American Society Needs New and Improved Celebrity Role Models

Reading the news today, it is filled with the antics of young celebrities committing crimes and living lives of irresponsible excess, disregard for the law, and promiscuousness. I'm no prude and have spent time having legal, polite and controlled fun in my younger years, but is it really necessary for the press to concentrate on immoral, drugged out, or drunken celebs making fools of themselves on a daily basis at nightclubs? Still, many young people look up to them, as if they are gods due to the fact that they are rich, pretty or famous. Have good morals and values taken a back seat to hard partying and lack of respect for others? It is hard for anyone raised with discipline and scruples to understand this. It seems that American society is becoming cheapened by all this over the top mayhem.

Recently, Paris Hilton was let out of jail, after serving only three days of her drunken driving sentence. No matter how her attorneys try to argue and defend it, her release shows a blantant disregard for the law. The average citizen would never get off of a serious charge so easily. Paris will be "confined" to her home, sporting an ankle bracelet, and chatting on her cellphone as if nothing ever happened. Home confinement isn't even a slap on the wrist to her. For someone who has made her living partying, and ignoring authority, letting her finish her sentence at home just goes to prove that money talks. Meanwhile, that jail is surely full of other women serving similar sentences, who never got preferential treatment, and must finish out their time in the jail like everyone else. What ever happened to freedom and justice for all? It makes me wonder.

Instead of concentrating on the infamous, arrogant and spoiled celebrities; relevant news and attention would be better used showcasing those who truly deserve it. There are good and decent celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who have spent much time and money donating to charitable causes. Their purpose in life is clear, to help others and make the world a better place. Still, the press hounds them for superficial matters, concentrating on more shallow issues rather than focusing on the issues these celebrities work so hard to support. If the world is to be a better place, the media needs to begin focusing more on those who are making a difference in the world, and spending less time focused on hard-partying former child stars, clearly useless and immoral celebutantes, and others whose only contribution to the world in the end is scandal and crazy behavior. Train the public to be more interested in relevant matters, and less focused on the superficial. By focusing on what is good and wholesome may raise public expectations and make us less focused on those who aren't deserving of attention and fame.