It seems that while her parents are in the middle of a divorce, Miley Cyrus is feeling a little homesick, and instead of singing her favorite song…she decided to smoke out of a bong.
I don’t have to think too far back to recall the Hannah Montana messenger bags and various other accessories middle school and elementary school girls were sporting in support of their new favorite Disney character. Many people didn’t see the nude photo scandal coming, nor did they expect her to don fewer and shorter articles of clothing at the young age of 15. Indeed, it wasn’t long before the ex-Hannah Montana Miley Cyrus began to fall frequently into the spotlight of TMZ scandals.
What disturbs me the most is the impact such celebrities are having on the youth. Miley Cyrus had stepped into the shoes of a role model back when she was Hannah Montana, and to some she may continue to dangerously remain one even after leaving the fairly protected studio of Disney to enter the glamorous world of sex, drugs and fame. Sure, she must be having a tough time with her parents’ divorce, but whatever happened to her lyrics that inspired fans around the world to keep going, to keep pushing and struggling against the uphill battle with faith and perseverance?
Perhaps it seems I am expecting too much from such celebrities, but my purpose here is to remove them from the pedestal fans put them on in order to make people more conscious of who they choose to respect as potential role models. Without a doubt, celebrities have the power to influence their fans with questionable catchy songs (anyone remember Britney Spear’s “If You Seek Amy”?) and un-Ladylike, Gag-worthy fashion statements. I was even shocked to see some of my college peers whipping their heads to a song performed by the ten year old Willow Smith. Sure, she claims that these mindless, absolutely ridiculous lyrics have an underlining meaning of “being yourself”, but at the end of the day, people dancing along look more like this:
However, I would like to end with a ray of hope. I didn’t have to look too far in my community to find inspiring young children like the 7th grader Alya Nuri. Ms. Nuri is one of the youngest authors in America who has written several books in the series called Things Every Kid Should Know- Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs and Bullying. On her website www.alyanuri.com you can find well-intended messages and videos educating parents and kids of all faiths and backgrounds on some of the perils of the Real World. I am hopeful that people will be influenced more by inspiring youth like Alya Nuri rather than the ever-disappointing celebrities that are living in the precarious world of fame.
Coming soon to Al-Talib (God-willing): An interview with Alya Nuri!
Thanks for this, it’s really sad how celebrities are idolized today. We all have the natural fitra to “obey” or follow something in our lives. Yet for many who don’t know God, who don’t know Islam, they fill this in with whatever pop culture tells them to, be it money or celebrities.
“Have you seen him who has taken his own desire to be his god? Can you be a guardian over him? Do you think most of them can hear or understand? They are like cattle. Indeed, they are even more astray.” [The Qur’an 25:43-44]
May Allah bless people like Alya and make her a guide and a role model for society!
I feel like a huge problem is also on how much of a spotlight these celebrities get in comparison to people who have done productive work with their lives. I swear, sometimes I go and talk to teenagers in high school and they don’t even know the significance of Martin Luther King! There needs to be some sort of change here…