Archive: Opinions

I'm not really that interested in Lindsay Lohan.  I've seen a few of her movies and I think she's pretty talented.  And I'm sorry to hear she is so unequipped to make smart life choices.  But, despite CNN's apparent obsession with her, I just don't think her private travails are that interesting.

Maybe she'd have done better if she had grown up in Lansing.  Tim DeKay grew up here, and has managed to have a successful career in Hollywood that included a recurring role on Seinfeld, among other series, film roles, and currently a leading role on the USA Network original series called 'White Collar.'  He seemed like a stand-up guy when we did a piece on him a few years ago. 

Actually most of the teenagers I know here in Lansing are stand-up kids.  They look you in the eye when they talk to you, they are interesting and have integrity.  This week high school principal Eric Hartz attributed that to character programs in the schools, and I would go farther to say that it also extends to local church communities and the community at large.  They give the sense that they know they can belong and can do something to make the world better.  They seem respectful, in general, of other people.  It's hard to imagine a Lansing kid painting the letters F and U on their fingernails to flash at a judge as Lohan reportedly did.

I don't have a lot of sympathy for people who have everything and throw it away.  Mel Gibson's racism, Tiger Woods' serial infidelity, just about every sports star who claims not to use steroids... what happened to the notion that when you become a role model you're supposed to act like one?

Last week I was talking to the athletic director at Lansing High School and he talked about how tough it is for young athletes when they see pros pumping up with steroids, doing drugs, illegally gambling, and getting caught lying about it.  My thought was, 'why should a good guy like this have to contend with that?'  How does a local coach who is earnestly trying to instill the right values in his players compete with the glamorous life -- or should I say low-life -- of pros who get away with murder and in doing so seem to glorify it?

I have heard the excuse that famous people are not prepared for their success, but I believe that if you are brought up right, you can deal with any situation without losing yourself and your integrity.  While some of the famous people I have met have been quite impressed with themselves, many have turned out to be hard working people who are serious about the work they do.

In yesterday's broadcast after CNN went on and on ad nauseam about Lohan getting out of jail, peppering the one snippet of news with endless opinions of CNN employees, they ran a story about Miley Cyrus being spanked by her mother.  They hyped it to the max, but when it came right down to it, they were just having fun in the dressing room in what was obviously a respectful and loving relationship.  Cyrus certainly comes off as a stand-up kid despite her enormous popularity, something that CNN doesn't appear to get.  So our kids aren't getting any help from the press.

Does it matter?  The kids here seem to turn out OK.  They are certainly as exposed to these famously poor role models as much as other kids are, so perhaps all the hype isn't what makes the difference.  Maybe it's something in the soil here.  Maybe it's loving families and a caring community.  Or maybe I'm just so sick of hearing about Lindsay Lohan and so desperate for an editorial topic this week that I'm over thinking the whole thing!

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