Should the
US Government stay out of the entertainment media coverage and celebrity
lifestyles? Alternatively, have celebrity friends or talk about other
celebrities? Many Americans ask that question. President Obama, during a press
conference, mentioned that today’s youth are more concerned about what stars
are doing, they fantasize about the lavish lifestyles that celebrities live in,
and think that its apart of success. Rather than admiring and striving to be
like people who make a difference in the world and focus on how to change the
world to make it better, they falsely imitate their idols that do not have any
substance like talent, intelligence, and/or philanthropy skills. Falsified
celebrities are more important to kids nowadays, than what is going on overseas
and what is affecting them personally, as far as politically changing the world. He referenced Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, as prime
examples of what kids think are “achievers” nowadays than actual people who achieved
though the power of education and knowledge. President Obama got major backlash
on both sides for even mentioning Kardashian and West, claiming that as a
President of the United States, he should be focusing on politics and leading
the country, rather than stooping down to their level and giving them more
relevance. I personally believe that President Obama has every right to say his
opinion, he is the President first, and the constitution gave him that option. However,
most importantly, I think he is correct as far as his plea to encourage kids,
young adults to choose their idols wisely with whom they wish to be like. It is
not always the reach of success and it will not last for long.
On Briana McClellan's post, "Balancing Pop Culture and Governing", she states that the president has every right to reference pop culture and even discuss the issue with the youth's obsession with the glamorous life that it is Hollywood. I agree with Briana that the president has every right to make references and or talk about other subjects that does not involve politics, as long as he has a purpose to help the nation.
ReplyDeleteThere is an issue when it involves kids and idols. While there are people who actually have achieved great things and helped others in need, kids only want to be like the celebrities they see in movies, partying and basically achieving nothing in society. Children are choosing to grow up like people that shouldn't even be considered idols. This is what the President was talking about and the backlash to it seems too exaggerated. The President has every right to address this issue and I believe Briana was right on cue about it. The facts she used to back up her argument and even mentions the constitution helps her argument stand. The President was trying to reach children by warning them on their idols, which this to me seems harmless. He was doing his job, after all, children are the future.