A small part of me is a bit obsessed with celebratory culture. It's not so much an obsession as a fun way to pass some time at work. Though, until recently, I have not cared one bit for the British royal family and all the headlines they make. Mostly I don't think that having a royal family is really something to be proud of, and I find the amount of attention paid to the royal family to be off putting. The media isn't just following them around, they are also reporting and speculating on anything they could or might do all because they were born into a particular family. At least American celebrities have to pretend to act or sing to warrant a camera crew entourage. Well, at least for the most part.
But, for some reason, I watched the live feed from London for five hours waiting for Kate and William to emerge with their new baby, the future king of England. I was glued to the screen. After the reveal was finally made, I asked myself why I had done that. What was the draw? I thought about it for awhile and then came up with a reasonable conclusion. Funny thing is when I told my mom this story, she instantly knew why I was hooked. "It's because they are your age," she told me. That's a part of why I was so enthralled with anything and everything royal baby. It's exciting to watch someone who could be a peer start on this adventure, knowing that it might not be that far down the road for me. But there was something else to my obsession as well. It wasn't just that Will and Kate are my age, it was also nice to see two people my age acting appropriately. American celebrities are made and destroyed by the height and severity of their scandals. And, unfortunately, these individuals serve as role models, not just telling people how to act but also informing them on what they can get away with. I think this is a huge disservice. There is a benefit to being polite, to thinking before you speak, to treating people with respect. There is a benefit to conducting yourself in an honorable way so that you can be proud of your actions rather then full of regrets. There is a benefit to taking ownership for your problems and not blaming others. And there is a benefit to doing something with your life to improve others, rather than just make and spend money. Maybe the idea of a royal family is still off putting to me but, at the end of the day, I appreciate the way they choose to present themselves. Even if it is all scripted and fake, at least it is better then a fake and scripted American celebrity culture littered with court appearances, rehab centers, and sex tapes.
