[MD] Ham unlike you I will not create false idols

[Arlo J. Bensinger]

Platt, Ham,

[Platt]
[American Idol is a] wonderful example of the deterioration of moral values
since the 60's, brought about by intellect's inability to distinguish, much
less understand, the difference between biological values (instinct succeeds)
and social values (education and hard
work succeeds).

[Arlo]
I am with you both in being ashamed and disgusted by the "schadenfreudenische"
and overconcern American culture has developed towards "celebrity". Witness the
trajedy that elevates Paris Hilton to royalty, evidence that "wealth" is akin
to "value" in this country. Platt, however, I disagree with you analysis that
American Idol represents a victory of "biological values" over "social values".
What it represents is a victory of "social values" over "intellectual values".

On the production side, Americon Idol is huge business, an entertainment
industry (like other industries) that is more concerned with generating
"profit" than with anything else. On the contestent side, American Idol
representes in brilliant example the Quest for Celebrity/Fame/Wealth that is
the real American Dream, the only American Dream possible when "material
profit" is the end-all of our raison-d-ete.

On the consumer side, it represents not only the "love to see people make fools
of themselves" dark desire inhabiting our psyches, but more importantly the
"overconcern" that has been seeded in our beings by a culture that elevates
"celebrity" (a social level value) to a level higher than any "intellectual"
value. This is of course a natural consequence of the recent "damn the
pinheaded intellectuals" campaign of the anti-intellectual, socially-focused
conservatives. 

Attaining "social level" greatness is the True Reason We Exist (according to
these folks), something that is Natural and Best Goal we can ever strive for.
Strive for Wealth, Strive for Material Profit. And so we elevate the rich and
the famous to higher pedastals than ever before in our culture. We read more
about Paris Hilton and Sam Walton than about history and philosophy. We are
more concerned with who's going to be the next American Idol than with our
local schools slashing music and arts programs (another natural result of being
fixated on "material profit").

No, American Idol is here because our culture is now one that values social
level wealth, fame and celebrity as the Highest and Greatest of Human
Achievements. In its campaign to reanimate Randian values, to devalue "Liberal
Arts" and University education, to make "material profit" the Ultimate Goal of
Human Activity, big business, American consumers and American contestents are
all united in the natural end-prodcut called "American Idol".

To John Adams is attributed the quote, "We are soldiers and politicians today,
so that our children may be farmers and carpenters, so that their children may
be artists." Sadly, we are teaching are children that the greatest and best
they should aspire to is "wealth" and "celebrity", and even "celebrity"
attained through self-humiliation (jack-ass, e.g.) is better than anything
else.

"American Idol" does not represent a victory for "biological values", it
represents the Triumph of Social Value over everything else... and you better
get used to it, its just the start...

Arlo