We're

addicted to celebrities. Whether it is escapism,

fanaticism or just plain icon-ism, one thing is for sure:

We are becoming more and more connected to the lives of

movie stars, musicians and sports idols as we become less

and less connected to our own.

Typically, this kind of

passiveness in regards to pop culture is nothing to worry

about; all of us should like to sing in the shower like

Shania Twain, or maybe just like to be in the shower with

her. Yet, our reality seems to, everyday, become more

intertwined with that of the celebrity. Case in point:

Why do we not give notice to social issues, diseases, or

afflictions until a celebrity has suffered the pain or

starts to fight for the cause?

We need to care and be

concerned because it is right, not because some famous

person tells us to.

It is wonderful that Katie

Couric is making great waves to educate people concerning

colon cancer (her husband's killer). I applaud Michael J.

Fox for his moving testimony and fight concerning

Parkinson's Disease. It's terrific that so many people

are becoming aware because of honest and open disclosures

Christopher Reeve who in tremendous pain and suffering

stands taller now than he ever did as Superman. How can

any of us not be changed by such real heroes? But why do

we wait on them?

I know there are many who

are involved in a myriad of benevolent and care

organizations or many who give money towards such

charitable causes and for you, I am preaching at the

choir. Yet, I am still pointing a finger at most of us

and saying, "What are we waiting for?" Why

aren't we internally motivated to become compassionate

activists? Are we just waiting around for Michael Douglas

to lead us through our mid-life crisis first?

Maybe we are a nation

living in denial. No one would accept AIDS as a serious

problem until Rock Hudson died of it, then Freddie

Mercury, and now too many to mention. Anorexia was just a

hushed embarrassment until it took the life of Karen

Carpenter. Nowhere is our mortality more prominent than

watching Muhammad Ali, the strongest man of our last

century, reduced to weakness and frailty personified.

Here is a hero who stands with honor and dignity even in

his limitations as we sit and complain about the price of

popcorn at the movies or how bad Felicity looks with all

her hair cut off.

As I was talking about this

issue, my friend Rich Lasner said, "Next thing you

know, cartoon characters will get in on the act."

Then I think, right on; the Tasmanian Devil could be an

advocate for attention deficit disorder. Yogi the Bear

could represent reformed kleptomaniacs. Porky Pig would

be a natural choice as a spokesperson, uh, spokespig for

those with speech impediments. And if truth be known, I

bet all that nervousness and frustration that Wile E.

Coyote suffers is irritable bowel syndrome.

Nevertheless, we as common

folk need to drop the idle idol worship, set our own

standards, and simply work to benefit those around us in

need, whether the giving of time or money. This way, we

can look at each other and say as Lester Burnham did in

"American Beauty," "I think you just

became my personal hero."

[Visit Billy Murphy on

the Internet at https://billymurphy.homepage.com .]