PATH TO RUIN
October 2nd, 2009 | 5:28 pm
What does it say about our society today when the salacious has replaced the heroic? Is that development moving us as a nation closer to an improved and better informed populace, or adding more cobblestones on the path to ruin? Do we need to have a member of Michael Jackson’s family on television every night? Does Jon Gosselin (note to readers: I had no idea who the guy was until I asked…and even then I couldn’t believe he had an hour of fame on the Larry King Show until I saw him on the program last evening) deserve even a minute of television time? And Mackenzie Phillips…I’m not even going there…
Who is to blame? The show’s hosts? The bookers? The networks? The advertisers? The people who watch these programs? And a better question: how do we bring it to an end or at least carve out time for worthy subjects, credible people, even amusing stories but of substance? What was fringe 20 years ago has become mainstream today….abusers (wife, child and substance), cheaters (spouse, business and tax), and the absurd are assured of air time: the more outlandish and sensational the behavior, the greater the chance a person will be booked as a guest. Heck, let’s face it: anyone can do something stupid, vile, mean, cruel, or illegal. No real talent is required other than a willingness to be very public about whatever transgression du jour that person has selected as their path to greater fame. And still, they are booked as if their skills or abilities were in any way comparable to the gifted athlete or musician who has spent years sacrificing to hone skills, the brave soldier who risked his life to preserve our freedom and in the process risked his or her life to save their buddies under fire, the great educator who impacted the lives of thousands of students who were forever and positively changed because of one person’s ability to fire their passion. Truly, it is shameful.
There’s a lot of good news in the world, and many remarkable people, oftentimes ordinary people, doing extraordinary things. Why don’t those stories get covered? Why don’t we as a society want to stay up late and watch these moving and motivating experiences of others about people who made our world a better place, who represent the ideals we teach our kids? Wouldn’t we all wish for more positive role models to inspire us in our own lives? I know I would like that and benefit.
I guess this is one of the reasons I was so moved by the story of the Monuments Men and women…their goodness and commitment to leave the world better off than how it was when they arrived on the scene dominated their lives by governing their decisions. It was always about self-sacrifice, shared workloads, the greater good. Humility ruled. Not so today…and we are the worse for it.
