Where Did All the Role Models Go?

I was watching the news the other day when I heard a three-minute spiel on Lindsay Lohan's latest trials and tribulations. 'Isn't there anything else going on in the world?' I wondered, stupefied at the fact that a reputable news station (sorry Fox, you weren't my inspiration on this one) was spending valuable air time on a cocaine addict gone wild(er). But then again, we live in a society where sensationalism sells, and everything of any newsworthiness must reflect that good old bottom line.

But I have to wonder, at what point did this capitalism become more than just a background ideology of America? When did the Bottom Line usurp the Genuine - the value of the dollar over integrity? And in this age of salacious storytelling, where did all the real heroes go?

The media favors the likes of the overzealous rule-breakers. The Lohan's and the Britney's (at least the former has some talent, however) are getting the same airplay as the Hank Aaron's and Florence Griffith Joyner's and Elvis Presley's of the previous generation. And although they had their fair share of life's inevitable hurdles, they reflected some essence of class and grace that spoke for a generation in limbo between questioning the mirage of government interests and the legitimacy of war.

Today, no one but the rich likes the government. And practically the whole country opposes the Iraq war. Our leaders are mere puppets dictated by the ever-increasing girth and strength of corporate interests. Killing others is more important than saving ourselves. Health care is crumbling, cynicism rising, and the hollow-eyed show of fancy rocks and gadgets and smut is dominating our visual, aural, subconscious landscape.

And all the parents wonder why their babies are growing up so fast.

Sports heroes and superstars today reflect this changing compass of American interests. And it reflects the devolution of what was once a past time, a fan-driven enterprise. We are becoming chattel to the behemoth of industry, gauging our worth on what's in our wallet. A hundred million here, an endorsement for Nike and Coca-Cola, and you are now a Real Man. A Woman of the Age.

And kids are looking up to it, emulating it, feeding on it so that they can learn and grow and become the big fat rich man in the tie with the fancy car and the sexy arm décor. Then they'll cheat on their spouses with strippers and escorts so that they can live the "big" life. The bling life. And brag to their friends who are too busy figuring out their Iphones.

These people with talents they often snort or drink away are getting paid more than 95% of the population. Yet the marketers and media moguls keep us talking about it, keep us wondering about it. Keep the kids curious about the mischief and mayhem they can get into that will make them popular. Make them rich and famous. Cause that's the only thing that seems to matter.

And then there are the books. We won't need Fahrenheit 451 to censor philosophy and reason when the politicans start to fear a thinking populace because people don't read. At least not anything good. Book sales are down, newspaper sales are down, and the best sellers are about goblins and ghouls or phony memories and drug addiction. Quantity is the new Quality. Even Nicole Richie is published.

Philosophy is too slow for the Internet era; reason too confusing when there's so much pop culture to drown out the thoughts.

But at least they believe in god; at least they have some imagination.

When will the paradigms shift? When will authenticity and creativity become revered over the lowbrow and brain-laming sludge that has consumed this country? When can we burn the bibles and rise above the babble of tonight's evening news?

We are capable of so much, so why do we strive to accomplish so little?

Money will dwindle and looks will fade, but the Death of Thought can last forever.