Who's Your Idol?

This week was the big week...or at least that's what Facebook tells me. Apparently the newest American Idol was crowned this week. Our household might be the only household in the nation who didn't watch. Confession: I have watched exactly one season of American Idol. It was a few years ago. We watched to find out what all the fuss was about.

So, the AI news, along with a question posed by a Facebook friend has gotten me thinking. Her question was, essentially: do "we" (being FB world) think that media (television, movies, etc.) is basically positive or negative, and why?

Who are America's "idols"? Why? In the last few years, we have seen the demise, literally and/or figuratively, of dozens of young "stars". Actually, it is a trend that goes back decades. What happens? Does fame and fortune corrupt? Is it the environment? The expectations? Yes, I think, to all of those and more. But this isn't a post about the downfall of any "star". It is more about our response to them, and the effect on our kids.

I would challenge anyone to name 10 big name "stars" from the last 10-15 years who is stable, much less a positive role model. Even in the last 5 years. In 2006 all of our kids, at least all of our girls, were glued to High School Musical. They could sing every word and dance every dance. They were in love with Troy and wanted to be Gabrielle. Since their HSM days, Troy and Vanessa have been photographed in all sorts of compromising situations. Not exactly the wholesome pair of our kids' imaginations. And what about the great Hannah Montana? From clean, even "Christian" Miley to the striptease who is estranged from her dad...what happened? And really, is anyone surprised?

I wouldn't go so far as to ban all tv and media (although I haven't been beyond threatening from time to time), but we need to take a serious look at what we, and our kids, are watching. More importantly, we need to measure how much stock we put into it. We enjoy tv and movies in our house (not at all to the extent some others do...we are more Braves Baseball and Food Network watchers, and have never seen a single episode of Survivor). But we watch with the certain understanding that these people are just people. Often they are people with issues and problems. The world they portray is make-believe. The lives they live, sadly, are often make-believe.

And more often than not, it's just not worth watching.