Oh my gosh... can you say "controversy?" It seems like everybody on the internet is sharing their favorite blog post or posting their opinion about Bruce Jenner's transition to Caitlyn Jenner. I don't know too much about her because I've never seen an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, but I guess she has a lot of money and won some Olympic medals once upon a time. And in terms of controversy, that photo shoot for Vanity Fair has been the hottest topic of the year, bar none.
With all this attention focused on Caitlyn, it seems a lot of contention is breaking out online and in the media. On my own Facebook, I've seen friends mention that they had deleted other friends based on the posts that they've made about Caitlyn. But why is our attention focused on her? I don't know about you, but she has no impact on my personal life. Like I said, I've never seen an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and I surely don't know her personally. So why do we take such a personal interest in her story?
Okay. Switching gears. Another monumental thing has happened recently in the world of celebrities.
Akon. The singer. Another guy that doesn't influence me hardly at all--I'm not particularly into his style of music. Just the mention of his name brings back the memories of hearing "Smack That" on the radio all the time when I was in middle school. But I want to point out something that Akon has recently done. According to Paste Magazine, Akon has plans to launch a new "Solar Academy" in Africa that will harness solar power and convert it into electricity to be used by approximately 600 million Africans.
SIX. HUNDRED. MILLION.
Does anyone else realize that's nearly double the population of the United States?? Akon is using his power, wealth and influence to bring life-changing advantages to the equivalent of two major countries. That's phenomenal! Stupendous! Fantastic! Really, I don't care about what kind of music Akon is putting out because I'm not terribly into it, but Akon is doing excellent things in the world right now. The tragedy is that we're so focused on another rich celebrity changing her gender, and so consumed in the controversy of it all, that this wonderful effort on Akon's part getting pushed onto the back burner.
How is this manifest in our own personal lives? Are we so easily distracted by the hot button topics and the debates and the stress that we neglect the good that's happening around us? There are quiet heroes in all of our lives that go completely unnoticed because we're too focused on other things. Maybe it's time we take a look around and thank those heroes that go unthanked each and every day. And while we're at it, why don't we each try to be that kind of hero in some small way? It's really not that hard, it can be as simple as a smile. But to someone, a simple smile may be everything.
Just saying.
-Aaron
No comments:
Post a Comment