Ode to Natalie Portman…You go girl!

There is an overwhelming focus on celebrities in this county. Recently with Mike Huckabee calling out Natalie Portman for “glamorizing” having children out of wedlock and the man we love to hate; Charlie Sheen. I suppose the message we should take from these examples is chastity and moderation. I wonder though, who really cares?

No offense to Chuck and Natalie, but how they live their lives has no affect on how I live mine.

As far as setting an example goes, I suppose Mike Huckabee is too busy flopping around to consider that not everyone emulates celebrities. When I close my eyes at night I am not wondering what Natalie is doing with all her fame and fortune I am focused on my small, insignificant life. Selfish, yes. Crazy? Not in the least.

With everything that has been going on in the world these days I cannot help but side with Mr. Sheen on this one and say, “Who cares?” I am tired of Americans thinking that we are above world news. If it doesn’t happen here, we don’t care. Heck if it doesn’t happen in our small town, it is not worth knowing. What kind of ignorance is this? Why is it that people can rattle off every Oscar nomination, but cannot find Nagano on a map? Or even tell me what country it resides in? I am sorry folks but what is happening globally DOES affect us. When Californians are buying Iodine pills to offset radioactive isotopes coming over from Japan, I’d say that is something we in America should be up to date on. This recent earthquake was so powerful it actually shortened our day by 1.8 microseconds and threw an extra 6.7 inches into the planet's wobble. I don’t know, to me, this is some very important information. How can we as people think this does not affect us?

Again I hate to argue with our fabulous way of life, but we are far too sheltered from the truth. So many people in power are using misdirection and sleight of hand to keep us focused on things that just don’t matter, for example, Natalie Portman. Let’s look at the facts, shall we? Not only is she highly accomplished in her field, but she is financially stable. She has been in the limelight since she was a child and has lived a life that most of us could not even fathom. There is a lot of experience in that young woman whether we see it or not. She is also a Harvard graduate. Now I have not been to Harvard, but it is my understanding that this is a university where the best and brightest go to matriculate. So a young, highly educated woman who is more than financially set is somehow a bad role model because she is unmarried?

Perhaps it is my own personal bias here, but marriage is hardly an institution that should be used as a measuring stick for healthy homes. How many marriages end in divorce? Over half? The legal state of a relationship has nothing to do with the type of relationship occurring or how happy a family can be. So her baby will be taken care of and loved, the dream of every child, and Huckabee finds this example to be a poor one? I think we have lost sight of what is truly important in life. Titles, money, and material possessions are nothing in comparison to a meaningful, loving relationship with another human being. I realize there is a large religious driving force behind these statements, but to judge others based on your beliefs seems to contradict the very dogma you adhere to.

I don’t feel Ms. Portman is attempting to flaunt her lifestyle or play role model to the nation’s youth. She is a young woman attempting to live her life the best way she sees fit. Who are we to judge her? Who are we to force her into a position of role model simply because she is famous? With all that is happening on this planet is Natalie Portman really a major threat? I just don’t see it.