Blogs by Todd Cheney
Convictions
10/2/2004 6:34:11 PM
I believe, I believe, I believe...
Writers who are in it for the money will invariably say that they are not in it for the money. But you read their books, and they're bad. You can't imagine how many people are out there trying to be heard, and are not being heard. Meanwhile, a very small number of people are reaping all the rewards. Now, I understand that the world isn't fair, and it wasn't meant to be. But that doesn't mean I have to lie down and take it. I will stand up for what I believe is fair and right, and I will defend it to the death. I mean it--not that it's a threat, and I don't mean it that way. It's just the way it is. For instance, I will defend the following comment with all of my power, "My writing is good, valid and other people deserve to be a part of it. I deserve to be heard. I will defend my writing to the death." That's not something you'll hear from a publishing company. (And if they say it, I don't think they mean it!)
Are you a writer? Yes? Good! Then follow me on a philosophical journey.
I'm going to do sort of a comparison of 'normal' people, with 'abnormal' people (e.g. celebrities, or infamous, notorious criminals. Sometimes one and the same). Now, I know this is going to be a little abstract, and more than a little strange, but I'm going to do it anyway.
Let's say that on this planet Earth, there are at this time 6 billion people. That's a huge number; isn't it? Yes, of course it is.
Now, let's say that of these 6 billion people, there are perhaps 5 million on the entire planet that could be considered a 'celebrity' in one form or another. (I realize that social views of celebrity differ, but I'm oversimplifying here to make my point.) That's not as many as are on the planet, right? Sure, no one can disagree with that.
Okay, I realize that I'm going Socialist on you now, but just bear with me.
If there are 5 million celebs out of 6 billion, and it is mutually agreed upon that these 5 million should have better privileges, wealth, success, fame, fortune etc., than the rest, and if these people's success is not a matter of pure hard work, but also involves some measure of luck and/or tacit agreement that they should be celebrated, and/or heredity in the matter of getting the 'looking good' genes, then what is the thing/attitude/social belief that allows this kind of thought? For if such a belief does not exist, as some would claim, then shouldn't we rise up and take power away from the wealthy and famous? No, we don't do that because we agree, in some unconscious way, that these people should be our leaders.
Okay, now we get to the nut of the issue. In America, it's supposed to be true that if you work hard and do the right thing, or at least try to, then you should be successful. While this is true in most instances, it still doesn't explain why some people are more successful than others. It just doesn't.
For instance, take the case of Paris Hilton. She was born into high society as a Hilton child. She has been privileged her whole life, and now, she is getting loads of attention that she probably doesn't deserve. (Can you think of any other celebs who have a similar story? Of course you can.) Why weren't people up in arms over "The Simple Life" when clearly it was a low blow to the middle class and the poor? Is that network trying to imply that everyone who isn't born with a silver spoon is "simple" (in other words: stupid)? Fox should pay for even putting such crap on the air. It is totally offensive. I can only pray that Miss Hilton dwindles back into obscurity where she belongs. (Unfortunately, this won't happen, at least not for many years or unless there's a horrible accident. It's part of what I like to call the 'snowball effect,' but that's a story for another day.)
This is just one case out of many.
So what am I ranting about anyway? This is just a glimpse into my personal struggle with trying to "explain the world," something I can't help but do, because I was built that way. I see so much unfairness and high-handedness everywhere I go. And I can't understand most of it.
But when it comes to the issue of fame and fortune, it's very simple: These two 'conditions of existence,' (fame and fortune, as it were,) are completely arbitrary and should never weigh one's decisions when it comes to aspects of character, or the worthwhileness of a person. Unfortunately, in most instances, people look solely at the 'beauty/fame' aspect of an individual, especially in the higher circles. Skill should be the one and only determiner of fame and fortune.
But then the argument becomes, "Well, if you had true skill, then fame and fortune would just follow." Obstensibly, this appears to be the case, but is not always true!
Example: I could have a lot of skill at something...let's say tennis for example. This is supposed to give me fame and fortune. (I'll win Wimbledon!) Yet Anna Kournikova has never won a tournament, and she's got both fame and fortune. So much for the skill argument.
Knowing this--that she has never won a pro tournament--the reason for her fame and fortune becomes, very simply: She's 'famous!' That's the end of the argument. Don't look any further, because you won't find anything more. Anyone who says differently is probably trying to promote his or her own feminism/political agenda, and the root of that argument is nothing more than: Look here! Women can play tennis too! (My personal opinion is that Miss Kournikova should be stopped from signing any more deals until she proves she has skill at something that is worthy of those deals. And that should be something more than looking good, going to the gym on a regular basis, and qualifying for tournaments she doesn't win. There are literally millions of non-famous women out there who look up to her! There are also other women in those tournaments who work hard to try and win, and just because they don't have 'it,' they don't get the same attention as Anna. Just because Anna can swing a racket and grunt, doesn't mean she deserves all her deals.)
I'm sure that you can think of many fine counterexamples to my conundrum. If you want to share your thoughts, feel free to email me.
TC
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