Sport Star And Those In The Media Are Poor Role Models For Young People

You go into any newsagents and on either the magazines or newspapers you see there's a headline about someone famous being arrested, using drugs, being racist or being a party animal, are these the kind of people the youth of the U. K should be looking up to? Are they suitable role models for young people who are faced with so many tough lifestyle choices in our modern world? I think everyone would agree when I say that we are bombarded with images and information about celebrities.

We all could say something we heard on the radio or in the tabloids that a celebrity did recently, and the chances are it wasn't a good thing.

Young people who somewhat follow their idols, to some extent to when Olympic diver Grey Lougains encountered a 10 year old smoking a cigarette, surprised he asked the child, " Why do you smoke? " "Because you do" the boy replied. That was the day Lougains quit. That alone would prove that sports stars, celebrities and anyone famous can be a big influence or a bad influence.

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Just think of the amount of celebrities/sport stars that have filled the rooms of all of the now famous rehab centre! Though my last statement could be considered abit over the top famous people can inspire anyone as well as the people who look up to them.

One would almost think that for celerity a spell in the 'Priory' or some other establishment is the norm! On the other hand Lance Armstrong is a world famous cyclist who's competed in the Tour De France many times and won it as well.

He was diagnosed with cancer, despite the prognosis, critics and the doctor's advice he continued on cycling and won the Tour De France. This act of courage can inspire millions; inspire the youth of this nation to believe in them selves. Lance Armstrong would be a role model we'd want our children to look up to. 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!