This past week I had a conversation with a very intelligent, very YOUNG business woman whom I admire and respect. She works hard, is planning her destination wedding, has many friends and is simply delightful.
We enjoy each other's company and talk about anything and everything!
The conversation turned to the upcoming election, political ads, etc. I was excited to hear this young woman's perspective and could not imagine how the conversation was going to go.
Well....SURPRISE!
As I listened, she related her ideas on most ALL the candidates now in the horse race for President.
She seemed educated on the most important topics. But then....she lowered the boom!
She shared with me that HER many friends, the ones in her age group (20- 30), knew nothing about the candidates, their position, history, views, etc. And they had no intention of investigating the people or issues important to the upcoming election.
Wait for it....................
Her generation would vote for the candidate supported by their favorite CELEBRITY!
(What? Why on earth would anyone do that? You've got to be kidding me!)
She saw the stunned look on my face and reassured me that, Yes....the young voting block was waiting to see who Katy Perry (and other folks featured in People Magazine) was going to endorse.
Well.....at that moment I had to confess to her that I don't know anything about Ms. Perry, I don't read People Magazine, watch the award shows, never go to rock concerts and rarely see a movie. When discussing who starred in the latest block buster, old movies or even TV shows with friends, I wait it out until the conversation turns to other subjects. I just don't know or care and am very surprised that anyone does!
I wish those folks WELL.... AND MUCH SUCCESS. Pretending to be something you're not, dressing up in costume, learning many lines, and raking in a ka-billion dollars for it is no doubt an honorable profession and I occasionally enjoy the fruit of their labor. Singing before thousands, and managing a successful career is their work. BUT, care what those folks think about an election? That is simply mind-boggling.
I don't care what they think about toothpaste, basketball teams, car models, or anything else they might be hired to tout. I don't care about their parenting techniques, diets, or surgeries.
The whole concept of wishing to be like, look like, think like, act like a CELEBRITY is crazy.
I don't doubt my friends assessment for a moment. Our culture has lifted many celebrities to a status of idolatry. I'm sure it happened when I was younger, too....remembering the Beatles, Paul Newman,
etc. But somewhere along life's path we (baby boomers) realized that those folks were just people, putting their pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else and thus failed to be impressed.
I simply cannot imagine anyone looking to a drummer, model, actor, singer or Kardashian to select a President.
Evidently it's easier than thinking for yourself. God help us!
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