.
I’m urging you future parents or current parents not to let your children become shallow reflections of the rich and the famous that are displayed so extravagantly in the media.
Brown is a Lee’s Summit, Mo., junior in journalism.
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