Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Can We Cut It Out, Please?

It seems to me that the media are going to do their very best to cut down this Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana kid. The scrutiny is bordering on the ridiculous. I fully believe that no one in this country is happy with anyone who is a positive role-model, and will not rest until they find some kind of flaw. It's just stupid.

The latest idiocy comes in the form of a blog post over at Consumer Reports Magazine. Apparently, in the latest "Hannah Montana" movie, there is a scene where the girl and her father are riding in the back seat of a Range Rover, and, *gasp*, she isn't wearing her seatbelt.

OK, this isn't a discussion about the merits of seatbelt use. This is me taking umbrage with the media in their relentless pursuit of imperfection. Yes, she's a role model to kids. Yes, if she was seen smoking a joint or drinking a shot I'd be a little (emphasis on little) upset with her. But I'd be willing to bet that few, if any, of the kids who saw the movie would remember either way if she was or was not belted in. And I'm talking about a kid who is asked without any prompting, of course. (I just asked my two girls if they remember the scene. Insert blank stares here).

As I said, if she were glamourizing underage drinking, teen sex, or drug use, I might get a little bugged. Seatbelt use should be mandated by parents. Period. Household rules should not be set (or for that fact, influenced) by a Disney star. If someone's parenting skills are so weak that a mistake by a teen idol could completely undermine their rules and regulations, maybe Consumer's should be posting about that. I see that as a bigger problem.

This isn't even about seat-belt use, if you ask me. It's the media putting a good, decent kid under a microscope and probing until they find the slightest chink in the armor. And the message that sends is, "Kids, you'd better be perfect before you walk out that door in the morning."

That bugs me more than Hannah Montana forgetting to buckle up, you know?

11 comments:

  1. I totally agree, when I first heard about this, I thought...oh this must have been an oversight on the director's part, why are they directing this matter towards this young girl.
    The media & the paparazzi needs to know where to draw the line. This is all crapola~
    ENOUGH!
    Ü
    Marie

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  2. You make a very good point.

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  3. Excellent post! You made a very good point...Hannah Montana is not the poster child for buckling up!

    I feel sorry for child stars...it seems to me that their self esteem would be based on the adoration of their fans. Where does that leave them when their popularity fades, as it so often does? Miley Cyrus seems to be a really nice kid with a good dad...I hope she'll continue to make wise decisions and that her life will turn out all right. :)

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  4. Isnt this what the media did to another Disney star? Known as Brittany?

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  5. The media and paparazzi are venomous animals. They'll do anything to get or sensationalize a story.

    Why don't we worry more about people who win 5 Grammys but can't leave her country and make it to the actual show because of her rehabilitation status for substance abuse. (And she based her winning song/album on going to rehab?) Talk about poor role models.

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  6. Amen, amen, amen. Like we aren't all getting enough perfectionist guilt without poor Miley buckling up.

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  7. Anonymous11:47 PM

    I completely agree, Jimmy.. They (meaning the media) just need to leave these kids alone. Of course, I know that's like asking for the snow to stop falling.

    Miley/Hannah Montana is my youngest daughter's idol. Does that mean she won't buckle up in a car now? I don't think so.

    Chelle

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  8. Anonymous6:48 PM

    Another non issue. Rather than take the time to find a real issue, they are focussing on crap. If I have to hear about Paris, Britney or Lindsey anymore, I'll throw up. Turning off the TV isn't good enough. If it isn't on the radio, it's on the internet. Can't win.
    Jude
    http://journals.aol.com/jmorancoyle/MyWay

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  9. Anonymous9:47 PM

    I totally agree. I doubt any child watching the movie even noticed it!!
    Love ya babe!!

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  10. Anonymous9:47 PM

    I totally agree. I doubt any child watching the movie even noticed it!!
    Love ya babe!!

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  11. Cathing up here Jimmy, but I couldn't agree with you more on this one without a doubt! There's so many messed up "stars" who are in rehab for this or that, the media seems to absolutely thrive when these people are miserable, lonely, sick, or dead...but if one's actually seemingly has their head on straight and/or parents who are "gasp" parenting they want to tear them down.

    My boys LOVE Hannah Montana and I totally admit I like her show too, so does my hubby! It's nice to be able to sit and watch something without having to send the kids out of the room!

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