Rockin' Caucus '07: Most Contagious Viral Video

Did you get to keep the cardboard Colonel?

Hmmm. Let's see. . .When I was 15, I "worked" by teaching swimming at our small community's Country Club for two hours each day during the summer, and also had a part-time job at our local Kentucky Fried Chicken. (The latter ended after two weeks because a friend and I "kidnapped" the cardboard statue of "the Colonel" that greeted customers at the door. I left the ransom note, asking for two extra-crispy drumsticks and one original recipe thigh with coleslaw and baked beans to be left in the second to last booth at 6:45 p.m. We were, of course, caught red-handed.) That was my total work experience while I was in school. Otherwise, my parents paid for everything--my college tuition, books, clothes, sorority dues, etc. Yeah, I was truly a spoiled brat, and a very lucky girl. Now I read about the Britneys, Lindseys, Jessicas, Ashleys, etc. who are paying for almost everything their family has. That pressure, plus the daily adoration of fans, paparazzi following their every move--it all has to catch up with them someday. And these girls--excuse me--these young women are expected to react rationally? Give 'em a break, guys! Fame is certainly not all it's cracked up to be. Not when it's 24/7. Look at Judy Garland's life, Mickey Rooney's, look at any of the early childhood stars. Shirley Temple Black is one of the few who seems to have made it through the process intact--but even her own story is not totally good ship lollipop.
I don't know what the answer is for these young women--but treating them like royalty one day, then bashing them when they act differently than the rest of us is not playing fair. Something's gotta give. Maybe it's our compassion rather than jealousy? Just a thought.

Yes.