The Worship of Celebrity

A recurrent theme in this blog over the past two years has been the inexplicable chasm between the values placed by much of Society on celebrity vs. the amount of esteem lavished on everyday heroes such as emergency medical personnel, firefighters, police officers, teachers, etc. No matter how frequently the failings of many celebrity politicians, athletes and entertainers are reported, there's always another one being doted on by some people who perhaps are vicariously living the celebrity life by merely worshiping the quite imperfect individuals represented by the rich and famous.

No better example could be cited than one of the all time sleaziest celebrities--Rod ("I'll eat bugs if I have to") Blagojevich. At his recent Federal corruption trial in Chicago (now facing a do-over in January thanks to one lamebrained juror), we were treated to the daily spectacle of people outside the Federal building clamoring to shake his hand and get his autograph! A few days after the trial ended mostly inconclusively, but with Helmet Hair now a convicted felon, he was mobbed by customers at a Comic Convention who paid good money to get in and meet the Great One. To all these people TNB says--you are pathetic and need to get a life!!

What about all the athletes who are practically the deity to many of their fans --that is, until many of their warts become viral, at which time a new "religion" (read- different celebs to worship) is adopted. Take New Orleans Saints star Reggie Bush who was one of the biggest all-time USC football stars (just after O.J. Simpson, who still has some admirers) until some newly exposed flagrant recruiting violations have totally disgraced the university, causing severe penalties and forcing Bush to return the ultimate college football award--the Heisman Trophy. At least among Trojan students and alumni, the adoration formerly heaped on Bush is no longer a practicing doctrine.

And who knows who will be the next celebrity to fall from grace--for all anyone can predict, it could be an entertainer such as Lady Gaga (not actually a member of the nobility), a politician such as Sarah Palin ( there are many signs that she actually is not a person of great substance) or maybe another athlete who seems like Mr. Clean (say Tiger Woods--oh wait that did happen).

In any event, someone new will burst upon the scene and will inspire slavish devotion until?