HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL

I'm sorry to start the new year off with a negative comment but I finally realized what I hated about 2009. (Besides the fact that Obama is president and Pelosi is still around) It's the rewarding of bad behavior.

I am no saint but no one every gave me a trophy for doing bad things. Remember when we saw pictures of Kate Moss using cocaine and then her modeling career took a big leap? (I realize that was more than a year ago but bear with me)

Then there is Alex Rodridges. An excellant baseball player and why not? I could probably do well too if pumped up with performance enhancing drugs.  Michael Jackson, a true entertainer and don't forget a child molestor. All he had to do was die of too many drugs and he is adored even more in death. Brittany Spears, loses her children because of her bad behavior and according to one newsite was the most sought after celebrity of 2009. Probably the worst parents to ever be on TV, the Gosslings, are on the cover of every tabloid paper in the universe and and on every interview show in America. (Ozzie and Harriet, where are you?) The Octomom. I don't even want to think about her.

When I was a youngster, bad behavior was frowned upon and you knew that it would take years to get back on top if you ever managed to get above water first.

Then we have Pat Tillman. An NFL football player who quit football to go fight in Iraq where he was killed. Where was the fanfare, the new coverage, the magazine covers for this American hero? Even James Brown, the entertainer with a history of abusive behavior got hours and hours of air time after he died. If all of this isn't a sign that things in America are going sour, I can't think of what is.

I don't believe that athletics and entertainers should be our children's role models. I believe that role falls upon the children's parent and even some of them are failing on that score. But can't we at least try a little harder to show that behaving badly should have a down side. I do believe in redemtion. I also believe that rewarding bad behavior is a huge negative.

If you want your fifteen minutes of fame, try to make them a wholesome fifteen minutes. Something your grandchildren can look back on with pride, not embarressment and shame.

We can do a whole lot better.