The media, particularly television and to a slightly lesser extent, the glossy magazines, are slowly and steadily murdering our children. A strong statement but a truthful statement. Have a look at the evidence.

Every time a popular movie star, singer or sports person shows the slightest hint of alcohol,drug or suicide tendencies, do they report it? No. They sensationalize it!

I get so cheesed off every time I hear words like, "a popular football star who is a role model for our youth has been caught ........". So they are role models are they? What is the definition of a role model? According to Answers.com a role model is:

"A person who inspires others to imitate his or her persona, values, and goals."

So a role model is someone we imitate. That is an important phrase. If a football star, actor or singer acts as a role model then we are assuming that everything they do in public is going to be imitated.

When Britney Speers goes out driving with her kids whilst under the influence, we are going to imitate her. Perhaps not. Then again, many of our youth idolize people like Britney Speers. To them, if she can do then so can they.

But only if they know! If they don't know then they will not be imitating them.

And that is where the media comes into the picture. Like vultures they haunt the hot spots. They have an incredible grape vine. Someone famous is doing something wrong at a night club and within minutes photographers and journalists are there to capture every moment. They then scramble over each other to be the first to hit the airwaves with their 'news'.

Frankly, I am sick of it. They say these famous people are role models and are acting as very poor role models. I say no! It is media that is portraying these individuals in this manner.

The reality is, that football player, that athlete, that actor or singer, are most likely excellent role models when you look at their professional careers. What they do in private is their business and should not be held up to public ridicule.

Every time one of these famous individuals is portrayed as an alcoholic or drug addict, another one of our youth is potentially on the same path. There are countless thousands of young people who are dead or whose lives are almost destroyed because they thought it was 'cool' to copy their heroes.

If we only showed the professional side of these people then many of these youngsters may well be alive today.

The biggest example of the power of the media that I can remember was the sudden increase in suicide attempts in England many years ago when a popular actor on a popular television show committed suicide, and that was her on on-screen character. The emergency wards were overwhelmed.

The media is powerful. The media has the power to make and break careers. The media also has the power to destroy young lives. To the vultures that hang out at these popular hot spots, stop murdering our children - our children are our future.

Related articles include Your Toddler And Potty Training, Teaching Your Toddler Manners and How Do You Discipline Toddlers.

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