It was an ordinary Sunday night. I was sitting on my couch with a warm cup of tea in one hand, and the television remote in the other. After minutes of aimless channel surfing, I finally settled on the latest episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. I watched for a while as the Kardashian clan sat over lunch, discussing how they were to celebrate Bruce Jenner’s upcoming birthday. It was then that I was interrupted by a thought.

Why do I care?

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By no means is it my intention to discriminate against the Kardashian family, or any other “celebrity” for that matter. It has undoubtedly taken a lot of hard work and dedication for such individuals to achieve the success they have today. However, the recognition these famous people obtain is misdirected.

These “celebrities” have become so privileged that every minute detail of their lives is publicized. What about other unknown individuals that have done great things for the world? Do they not deserve the same recognition, if not more?

It is uncommon for one to know of Paul Ehrlich, the founder of chemotherapy, or Victoria Soto, the young teacher who risked her life to save her students from a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School. But thanks to TLC, anyone could tell you what Honey Boo Boo had for lunch yesterday.

This idea of what is important in society demonstrates nothing but corruption in the world today. We live in the most technologically advanced era in all of human history. With the simple click of a mouse, a message could be sent across the entire world.

Yet, rather than using this power for good, it is instead exercised as a way to gossip over which famous woman has the best boob job. There is currently so much potential for the world. However, in order to operate to the best of our ability, we must first reconsider what we value most in society.

Instead of focusing on the lives of the rich and alluring, more appreciation should be given to the ordinary individuals who do extraordinary things. The term “celebrity” should be reserved for those who dedicate their lives to others, such as police officers, teachers, doctors, and firemen. Human beings such as this work to better the world, as well as pose as significant role models for the youth of today. By shifting the focus of society onto those who truly deserve it, the world would become a more beautiful place, and not just on a physical level.

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