Ben Stein: Why Should I Care?

Sunday Morning Commentator Says The Doings Of Drunken Celebrities Are Less Important In Today's World

(CBS)  Sunday Morning correspondent Ben Stein asks, should the soap opera of Paris Hilton's life really be news to him, when there are weightier issues at play in the world?

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Can some kindly soul please take pity on little me and explain why it's important that I know about celebrities who get sent to jail, get to leave, and then get sent back again?

Can someone explain why I should care about whether a plastered movie star goes to jail in the first place?

This is a world in which the United States is engaged in a defense and foreign policy nightmare in Iraq and another one in Afghanistan. The same people who killed 3,000 Americans on 9/11 are hurting us badly in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are resurgent all over the Middle East. They threaten to make the Arab-Israeli situation far worse than it already is.

In such a world, who cares what Hollywood stars are drinking or whether they're in jail?

Iran is about to get nuclear weapons, or so it would seem. The North Koreans have nuclear weapons and have breached a deal with the U.S. to stop making them. This is serious business. Why, in times as dangerous as these, do we care about what movie star is dating which other movie star or how many swimming pools their rehabs have?

Why do we spend so much of our day agonizing about movie stars, and big busted blondes, alive and dead? Is it to escape thinking about the real problems we have? If so, it's a mistake. Not too many real problems go away by being ignored.

Is it because we're too stupid to know what's important? When the barbarians were at the gates of Rome, did the Romans gossip about Roman actresses?

Our enemies are serious about beating us. Except for the men and women in uniform, not too many of us seem serious about beating them.

Time to pay a lot more attention to the real stars … the ones in our military wearing battle dress uniforms over body armor in Iraq and Afghanistan … and a lot less about how much time Paris Hilton spends in jail.

[g20011005]

Thanks Ben for keeping your perspective in such a time as we live in . All of us feel the same re: Paris Hilton & I am grateful for your commentary as usual ( Brilliant ). I really wish our media would keep up with the American people, and not tie the weight around our necks that our countries' enemies would have us held down by.

[anneg_sv]

Ben Stein goes on CBS and gives credence to the LIE that Iraq was behind 9/11. And then he has the gaul to wonder why Americans tune into the regular news only for celebrity gossip.

You know what? I'm also sick and tired of hearing about Paris Hilton. You know what I'm even more sick of?

Being LIED to.

When you LIE, Ben, people don't trust you about important things. Which is why it's getting to the point that Paris Hilton is the only story people will listen to.

Note that the LIAR (Ben) oh-so-carefully phrased it so that it wasn't completely inaccurate - yes, maybe there are a few Al Qaeda fighters in Iraq - at least, there are now, scattered among the thousands of insurgents who are hurting the US. They are there because the US opened the door for them. They weren't in Iraq on 9/11/2001 and Iraq didn't attack us.

The fact that he took so much care to disguise his LIE with a veneer of reality he could hide behind doesn't make him less of a LIAR.

It only makes him a sneakier one.

[mountainmick]

Bravo to Bad Ben, in his signature deadpan manner he manages to hit the nail on the head. Yes, the "media" is what feeds us this Paris pandering pablum, but they also give us what we will accept. We are becoming increasingly vacuous and shallow, so that our value system reflects a fixation with the superficial and banal. Is Ben right that the "enemy" is out there seriously gunning for us? Well, just look back to the 90's and the Clinton days when they were at war with us and we were clueless--First Trade Center attack, Kaobe Towers, The Cole attack, our embassies...maybe they didn't attack us in Iraq, but we have been under attack for at least ten fifteen years now and it doesn't look to be getting any better. Wake up America. Thanks Ben for the parental lecture.

[livt]

After listening to Ben Stein's admonition regarding what "we" are interested in regarding the news and how "we" should be paying attention to news regarding nuclear weapons and the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, I became outraged.
The MEDIA needs this lecture, not the CBS Sunday Morning viewer. It is the MEDIA that controls what we will hear and learn. The news on TV and the newspapers blast us with top news stories on celebrities, and it is the MEDIA that gives international and defense news a secondary status. I would prefer to not be asked by Ben Stein, "Are we stupid?" but rather how long do "we" have to put up with this, and what can "we" do about the media's focus on celebrities and their problems. What can "we" do to make sure that our top news is news about the war in the middle east, the dying in Darfur, and international nuclear capabilities. And when these stories are reported, what can "we" do about how they are sandwiched between insignificant stories and commercials!
The finger that Ben Stein points out to "us" should be redirected and pointed right back at the news media and broadcast companies that are in control. "We" may be making the mistake of watching, listening, or reading the newspapers.

[sqa37]

During the Viet Nam war the Super Bowl was instituted. Does Ben Stein think that was inappropriate? Similarly, during WWII games and entertainment continued, including the premier of "Oklahoma."

After the 9/11 attacks Dubya told us we should go about our lives as normal or "the terrorists would win." Part of that is watching celebrities. Bush has not really asked for any sacrifice except from people in the military, and of our civil liberties.

Even when we do pay attention to the war the president shows little interest in listening to people who disagree with him. I am sure some of the powers that be actually like the celebrity obsession since it distracts us from looking at what they are doing on Wall Street and in Washington.

[mee323]

Excuse me???? Ben said "The VERY SAME PEOPLE WHO ATTACKED US " when he was referring to the war in Iraq. And this from an otherwise intelligent and erudite journalist. He ought to have his mouth washed out with soap and apologize.

I think you ought to ask Ben Stein, "Is it ever OK to lie?"

I think his superficial comments about Paris Hilton were all a ploy to be able to broadcast the BIGGEST LIE which is the one that links 9/11 with the war in Iraq.

[carybriel]

Tell me how you CAN'T feel sorry for this sad face??... http://parishilton.snagapic.com
Blame it on her parents. Don't feel sorry because the kid broke the law. Feel sorry for her for the parents that she has!!!

[livt]

After listening to Ben Stein's admonition regarding what "we" are interested in regarding the news and how "we" should be paying attention to news regarding nuclear weapons and the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, I became outraged.
The MEDIA needs this lecture. It is the MEDIA that controls what we will hear and learn. The news on TV and the newspapers blast us with top news stories on celebrities, and it is the MEDIA that gives international and defense news a secondary status. I would like to not be asked "Are we stupid?" but rather ask how long do "we" have to put up with this, and what can "we" do about the media's focus on celebrities and their problems. What can "we" do to make sure that our top news is news about the war in the middle east, the dying in Darfur, and international nuclear capabilities. And when these stories are reported, what can "we" do about how they are sandwiched between insignificant stories and commercials!
The finger that Ben Stein points out to "us" should be redirected and pointed right back at the news media and broadcast companies that are in control. "We" may be making the mistake of watching, listening, or reading the newspapers.

[ksaundby]

Once again, Mr Stein has proved how out of touch he is with the worries and concerns of ordinary Americans who, unlike him, have to go out every day and fight 'the man' for a buck to try to support their families as well as themselves, and the working poor in particular.

As a social worker in a rural Food Stamp/Medicaid office, the last thing I want at the end of yet another day of my clients' woes is to have to pay attention to yet more grim news about the war in Iraq, the state of the world in general and the U.S. in particular.

If Mr Stein were to sit in my office for one week and listen to the stories of the working poor, the chronically ill and the elderly he might gain a better understanding of their fascination with the media hijinks of rock and movie stars and the rich in general. Paris Hilton's fall from grace and Anna Nicole's baby are therapeutic, distractions from their increasingly grimmer daily lives and the tabloids are serving the same purpose as the movie theaters during the Great Depression.

Mr Stein's CBS Sunday Morning diatribe against this type of reporting was not only offbase, it was actually insulting to the folks like me who enjoy it because of his implication that we don't care about the 'real' issues when nothing could be further from the truth.

[livt]

After listening to Ben Stein's admonition regarding what "we" are interested in regarding the news and how "we" should be paying attention to news regarding nuclear weapons and the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, I became outraged.
The MEDIA needs this lecture. It is the MEDIA that controls what we will hear and learn. The news on TV and the newspapers blast us with top news stories on celebrities, and it is the MEDIA that gives international and defense news a secondary status. I would like to not be asked "Are we stupid?" but rather ask how long do "we" have to put up with this, and what can "we" do about the media's focus on celebrities and their problems. What can "we" do to make sure that our top news is news about the war in the middle east, the dying in Darfur, and international nuclear capabilities. And when these stories are reported, what can "we" do about how they are sandwiched between insignificant stories and commercials!
The finger that Ben Stein points out to "us" should be redirected and pointed right back at the news media and broadcast companies that are in control. "We" may be making the mistake of watching, listening, or reading the newspapers.

[fesdon-2009]

"We" don't care about drunken celebrities, but when the Evening News starts off with how many Americans were killed in the Middle East, then a bit of nonsense is good for the soul. The only people who seem to care about Paris Hilton is the news media. If not for them, we won't know nor care that the spoiled rich girl has to spend 45 days in jail. We all know that she will not be in the general inmate population and if her lawyer has any say she will be out before the week is over. Conrad Hilton is probably rolling in his grave.

[mkrealestate-2009]

Thanks. Where is the "beef"? I turn on CNN and get Nancy Grace.... Where is indepth news? Whether I agree or not with you and others, in this time of multimillion channels, we should be able to get "real" news. If they want Paris and anna nicole, they should turn to Entertainment tonight, not CBS, ABC, NBC and CNN. PLEASE give us news like the weather channel gives us weather. Thanks.

[yomark50]

Get off your high horse, Ben! Was there anything MORE frivolous than "Win Ben Stein's Money"? And would you even HAVE a career if it weren't for "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"?
The logic of your position is that none of us should enjoy ANY kind of entertainment ANY time, so long as there's some tragedy or suffering in the world, somewhere. How limited, simple, one-track-minded and unable to hold more than one idea in their heads do you think people are?
No, I don't insist you must follow the progress of Paris Hilton's dilemma, but you do seem to have missed the point: that this seemed to be another outrageous example (not unlike OJ Simpson) of a rich and celebrated person receiving better treatment from the authorities than I, or any other Joe Paycheck could ever hope to expect.

[CheekyDee]

These posts are all a lot of bull..what do any of you all do but sit in your living room chairs and have your rightious opinions. The only ones DOING anything are the soliders who are putting their lives on the line for a war they shouldn't even be fighting the President misled everyone. I've just heard on a program following the morning show that the prez is actually considering bombing IRAN now.. well isn't that nice just what we need another middle east war and more body bags. We do care..yes and it's hard to take.

[lyvbh]

It appears that the irony of following Ben Stein%u2019s commentary (Why Should I Care?) by rerunning the story of opulent parties (Get Ready To Party %u2014 And Spend Some Money) was lost on your producers. I recall the first-time that you aired the piece about extravagant weddings, religious ceremonies and birthdays. It was upsetting to me then and continued to evoke even stronger feelings this time. I do agree with Mr. Stein that our interest and focus is misdirected. Instead of focusing on as he stated, %u201CThe true stars%u201D %u2013 the men and women who are fighting to defend our freedom the media fills the airwaves with the minutiae of the misdeeds, relationships, and unrestrained behavior of actors. How sad a commentary is it that the extreme materialism and self-absorption of individuals exemplified in the segment on parties almost appeared to glorify their behavior. One could only imagine if the money wasted on these %u201Cevents%u201D were directed to enrich the safety and lives of our military personnel or those less fortunate.

[livt]

After listening to Ben Stein's admonition regarding what "we" are interested in regarding the news and how "we" should be paying attention to news regarding nuclear weapons and the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, I became outraged.
The MEDIA needs this lecture. It is the MEDIA that controls what we will hear and learn. The news on TV and the newspapers blast us with top news stories on celebrities, and it is the MEDIA that gives international and defense news a secondary status. I would like to not be asked "Are we stupid?" but rather ask how long do "we" have to put up with this, and what can "we" do about the media's focus on celebrities and their problems. What can "we" do to make sure that our top news is news about the war in the middle east, the dying in Darfur, and international nuclear capabilities. And when these stories are reported, what can "we" do about how they are sandwiched between insignificant stories and commercials!
The finger that Ben Stein points out to "us" should be redirected and pointed right back at the news media and broadcast companies that are in control. "We" may be making the mistake of watching, listening, or reading the newspapers.

[yesult]

Why do Americans care? Because Americans are shallow human beings!

[livt]

After listening to Ben Stein's admonition regarding what "we" are interested in regarding the news, and how "we" should be paying attention to news regarding nuclear weapons and the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, I became outraged.
The MEDIA needs this lecture, for it is the MEDIA that decides what we will hear and learn. The news on TV and the newspapers provide us with top news stories on celebrities, and it is the MEDIA that gives international and defense news a secondary status when reporting. I would like to not be asked "Are we stupid?" but rather ask how long do "we" have to put up with this nonsense, and what can "we" do about the media frenzy that takes place regarding celebrities and their problems. What can "we" do to make sure that our top news is news about the war in the middle east, the dying in Darfur, and international nuclear capabilities. And when these stories are reported, waht can "we" do about how they are sandwiched between insignificant stories and commercials!
The finger that Ben Stein points out to "us" should be redirected and pointed right back at the news media and boradcast companies that are in control. "We" may be making the mistake of watching, listening, or reading the newspapers.

[dthompson98239]

Holy Cow! Thank you Ben. You said what we have been thinking. We need to start voting with our feet - walking away from the tv and finding something worthwhile to do beside watch this rubbish. As a military member I'm sick of watching the news just to hear "Hilton did this, Lohan did that and oh by the wa six more Americans died in Iraq." Unfortunately the newcasters have sold their souls. Would the greats like Walter Cronkite report "news" that two so-called celebrities where seen drunk and not wearing any underwear? I think not. A avid news watcher - I quit watching. It's not news anymore.

[sherry25705]

You, who have a voice that will be heard, finally said what many of us in the silent minority have been thinking. Who the hell cares about a spoiled blond. It is a mystery to me why anyone would be interested in learning more about her. There is not one simple answer to that question. America elected a president, our vote was overturned by a state bureaucratic official and the Supreme Court upheld the decision. We were all interested in that event. Since then and especially because of that result, I can%u2019t stand to watch the news anymore. There is nothing reported but the inane celebrity news about people I don%u2019t even know; or I am listening to the insane outcomes of unimaginably stupid decisions that our present administration has made, and I no impact in those decisions. The news just reinforces the hopelessness I feel over what America and the world have become. Your editorial gave me hope that others may feel the same way I am feeling. But here is the question. Will the opinion you so eloquently editorialized raise ratings? That is the bottom line which drives everything on television. When you can change that, then maybe there is the possibility that the current situation will change. Only when our news correspondence are allowed to INVESTIGATE and REPORT news the way it truly is, will people become interested in news again. Real news is reporting history before it becomes known as history. It should not have to PAY it%u2019s way, let alone make a profit!