I guess every generation tends to think that the one after theirs is leading society to hell, at lightning speed while wearing underwear soaked in gasoline. And, while I am often amazed and amused by both those in my own generation, the Generation X, and the generation that came after me (so what are they calling today’s youth anyway?), I am more often left disgusted, while scratching my head in bewilderment saying to myself, Huh? What was that all about?
Paris Hilton made driving on a suspended license, not once but twice, and serving 23 days in jail look like the new, cool thing to do. Nicole Ritchie, who admitted to being high on Vicodin and Marijuana, while driving on the wrong side of the freeway let us not forget, snuck into jail and left after a mere 82 minutes today. 82 minutes, that’s not even a whole two hours! And then word comes, on the heels of Nicole’s slap on the wrist kiss on the cheek with a brand new Hermes bag waiting for her, that Lindsay Lohan has copped a plea deal. After being arrested for DUI twice along with possession of cocaine, she was only charged with misdemeanors. Lohan, at best, will serve only one day in jail. Meanwhile, she’s on vacation, I mean at rehab, enjoying luxurious accommodations that rivals The Four Seasons, white water rafting, yoga, reading books and photos of all of this are being taken, seemingly with her and the rehab facility’s permission.
Wow! I bet if I go out and choose to recreate what any one of those girls did, I would be thrown in the slammer faster than you could say, “School Teacher what’s wrong with you?”
But, then comes along actor, rapper/singer, comedian…..man of all hats, Nick Cannon. I heard him say today, when asked if he wanted to be a role model, “No, I want to be a real model.” He basically stated that he didn’t want kids to get caught up in trying to imitate a role or what they see portrayed by him in the media.
Some may say that kids aren’t stupid, they know the difference between reality and what is seen on television. They know that they can’t lead lives similar to Paris, Nicole and Lindsay. To that I say, “Oh really?” If that was the case then, I wouldn’t see middle class parents plunking down $300 for a pair of jeans for a thirteen year old. I wouldn’t see girls willing to go to extremes for a designer purse, nor would MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16,” the show that showcases the lavish 15th and 16th birthday parties of spoiled rotten kids, be the hit that it is. Even I tried to imitate Debbie Gibson and a few other people and things that were popular back in the ’80’s.
In my opinion, Nick Cannon’s statement can and does work two ways. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by School Teacher 
