2008 Woodie Awards
False Idols
Andrew S. Lay
Issue date: 10/4/06 Section: Opinion
It has become abundantly clear to me over the last few years that American culture has been on a grimy slope, careening ever further into the halls of despotism. It sickens me to watch what has been happening, and I feel completely incapable of even putting a bump in the road. It saddens me to see
the steady decline.
How is it that we are the greatest power in the world, both militarily and economically, yet the great majority of our people have fallen into a serious moral ambiguity? Our youth do not respect their elders. I see them cussing at them in the streets, showing nothing but contempt for even the most
miniscule of authority figures. Even a meter maid gets no respect. Well, I suppose I don't really have a
problem with that.
However, this current trend is disturbing to me. Many people today could easier recognize the cast of MTV's last season of "The Real World" than name five people in the Senate or the House of Representatives. The populace is careening dangerously towards complete idiocy. Minds are mush and
everyone wants to be famous for all the wrong reasons.
Long gone are the days when people clamored incessantly for the honor of public service, the achievement of fame through the betterment of your fellow man. What has happened to the next generation of Martin Luther Kings or John F. Kennedys?
Most people would rather be a movie star than
a politician, Why is it that we make people rich and famous for pretending? How have we fallen so far that actors are
now the people we look up to; the people we idolize, the people we hang on our walls? All they do is play make believe, and the population makes them stand shamefully amongst the richest people in the nation.
We should be honoring people who make a difference: a policeman who solves a horrible murder, or a doctor who discovered a cure for a horrible disease that saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Instead, Jim Carrey, as funny as he might be, is richer and better known then the last Pulitzer Prize winner. It defies all logic.
the steady decline.
How is it that we are the greatest power in the world, both militarily and economically, yet the great majority of our people have fallen into a serious moral ambiguity? Our youth do not respect their elders. I see them cussing at them in the streets, showing nothing but contempt for even the most
miniscule of authority figures. Even a meter maid gets no respect. Well, I suppose I don't really have a
problem with that.
However, this current trend is disturbing to me. Many people today could easier recognize the cast of MTV's last season of "The Real World" than name five people in the Senate or the House of Representatives. The populace is careening dangerously towards complete idiocy. Minds are mush and
everyone wants to be famous for all the wrong reasons.
Long gone are the days when people clamored incessantly for the honor of public service, the achievement of fame through the betterment of your fellow man. What has happened to the next generation of Martin Luther Kings or John F. Kennedys?
Most people would rather be a movie star than
a politician, Why is it that we make people rich and famous for pretending? How have we fallen so far that actors are
now the people we look up to; the people we idolize, the people we hang on our walls? All they do is play make believe, and the population makes them stand shamefully amongst the richest people in the nation.
We should be honoring people who make a difference: a policeman who solves a horrible murder, or a doctor who discovered a cure for a horrible disease that saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Instead, Jim Carrey, as funny as he might be, is richer and better known then the last Pulitzer Prize winner. It defies all logic.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Justin
posted 10/11/06 @ 3:58 PM PST
It is easier said than done.
Post a Comment