American Idol

American Idol ... is that really a good name for a show that millions of children watch? And do we really want people across the nation aspiring to be idols?

I would think if a reasonable person looked at the dictionary definition of "idol" then they wouldn't ever hope to classify themselves as one. An idol can be an image or object representing a god. It can also be a person blindly or excessively adored. Or an idol could be something visible but without substance, a figment of imagination or a false concept.

It would seem out of all of these definitions the one that most closely fits the winning contestant on American Idol is a person who is blindly or excessively adored.

But people who are excessively adored often need to hire security or get restraining orders. And people who are blindly adored are adored out of ignorance. When we say someone is doing something blindly it means without understanding or thought.

I'd almost say the person that came up with the name American Idol did it blindly; but then again the name of the show might be perfectly fitting.

Now if it were called American Inspiration I might be more supportive of the whole concept. If people are turning on a TV show every week to follow something happening in someone else's life and in turn it inspired them to do something in their own life then that'd be a good thing. But if people are turning on a show every week so they can adore or worship someone ... well they might just be better off without a TV.

And on the flip side, if you are a contestant on this show would you rather inspire someone or be worshiped by them? Would you like excessive adoration and paparazzi taking away every private moment? Not if you had any sense of humility...

Sadly often in our culture humility is overlooked or forgotten.

When football games are on and a touchdown is scored who gets the most replays; someone that spikes the ball, does a dance and points at themselves or someone that kneels down and says a prayer?

Maybe modesty will never be a very marketable commodity in America. Idols might always hold prime-time spots over inspirations. Pompous football players may always get more replays than humble ones.

But I've never been much into following the crowd or giving in to the conventional way of doing things. So I'll keep hoping one day there will be an American Inspiration that people are talking about. And rather than being glued to their TVs people will be out singing their own songs instead.

kenneth w.


www.BibleRhymes.com