So Say We All

I've said a few times before (though maybe not on this blog) that "Celebrities are today's prophets". By that I mean, they are the ones telling us what we should care about morally and what ideas are valid, spiritually. It's a role we have given them and that many of them seem to embrace. Sometimes they do it through their art, but most of the time they do it on another stage, given to them because their art is loved.

Oprah spews her philosophy regularly and gives plenty of movie stars the chance to do the same on her show. Late night talk shows are not much different in this regard. Actors are sought out for political endorsement, as though they are expert economists that we can all trust. It's not just mindless kiddies in love with their fictional heroes that treat these folks like prophets, it's a frightening number of adults. Some of whom make very important decisions.

I couldn't have been given a more pointed example than when cast members of "Battlestar Galactica" were invited to speak before...get ready for it... The United Nations!!

If you think I'm kidding, jump over to:

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/697830/Battlestar-Galacticas-Edward-James-Olmos-Interview.html

Watch both videos(or at least the shorter UN video) and then come back here. Really, I'll wait...

Olmos actually had the UN chanting "so say we all" in agreement with his words!

Olmos told G4 viewers that the UN, as a result of his words before them, actually changed their charter so that the word "race" will never again be used by them to identify a culture or a people, other than the "human race".

According to Edward James Olmos, they were invited to speak because the show dealt with political issues relevant to the UN.

I thought it was great that the UN made that change to the way they operate! What a positive move toward greater unity! Hear me loud and clear that I think this change is a great thing.

But why did they need a freakin' movie star to motivate this change? Why were actors even there to begin with? Actors and screenwriters are not trained to be international diplomats. Why is the UN not seeking council that might provide moral guidance from... well ANYONE remotely trained to give it??

It could be I'm being too harsh. The UN may have speakers from various helpful backgrounds come to address them with regularity. But it clearly cannot be denied that celebrities have a powerful voice and abiliy to effect us. And not just with entertaining diversions! They have the ability to influence and change the way we think about moral issues!

But can they be trusted with that power? Just a few moments after sharing a poignant truth with G4 viewers, Olmos said that if we go back to using the word "race" to identify cultural groups, we will be "making the biggest mistake in the history of this planet". Really Eddie? The biggest? In the history of the planet?

I don't know about you, but it doesn't ask much of my memory to think of some more horrific human errors.

Sometimes celebrities can be right and encourage wonderful things! But they are often not careful with their words, speaking passionately from their hearts. And when people do that, it's hit or miss, folks.

When it comes to our worldview, the way we define and give value to the elements of life, I think it's vital that we keep our heads screwed on straight and critically discern every idea we encounter, no matter the source. "So say we all."