Stop the tired holiday argument about celebrities’ poor examples to society

It’s that time of the year again. Not the holidays, not the sweeps. No, it’s time for the annual emergence of those Americans disgruntled and aloof.

In response to Andy Smith’s comments in, ‘Celebrity culture harms America,’ and speaking as one of the masses who will be tuning in this week to see if Tirshell is really pregnant by what’s-his-name, I would like to say that I am tired of people wallowing in the unbearable angst of their individuality (Nov. 25, pg. 7). Just relax.

This week, Smith’s column was hardly more than a redundant tirade on the ills of society, which frankly, we have all heard before. If these are the problems, then Mr. Smith, what do you propose our course of action be? Shall we stage a coup? Or perhaps we should launch a grassroots resistance against all things celebrity?

Well, humor me in a moment of hypocrisy and allow me to indulge in a little tirade of my own. What is so wrong with mediocrity these days? By mediocrity, I do not mean conformity or dullness I am referring to the common individual.

Yes, everyone is different. Do we really need to advertise?

Well Mr. Smith, it is apparent that some people do, for that is the one commonality between yourself and these celebrities that you seem to have overlooked. Besides, if it were not for us average people, what would those aloof individuals feel superior to? I would say that given the proliferation of hopelessly oblivious and dangerously successful celebrities, there would be ready-made diversions for some time to come. But, oh wait we were going to get rid of that whole culture weren’t we?

If there is something so wrong with a little bread and circus, please tell us little people what our alternatives are. Make sure they are plausible though we plebes still have to stay happy enough to bring home the bacon everyday, and that is true no matter which rambling idiot, be it Ozzy or Bush, is running the country.