We are what we make of ourselves

By Shonda Betz

Staff Writer

Lately with Britney Spears being in the news so often for her mental instability or for the treatment of her children, it brings to mind the questionable judgment of the rest of society who often look up to those who are famous. Why, just because someone is famous, does that mean that they should be considered a role model or a hero?

            It also makes me wonder, when so much pressure is laid on an individual to be a role model and they really mess up, why is it their fault and not America’s? Society put its faith in her to be a role model in the first place. After all, Spears is only human and the belief that we should follow every move of every famous person is ridiculous.

            For one thing, we have more important things to worry about besides covering our magazines and newspapers with the latest star to enter rehab. Another problem with this whole "follow the leader" thing is that no one is making up their own minds and just copying some teenage movie star from the cover of People and blowing their money on a $200 dollar pair of sunglasses just to look “cool.”

            I want to know whatever happened to people like Jackie Kennedy who was not only thought of as a figure of high fashion but she was known for being smart and strong.  There are still a few actresses out there who put a emphasis on education and not on making the next big movie or going to the biggest party and spending the most money.  Natalie Portman is an outstanding actress and a beautiful as well as smart woman. She is famous for saying “I’d rather be smart than a star.”

            I think that those are the kind of people that we should be encouraging our young generations to aspire to be like. Support the kind of people who are in the acting business because they enjoy it and think of it as more than just making money. Why should we allow ourselves to follow every moment in the lives of some fake Hollywood star who is spending money and causing trouble just because she has the money to do so? The answer is: we shouldn’t.