American Idol vs. the government
Published on Tue, Apr 19, 2011 by BY PAM STEVENS | MANAGING EDITORRead More Editorial
While scanning the news feed on my facebook account a couple of weeks ago, things like “I can’t believe Pia is gone!” and “Pia should have won this thing!” kept popping up on my friends’ comments.
The whole time I’m thinking, “Who is Pia and what is everyone so upset about?”
All of these comments were being made at the same time the federal government was on the brink of a shut down, not sure if our military service men and women were going to get paid and other agencies on the verge of shutting their doors until Congress could, well, get along.
The next day the buzz on the radio was all about Pia, at least the stations I was scanning, and I soon found out who Pia is.
Let’s just say that I am not an American Idol viewer and so I have never voted for any of the performers. But it seems that I am in the minority. I found this out very quickly after Pia was so devastatingly voted off of the show.
I was more alarmed that only two of my facebook friends even commented on the potential government shut down yet dozens were upset over the American Idol vote.
This really made me stop and think. Why do we as Americans seem more concerned over an Idol contestant getting voted off than we are about the looming possibility that Congress may have to shut down most government offices?
I’m sure there are several reasons for this but what really struck me was that it seems that the American people feel that their votes on American Idol actually mean something and can and do have an affect on the outcome.
Many of us don’t feel that we are being listened to by Congress or other politicians and therefore, why should we make a concerted effort for change. It seems that many Americans are throwing their hands in the air and basically giving up on trying to get their voice heard.
It’s also a little unsettling that many young people are getting their first voting experience on shows like American Idol, Dancing with the Stars and Survivor where results are counted quickly and cast offs are sent away to be guests on talk shows and entertainment television.
My hope is that as they begin voting politically they will learn that just because you have cast a vote, it doesn’t mean that your job as an American citizen is over. It’s important that we as voters continue to contact our representatives and tell them what we expect of them. Even though at times it seems futile.
We were able to avoid a government shut down for now and if Pia is as good as everyone says she is, I’m sure she will go on to have an extensive career in the music industry.
However, the question of which of these experiences has become more important still looms over us. Hopefully all voters will realize which it truly should be.
The whole time I’m thinking, “Who is Pia and what is everyone so upset about?”
All of these comments were being made at the same time the federal government was on the brink of a shut down, not sure if our military service men and women were going to get paid and other agencies on the verge of shutting their doors until Congress could, well, get along.
The next day the buzz on the radio was all about Pia, at least the stations I was scanning, and I soon found out who Pia is.
Let’s just say that I am not an American Idol viewer and so I have never voted for any of the performers. But it seems that I am in the minority. I found this out very quickly after Pia was so devastatingly voted off of the show.
I was more alarmed that only two of my facebook friends even commented on the potential government shut down yet dozens were upset over the American Idol vote.
This really made me stop and think. Why do we as Americans seem more concerned over an Idol contestant getting voted off than we are about the looming possibility that Congress may have to shut down most government offices?
I’m sure there are several reasons for this but what really struck me was that it seems that the American people feel that their votes on American Idol actually mean something and can and do have an affect on the outcome.
Many of us don’t feel that we are being listened to by Congress or other politicians and therefore, why should we make a concerted effort for change. It seems that many Americans are throwing their hands in the air and basically giving up on trying to get their voice heard.
It’s also a little unsettling that many young people are getting their first voting experience on shows like American Idol, Dancing with the Stars and Survivor where results are counted quickly and cast offs are sent away to be guests on talk shows and entertainment television.
My hope is that as they begin voting politically they will learn that just because you have cast a vote, it doesn’t mean that your job as an American citizen is over. It’s important that we as voters continue to contact our representatives and tell them what we expect of them. Even though at times it seems futile.
We were able to avoid a government shut down for now and if Pia is as good as everyone says she is, I’m sure she will go on to have an extensive career in the music industry.
However, the question of which of these experiences has become more important still looms over us. Hopefully all voters will realize which it truly should be.
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