Editorial: Crashing the Party

And our publication is no different. If the appetite for a story is there, then it’s our responsibility to add to the discussion as best we can. This is especially true when the party crashers in question have ties to our small community. Perhaps someday, we’ll be able to write only what we want to write about.

The Salahis have taken a lot of criticism, most of it likely deserved as their need for publicity appears to be extraordinarily high. The truth is that being featured on a reality television show is something to be feared instead of coveted. This is even truer of a nationwide scandal. Who talks about Donna Rice anymore?

And it is a scandal that two people—no matter their connections—could walk into the White House. It’s a reminder of how precarious security can be and how history can walk along the edge of a knife.

Even so, the attention given to what appears to be a poor decision and a series of press photos is staggering.

It leads one to wonder when did the drive to become famous become that much more powerful than the need to be good? There’s certainly an argument that the actions of this couple are the logical result of a culture that promotes bad behavior and views notoriety (for good or ill) as the pinnacle one could aspire to. It certainly doesn’t excuse them, but it might make their actions a bit more understandable.

It’s a bit early to talk about New Year’s resolutions. December is generally about appreciation of family and friends. Most of us leave self-improvement to January.

However, because the example set by this misguided couple is so strong, perhaps we could all make a resolution a little early.

When you talk to your children about the important people in the world, talk about doctors and scientists instead of rock stars or whatever 20-year-old is popular on TV these days. Reward your kids for being smart and well-mannered—not for being cute while making bad decisions. Most of us have reached the point (or soon will), where being reliable and smart has more benefits than being popular.

Let’s turn off the reality TV and open a book or a newspaper. Let’s all be a little more concerned with the quality of our company rather than their reputation and star potential. When someone (famous or not) starts displaying bad behavior, let’s play less attention to them instead of more.