My neighbor moved over the summer, and she and I were instant messaging last night. She said that she had watched Barbara Walters' The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2005 program on TV, that is until it started to sicken her and she turned it off.

I love how celebrities can't get enough of themselves. (My husband is brutal to celebs, calling them "people who are attractive for a living".) Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning fascinating? In what way exactly? The winner, the most fascinating person of the year, was Camilla Parker Bowles. Really. That's funny to me, because she's about the last celeb I'm interested in hearing about.

My neighbor was upset. "What makes Tom Cruise more fascinating than Sean Sims?" she asked. I know that's not the point of these stupid celeb-backpatting shows, but for regular Americans, the contrast can sometimes be rather striking. The last sentence of that article killed me:

Rounding out Walters' "Most Fascinating" list are "Desperate Housewives" star Teri Hatcher, Academy Award-winning actor Jamie Foxx and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice."

Really, how dare they lump Condi Rice with Teri Hatcher? Rice works her butt off as one of the most powerful people in the world; Hatcher pretends to be a slutty housewife for a living.

I told my neighbor about something I had seen on TV recently that had made me guffaw. Sharon Stone organized some benefit for Katrina victims, and lots of singers participated to raise money. I swear Sharon Stone started crying during her interview clip, saying what "heroes" these singers were. I laughed out loud. Heroes? For showing up and recording a song that regular non-millionaire Americans could buy to raise money for Katrina? That makes you a hero? I swear, celebs wouldn't know a hero if he bit 'em.

My neighbor replied to the Sharon Stone story: "That just means she has never really met a real hero before. She should talk to me, I live with one."

Amen, sister.

Posted by: Sarah at 04:44 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 Your Captain is one of my heroes; my nephew, who is soon to be in the 'Stan is one of my heroes. And you, Sarah, are one of my heroes, as was my wife, when she too had to maintain the rear guard while I was sailing the ocean blue in a navy gray ship. Thanks for your service to Russell and to this country. Jim

Posted by: Jim Shawley at December 01, 2005 10:05 AM (CnYsu)

2 I’ll never forget reading a letter to the editor of a newspaper in Virginia during the opening days of OIF. An Army wife wrote in response to all the celebrities griping about how wrong war is, how soldiers don’t want to go and fight, blah blah blah. Anyway, her response was along the lines of “How dare these people talk for me and my family? Why would anyone listen to the opinion of someone whose job is to pretend to be someone else?” She put it much better than I did, and I really wish I had saved that paper, but her thoughts are right on. Ben Stein also puts it in perspective so eloquently and so often. Thanks for all you and your husband do! Rude1, USAF (ret)

Posted by: Rude1 at December 01, 2005 12:34 PM (Cgo1/)

3 Real Heroes have HEART! Celebrities are hollow!

Posted by: Vonn at December 01, 2005 11:12 PM (sDFje)

4 Barbara Walters' list of fascinating people is such a joke. Your post prompted me to e-mail Ben Stein (via his website link) ~ I thanked him for all his support to the troops but especially for putting things in perspective re: the "celebrity" world. Did you catch the article about Bruce Willis making a movie about Iraq? He said he couldn't believe what is NOT being reported about all the positive things going on in Iraq. You have such a wonderful blog. It is always thought provoking. I've been reading it since Jenny and Heidi told me about it last year but this is the first time I've posted anything. I think I was a little intimidated by all you grammar police out there Patti

Posted by: Patti at December 03, 2005 01:06 AM (b/PAv)

5 Sarah, I loved this line: My neighbor replied to the Sharon Stone story: "That just means she has never really met a real hero before. She should talk to me, I live with one." I think you ladies have a helluva lot more credibility when it comes to teaching us about real heroes than Sharon Stone or Tom Cruise. If military wives don't know what heroism is all about, then no one does. From living with them --- and from being our heroes for putting up with us. Bless you all ladies for your love, patience and understanding in living with Uncles Sam's Wayward Boys Club -- the United States Armed Forces. Subsunk

Posted by: Subsunk at December 03, 2005 01:10 PM (SBriA)

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Congrats to Erin's husband on his promotion today!

Posted by: Sarah at 03:43 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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