Speak Out!

Role Models?

Sun, 03/15/2009 - 22:00 | Community

The abuse allegations in the Rihanna-Chris Brown relationship. The Michael Phelps marijuana bong photo. Alex Rodriguez' admission of using steroids. Much is being made of the possible impact of the actions of these and other public figures on young people.

Why do we expect celebrities to be role models?

 

Comments

This Generation: Celbs provide high profiled life lessons

Submitted by Deon Price (not verified) on Mon, 05/18/2009 - 11:01.

This Generation Bad decisions ruin good reputation What a difference a week makes when it comes to the squeaky clean image of three high profiled athletes and celebrities. Once again we receive another practical life lesson courtesy of a few thoughtless celebrities. A few weeks ago if you mentioned Michael Phelps, Chris Brown and Alex Rodriquez, you would have had nothing but positive things to say about these young men. Each of them are at the absolute top of their perspective fields and have reached the pinnacle of their careers. However, in a relatively short period of time these same individuals are faced with charges and accusations that could threaten their careers and ruin their once untainted professional reputations.
 
Michael Phelps is the golden boy and the face of the 2008 Olympics who earned an unprecedented eight gold medals at the Beijing games. He also won 14 career Olympic gold medals the most by any Olympian. Labeled the ultimate Olympic champion Phelps has been the toast of the town receiving millions in endorsements. After the incident involving Michael Phelps being caught smoking a weed pipe the size of a small tricycle, Kellogg the cereal maker decided not to renew their contract with him. They stated that pot smoking is not consistent with the image of Kellogg. He was also suspended for three months by the Olympic committee and faced criminal charges.
 
Chris Brown is the multi platinum selling R&B singer that has been compared to world renowned artist Michael Jackson and Usher. After his recent alleged attack on Pop singer and girl friend Rianna, he will probably be more suitably compared to Ike Turner. Brown was arrested and released on 50 thousand dollars bail for the incident that left the female pop star with a cut lip and several visible bruises on her face. She also reported that during the confrontation that occurred hours before they both were to appear at the Grammy awards in Los Angeles, that Brown choked her unconscious. Since the incident, several radio stations have pulled Browns songs from their rotation. The L.A DA is currently gathering more evidence to determine what if any criminal charges will be filed against the 19 year singer.
 
All-Star New York Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez also had a challenging week by going public with the admission that he voluntarily used a performance enhancing substance earlier in his career. One by one the skeletons are coming out of the dugouts in Major League Baseball and A-Rod is the latest casualty of the steroid era. Once considered clean as a whistle in a dirty game of cheat and lie to excel in the MLB, Rodriquez was considered the last hope of the elite ballplayers that would have been a positive image to counter the tarnished so called steroid era. Although his honesty is admirable his legacy and his future as a once certain hall of famer is now in question.
 
Once again we have a bright example that can be a valuable life lesson for modern youth, courtesy of these three high profiled individuals. The benefit is that thanks to constant media coverage of celebrities and Pro Athletes behaving badly, today's youth don't have to learn the hard way. We now have plenty of teachable moments that they can learn from. The most prominent lesson that is evident in each of the three circumstances is that one bad decision can ruin a life time of accomplishments. Even one regrettable incident could cause you a load of misery that could be a burden on you for your entire existence. Think before you act! Deon Price is a youth advocate and freelance writer. He can be reached at Deon.Price@comcast.net or WWW.priceedutainment.webs.com

ROLE MODELS

Submitted by donald eldridge (not verified) on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 19:25.

THERE IS NOT ANY CELEBRITY I WOULD WANT FOR MY CHILD TO LOOK UP TO OR BE A ROLE MODEL.

How can an imperfect system demand perfection?

Submitted by Whitney J. (not verified) on Mon, 03/23/2009 - 21:12.

If we can recall the words of President Barack Obama in his first address to Congress, he says, "We have to take the initiative to raise our own kids. And that's not a Democratic thing or a Republican thing; it's an American thing."
 
We expect celebrities and those of "high" status to be role models because they're lives are so public. They have the opportunity to use music, movies, sports and entertainment as mediums to reach into the minds of the American youth and essentially have tremendous impact on the development of their ideas. They represent a desired lifestyle and they are emulated and admired for their apparent success.
 
For these reasons, we inculcate them with a high level of responsibility; we expect them to speak eloquently, have impeccable behavior and lead unrealistically pristine lives.
 
But are we expecting too much? Yes. How can an imperfect system demand perfection? The mere fact that we rely on them for anything besides entertainment exposes a fundamental flaw in American culture. There is too heavy a reliance on celebrities. They sell us food, clothes, shoes, tvs, PCs, and just about everything we can slap their face on. And in the face of the frenzy, we seemingly forget that despite the prodigious insight and access we have into their lives, we are ultimately relying on complete strangers to raise our youth. It's the easy way out. It's settling. It takes away personal responsibility.
 
Parents have to remind their children that celebrities are human. They make mistakes. They're not flawless and despite the hype, they wake up and want the same things that all other human beings desire. There is no other way around it. Parents must be involved.
 
Now, this can easily go into the sociology of why some parents can't be involved. But the underlying message goes back to the words of President Obama: we must take initiative. Whitney J. for wikirocks.wordpress.com

The System Working Capital Access or deficiency

Submitted by Lisa Price (not verified) on Tue, 03/17/2009 - 07:41.

All the Rihanna's, Beyonce's etc are the system working capital in which they try and control the lives of these people. A positive working capital (celebrities) has to ensure that they can continue its operation without deficiencies or negative access. This is a system that allows no errors to interrupt the cash flow that these celebrities bring into the system. That means that these high ridiculous role model positions are filled by them (celebrities) with the assurance that you don't make any mistakes which could cost the sponsors, companies, and a cash flow problem. It's all about the cash flow with these sponsors and production companies. This is why there is such a high standard placed upon these celebrities lives.
 
It ridiculous if you ask me, but this is what happens. The public has control of the working capital access with just a simple disapprovement. If you do something I don't like, I voice my opinions with many other people and the process begins. I get to hold you accountable for my lack of parenting, so therefore I can shift the responsibility from myself as a parent, onto the celebrities in which I have never met before, but yet I hold them accountable for influencing my children in a negative way. I don't monitor what my children watch because I'm too busy working or doing whatever I want, all except parenting. I leave parenting up to the television and video's and play stations, anything to keep the kids out of my hair. There is no home cook meal in my house. I buy the microwavable meals, something quick to the touch. I don't know too much about what goes on in the lives of the people that live with me , but hey, they know all about Rihanna's and the Beyonce's and the Ciara's lives. I just find it easy as a parent to blame someone else for my lack of parenting. I get to hide behind the television screen and point out someone else's flaws and shift the attention on them. I get to run free and continue to look for ways to point fingers at strangers and blame them for my lack of parenting.. That's the American way!
 
Care to join the finger pointing parenting foundation of America. We have a large membership and the numbers are still growing. Want to join the finger pointing parenting foundation?

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

  • “Words don't have to be weapons."

SUPPORT THE TAVIS SMILEY FOUNDATION

TavisEnlighten, Encourage and Empower

Help enlighten, encourage and empower youth by providing leadership training that will promote the quality of life for themselves, their communities and our world.

BOOKS BY TAVIS

Tavis Smiley Books Never Mind Success...Go For Greatness

Annette Bening, Vanessa Williams and Cornel West offer serious, practical, and humorous advice on everything from relationships, careers and money. This book is designed to enlighten, encourage, and empower you!

Buy Now »