Given the power and influence of the super rich, it might seem as if social
status and material possessions are the new symbols of personal worth, but in
everyday life I do not think this is true.
It is apparent that most celebrities today are admired or envied solely for their
material wealth or position in various social hierarchies. Many of these people are
known to turn their backs on friends, cheat on their spouses or spend their evenings
over-indulging in alcohol and/or drugs. Things like owning a mansion, driving an
expensive car and getting into A-list parties are exalted above old-fashioned values.
Ultimately, though, it is the many readers of gossip magazines and celebrity blogs
who reinforce these ideas.
Nevertheless, I do believe that in their day-to-day lives most people still
believe in values such as honour, kindness and trust. In some way most of us want to
form loving families, raise our children to be good citizens, stand up for the
downtrodden and protect our communities from harm. We still form friendships,
romances and business partnerships based on old-fashioned criteria. When our trust is
abused or we are unfairly treated, we see that as a major violation of our relationship
and we judge the wrongdoer accordingly.
In conclusion, I believe there is some truth to the notion that status and
possessions have superseded old-fashioned values as a measure of a person’s worth.
Looking beyond the tabloids, however, it is apparent that most ordinary people have
still preserved an old-fashioned conscience.
Given
the power and influence of the super rich, it might seem as if social
status and material possessions are the new symbols of personal worth,
but
in
everyday life I do not
think
this is true.
It is apparent that most celebrities
today
are admired
or envied
solely
for their
material wealth or position in various social hierarchies.
Many
of these
people
are
known
to turn their backs on friends, cheat on their spouses or spend their evenings
over-indulging in alcohol and/or drugs. Things like owning a mansion, driving an
expensive car and getting into A-list parties
are exalted
above
old-fashioned
values.
Ultimately
, though, it is the
many
readers of gossip magazines and celebrity blogs
who reinforce these
ideas
.
Nevertheless
, I do believe that in their day-to-day
lives
most
people
still
believe in values such as
honour
, kindness and trust. In
some
way most of us want to
form loving families, raise our children to be
good
citizens, stand up for the
downtrodden and protect our communities from harm. We
still
form friendships,
romances and business partnerships based on
old-fashioned
criteria. When our trust is
abused or
we are
unfairly
treated, we
see
that as a major violation of our
relationship
and
we judge the wrongdoer
accordingly
.
In conclusion
, I believe there is
some
truth to the notion that status and
possessions have superseded
old-fashioned
values as a measure of a person’s worth.
Looking beyond the tabloids,
however
, it is apparent that most ordinary
people
have
still
preserved an
old-fashioned
conscience.