Sport Stars And Those In The Media Are Poor Role Models For Young People, Discuss.

 Movies, they make us laugh, they make us cry. Isn’t what makes a good movie is usually the leading actor? We see them in movies like Gladiator where they fight for freedom. Australian star Russell Crowe played The Gladiator and in his latest picture he’s fighting for… Nothing, infact it’s not a movie he’s fighting in, nope he’s fighting in a hotel and ends it by throwing a phone at a hotel employee. Is this the kind of behaviour young people should be seeing in their eyes as good? If Russell Crowe did it I’ll do it to!

 Musicians are defiantly a breed of star that a lot of young people look up to. It is important that the people who make the music we love are good role models? Live Aid has been a very successful charity and has raised millions upon millions of pounds for countries struck with poverty. What helps them get donations is the artist who put on a concert at Live Aid. There are mainstream musicians like the killers, Justin Timberlake, Pete Doherty etc and the old artists like Elton John, David Gilmore etc. This appeals to young people because if they see a singer they like performing and asking for donations this encourages the younger people to donate and care for others. Surely this is just one of the many examples of famous people doing good work for others.

 Another bad role model or models are the Hilton sisters, renowned for their party animal status and certain other things. Young women all over need role models. They can’t idolise Anne Frank or Mother Theresa, but they do idolise the Hilton sisters in particular Paris Hilton. She’s been known for getting drunk making sexually explicit videos and sleeping around. Do we need a million Hilton disciples partying all day in the U.K?

On the other hand, you watch a football match a thing you notice are the banners by the sidelines, in the last year or two there have been many anti-racist banners. Racism is a very serious problem in the world today, not as much as it was in the early 1900’s. But when a whole crowd of fans chant racist remarks at Samuel Eto’o, Eto’o stormed off the pitch and refused to resume playing the game. In response to this a group of footballers including Thierry Henry and Ryan Giggs appeared in an ad against racism. Yet another example of famous role models making a stand for justice!

 To conclude I think that there are always going to be good and bad role models but the good role models make the real difference. Young people would probably idolise and emulate the good role models more than they would the poor role models. Instead of being racist, a party animal, and a criminal. They’d donate to charities, exercise, be anti-racist, help others and believe in them selves. To sum it up they would be better people. I do acknowledge the power of media/spot stars etc but I think most young people are becoming much more discerning and analytical to become celebrity copycats!