Celebrity Breeds Immorality? Or Vice Versa?

I saw an article on MSN news today titled, “Britney (Spears): Has She Lost It?” Unfortunately, the only answer to this question is another question: Who cares? Or...more accurately, WHY do we care?

We live in a society that lauds celebrity despite or perhaps because of, moral depravity, shoddy or absentee parenting of children born to unwed parents of dubious or fleeting commitment, and personal gratification over law, morality, or common sense.

When I consider the famous (or infamous?) quad of teen-role models, and take a moment to reflect on the kind of society that applauds the vacuous, self-indulgent and irresponsible behaviors of Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears, I shudder to think of the generation we are raising under their powerful examples.

What a waste it is that these women of influence, gifted with lives of ease and wealth, armed with a mighty sense of entitlement, completely lack any interest that is not self-serving. I know the fast, early rise to wealth, fame and power is not without its share of dangers, but why does society hold them up worthy of continued celebrity? Are we so unconcerned and out of touch with the toll it takes on core values, to have our youth aspiring to this?

Perhaps that is the trouble then. The breakdown of the family has spawned a generation of single-parents too tired, too disinterested, or too focused on their own needs, to do the work necessary to teach, police, implore, restrain, and educate their children.

The 40-somethings are competing to be the next 20-somethings, and the children raised in such homes are left to the wiles of the media in their formative early teenage years.

The all too-pervasive, and persuasive forum of the media holds excess, immorality, immodesty, and instant gratification up as the new standard of interest. Whereas they may shake their heads solemnly while writing the articles, they send their photographers out in droves for a flash or glimpse of reckless or immoral behavior. They comment hungrily, feeding on the refuse left in the wake of these mega-stars’ passing.

There aren’t enough parents teaching their teens to look beyond what which current trend dictates. There are too many clamoring for standards of dress that set dangerous precedent to the moral ambiguity of our rising generations. Adults that should see the pitfalls snap up the latest trends and styles in a desperate attempt to hold on to, or compete with, fleeting youth.

The over-sexualized media portrayal of women convinces many that Britney, Lindsay, Paris and Nicole are worthy of adoration based entirely on their social status. It’s past time that this status holds up as the ideal. We need more valiant mothers, more strong, noble, intelligent women going about the quiet work of raising children and teaching them to be moral contributors to society.

If we continue to hold celebrity to such low standards…how can we show our children where to place appropriate value? Paris skips in stilettoed heels from one pink-Porsche party to another, laughing vapidly and mocking the mundane. How much would be accomplished if she were well-spoken, appropriate, and lent her considerable resources to a worthy cause?

So Lohan’s in rehab, and Britney’s falling apart, and even though they did it to themselves, we bought their complacency with our acceptance...and that's even worse.