by Lily Witt

Created on: September 21, 2008

I believe blaming Hollywood for the ills of the world continues an alarming trend in this country, blaming other people for our own problems. Whether it be bad parenting, lack of a moral center, or bad choices, no one seems to want to stand up and take responsibility for their own actions anymore. While I agree Hollywood glorifies and idolizes people who do not always deserve such acclaim, it is our own fault for caring so much about these people. It is our fault for buying the magazines and making this a smart financial investment for advertisers. As long as we continue to feed into it, it will only continue to grow.

As far as adversely impacting young people, this is where mentors and parents need to step in. Teach children the value of other things, encourage them to be involved in projects and activities outside of entertainment, and things will begin to change. There will always be a desire to be a part of the group, but parents are responsible for curing how much such a want affects the lives of their children. I agree magazines promote a poor image for females to follow, but proper health awareness can change this. People being honest about what they find attractive, as well as taking care of their own self image can change this poor example.

We will never be able to stop what those around us promote, but we can effect change by choosing to spend our dollars elsewhere. If we did not spend the money on these individuals, the companies would not either. If we did not find a need to own what they own, drink what they drink, etc, they would not proliferate our lives so thoroughly. We need to be responsible for who we hold up as heroes. We need to responsible and begin to give credit and acknowledgment to scientists trying to cure cancer, peace makers reaching out the world over, make names for these people and the importance of life, real life will fall in line.

If we all think a little bit harder about the legacy we want to leave behind we would be better served. If we thought about the consequences of our actions, be it how we spend our free time or what we will eat for dinner, we would be better served. Living in a country where it has become acceptable to pawn off all the work we don't want to do and point the finger at everyone else for our bad habits, we have lost accountability.

The anonymous nature of our current world also doesn't help. When you can hide behind a computer screen or sit in your living room so no one knows who you are or what your doing, people stop taking responsibility for how they spend their time. You used to have to at least face one person when you bought a rag mag, now you can get the headlines as they happen. The advertisers know it and they dump good money after bad following anything that gets the hits. Stop visiting the sites and the monies will be better allocated, I guarantee it!

Just as the slogan was not too long ago...buy American, save the American worker. Stop buying trash and the news will follow. They only report it because we request it.

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