Ive grown quite irritated with entertainment media these days. I read on Yahoo! News that J. Lo and Ben Affleck have broken up and I wonder, do they even know theyve broken up? Carson Daly apparently found out, through media, that he and his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Love Hewitt had broken up. What a way to break up with someone. Have your publicist leak it to the radio. But then I ponder this? Why do I care so much about the lives of Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt or Britney Spears? In fact, I hate Britney Spears, yet I find myself compelled to read all the gossip surrounding her virginity. I read about her kiss with Madonna and their relationship. I know that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston cant have children. I know that Ben Affleck cheated on J. Lo. I mean, what the hell is that? Why do I care? In fact, it makes me feel awful when I look at it from a worldly perspective.

            To be honest, I think I know more about Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anistons life than I do my own family. That really bothers me. Harrison Ford mentioned in Premiere magazine that once you become a famous actor or famous whatever, you become a brand. Its a sad fact of our reality that such a thing happens. Actors act on and off the sets. They have to just to keep the masses entertained. Look at television today and youll see it everywhere. Reality is a drug for us. However, I dont think reality is the appropriate word. If it was, Id be glued to my parents or my neighbors house to see what unfolds next, but Im not. Instead, I gaze on towards the stars, whose lives seem so surreal. I guess the term surreal would actually be very fitting. Surreality. Thats really our drug. No one actually gets to compete for a record deal in reality nor do they get to eat worms for money.          

            Is that right though? Should we be this way? Ive always hated reality television. Ive claimed it was the lowest form of entertainment, an intoxicating force that must be dealt with swiftly. If George W. Bush wanted to go to war with reality T.V., Id be there right next to him, gun in hand. I think this without realizing that reading the entertainment tabloids is just the same. I, and many others, feed off of the hurt and pain of others. Imagine that you broke up with your girlfriend or boyfriend, worse yet, you cheated on your beloved and the next day this very publication had it on the front page. How would you feel? Id probably want to leave the school. Id be embarrassed and humiliated. Ben Afflecks sins are his own. He doesnt need the world judging him. Why do I know that he had a drinking problem?  Why do I care?

            Ive come before you all asking for forgiveness and urging you to do the same. Shame on us for feeding off these people. Sure, they might not be innocent, but thats not our charge in life to determine their fates. Its up to us to put a stop to such hateful, untrusting feelings. There was a time when the only people folks talked about were Kings and Queens and well, Jesus among others. That wasnt gossip however; there was a reason for it. They didnt have broadband internet or cell phones and beepers. They needed to know what was going on in their world. Now we know so much that we seek to know more about others. People we shouldnt even care to know anything about. There are people dying in third world countries whose voice is seldom heard. I wouldnt feel bad if I heard their problems. I might actually be able to do something.      

            I bet if I wrote J. Lo a letter telling her that I felt bad about her breakup or if I wrote Kelly Clarkson a letter congratulating her on her win during American Idol, Id probably get a pre-signed, preprocessed photo. J. Lo or Kelly, dont really care how we feel, but that doesnt mean we should pry into J. Los life every time her butt appears one pound heavier. If you ever feel like calling in to American Idol to vote or reading a tabloid about how Jennifer Aniston smokes pot, why not call in and complain about children dying of Aids in Africa or the poverty level in Mexico. You can find out about them as easily as you can Brad Pitt. Just use the internet. Tell your congressman how you feel about that instead of telling Simon who gets voted off. It takes just as long. Thats a vote that counts a lot more than who wins on American Idol. Its time to take a step back and look at this world and readjust what we see as entertainment. People need our help. People are not entertainment. The moment we begin to think that, we lose a bulk of our humanity.