Celebrity: How Great They Are

Melinda brought to class a cartoon of Saddam Hussein dressed up like Michael Jackson and the prison guard saying something about “Nice try Saddam, but I don’t think its going to work for you.” (I couldn't find the cartoon but here is an article describing it.)
Oh, the power of celebrity. I don’t know anything about the case but the cartoon reflects, and most likely more accurately than I want to admit, the power of celebrity – yes, you too can get away with your dastardly deeds if you achieve the upper echelon of stardom.

How has God talked to me through celebrity? I was never one to be sappy over celebrities. I never had posters of the “hottest teen idol” on my walls and didn’t subscribe to the Teen Pop magazines. I always thought it was a bit stupid to idolize someone you didn’t even know. I mean, what kind of person were they really?

I am always impressed by those who can use their power for good, i.e. Oprah. Yet, I am surprised when they do? Why is that? The book says that reward no longer correlated with effort and merit, which led to a disintegration of a moral base, and that looks and appearance became our new heroic standards (p. 102-3).

My primary question: how can the standards change? Okay, so celebrity is here to stay. Is it fair to expect celebrities to step up and do good? If they are our role models for what they do on screen, is it fair to communicate that their popularity could grow that much more if only they volunteered at the local homeless shelter?

Perhaps I want to be a celebrity.