We all have a right to protest and be heard, but do celebrities have more of a right than any other mortal?
Yesterday, I read an excellent piece in The US magazine, Psychology Today on why celebrities feel that they have the right to address the world on subjects they do not know that much about.
One of the many examples of magical and misguided thinking cited, was that of celebs such as Mike Farrell, Tim Robbins, Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and Martin Sheen (amongst countless others) who “have repeatedly explained to us that there is an alternative to war, and it is rooted in the highly actionable mantra: “give peace a chance.”
Of course, if and when one stops to think about this noble, but very questionable mantra, it doesn’t take much introspection to realise that the world’s shared history is drenched in bloodshed – no matter in what time, battle field or culture.
Those celebrities are setting themselves a challenge if they believe that “Giving peace a chance” and “Imagine” by John Lennon have got much of a chance to re-programme millennia of violent human behavior.
And there is a inconvenient question: Are the rich and famous best suited to give advice on this matter?
After all, shouldn’t a group lead by example?
We can skip over peace-advocate Sean Penn’s many outbursts against paparazzi for e.g, and his failure to find a peaceful way to keep his most recent marriage afloat, and look closer to home, for inspiration.
This morning, many of us will have woken up to Page 3 of The Times, where COSMO cover girl Joelle Kayembe and her ex- husband? boyfriend? Mining Magnate Derrick Mbindwane’s brutal relationship and split, is being played out in court.
To call the aftermath of this relationship carnage is an understatement. Tales of R90 000 designer label clothing tossed in baths and then bleached with Jik, smashed side windows of supercars, Jimmy Choo shoes flying through the air, abortions, beatings …it’s war, alright. The truly uncivil kind.
Model, not role model.
Yesterday, sad news of Cosmetic supremo, Stuart Ireland’s death, after a heart attack. This news made barely a ripple in the papers, in comparison to the thousands of trees that died to record his awful, messy and acrimonious divorce from his second wife, Sylvia.
And of course, nothing has had SA twittering more this week, than the self-serving, sordid and careless behaviour of Joost van der Westhuizen.
Today, another report, of another alleged infidelity. Allegedly perpetrated while “the woman he loved” was home pregnant with his child. One of the children, who now, of course, both parents are “trying to protect, from all this.”
And that’s just SA.
Happy 5th of November.
Give peace a chance.
Hm.
If this is how people, with all the advantages in the world, treat people they were supposed, at least at one time, to love, how can any of us expect warring tribes, factions and nations to “just get together and feel alright?”
There might be “one love”, but it’s usually cuddled up in bed with it’s best frenemy, hate.
Of course, most educated people don’t believe in easy solutions. There are experts, everywhere, dedicating their lives, experience and intellects to studying baby steps forward, for every challenge we face.
That fabulous PT piece ends with a quote from a celebrity, Amanda Peet, and it’s a good one. An actress and an advocate of child vaccinations, she reportedly said: “I’m not an expert and I’m here to tell you not to listen to the actors, do not listen to the celebrities.”
That’s one celebrity worth listening to.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Who do we trust in this world? No one. ‘There is none that does right, not one, all have gone astray’ the most trusted book says. Not all people believe in the bible but I think it does have the answers and at least the right approach to life’s problems. Go is the only one to trust not any mortal being.
The author of hurricanevanessa.com has written an excellent article. You have made your point and there is not much to argue about. It is like the following universal truth that you can not argue with: Life is too short to drink bad wine. Thanks for the info.