by Nkechiye O.

Created on: November 08, 2010   Last Updated: March 25, 2011

 Do we, as Americans, really need tabloids? Is it necessary to hear about Britney Spears drug tirades, or Lindsay Lohans shoplifiting sanfue? No! Everyday, when I go to the store, I see so many people purchasing tabloids and magazines. Customers get to register, and the cashier asks them to donate a dollar for the volcano blasts in Indonesia. They take a moment to think, (probably shocked volcanoes still exist) and decline. Why is it that Americans are so engulfed in the lives of spoiled, rich, drunk, drugged, selfish celebrities? Is it because Americans have such a negative state of mind they want to see someone with all the money and power in the world have problems? We should be reading up on what we can do to help the cause in tattered and torn third world countries, not reading on what Kim Kardashian wore to bed during the sex tape. The question should not be, do we really need tabloids, it should be why we don’t need them. We already have enough sick things like murder, war and reality TV to pollute young minds, why let Miley Cyrus speed the process. There is a video teaching young girls how to gyrate there hips in ways that Miley hasn’t even learned yet and we are worried about Lady Gaga's meat dress. “Was it Sirloin or Tri Tip?” Who cares!

When Volcanoes wipe out villages and tsunamis level countries, few celebrities act. Celebrities are privileged people; I believe it is part of their responsibility to gather awareness and act! Today, people, even adults, would rather watch MTV than CNN. Many know Obama is our first black president, but do they know that his sole race is NOT African American? What we NEED in this country is love and compassion for your neighbor. Celebrities need to stop being selfish and put as much effort into raising money for a cause than they do raising money for their next clothing line, or make up for my 9 year old. There are bigger problems going on in America, but we are too busy learning the new Soulja Boy dance to even notice or care. The population is more in the know about Lindsay Lohan’s court dates, but failed to realize that over 10 Chilean miners were trapped underground for months. More coverage and attention was put on the brand of sunglasses they were wearing when resuced, than how they survived underground away from their families for months.

Celebrities are overpaid and under passionate. With the kind of paycheck each A-lister gets for every movie, (box office dud or not) let alone appearance, there should be very little poverty in the world. The problem with celebrities, is that Americas are praising them like Gods, and putting them up on a pedestal. If we are going to do that, then why don’t we look to them for answers when world disaster strikes. 

 Tabloids are a distraction from life’s bigger problems. Try helping that family next door with the single mother that works 2 jobs. Give them a thanksgiving basket. Start paying it forward everyday. Do something completely selfless. If we do not begin to do this metaphorically the world will end in 2012. Not physically, but mentally and I fear all compassion will be lost. Do something now to change that. Gain awareness and read a newspaper weekly, not US weekly.

Learn more about this author, Nkechiye O..
Click here to send this author comments or questions.