Getting Married....Again

In our society, most people view marriage as a sacred union “til’ death do us part;” at least that’s what we are rehearsed to say in our wedding vows. However, in our society, half of all married couples end up divorcing; some eventually remarry, while others opt to never take that path again.

When thinking about my blog topic for this week, I stumbled across something that I found intriguing – a headline entitled “Elizabeth Taylor, 78, to Wed for 9th Time – to 49-Year-Old!” Intriguing, nonetheless, but also ridiculous. Said woman who was once-upon-a-time known for her stunning beauty and inspiring acting abilities, is now known for her ability to set national records for number of times walking down the aisle. Although slightly humorous, this very situation is also very sad. I can’t help but wonder why someone who has been married eight times before – all of which ended in divorce – would want to get married again! Marriage is supposed to be a special occasion that you share with the one you love and the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. It is not a hobby and grooms are not collector’s items – they are not toys that you can have a good time with for a little while and then throw away when you are bored with them. Getting married should not be an occasion where the phrase, “Here we go again…” is used. I mean, why even get married nine times? What’s the point? Isn’t it emotionally, financially, and legally exhausting to go through all of the hoopla involved with getting married and then proceeding said marriage with a divorce? I just don’t understand.

FAT?

During my usual Monday night renegade of online tabloids, I stumbled across one of Us magazine’s headlining stories. Said headline read “Mischa Barton Slammed for Showing ‘Flabby Belly’ in Too-Tight Pants.” Out of curiosity I clicked the bold caption and couldn’t help but laugh in disgust. I was not disgusted at the way in which Mischa Barton appeared in her picture, but rather at how utterly ridiculous it is that people are making a big deal of her supposed “flabby belly” which isn’t really flabby at all. No, her stomach is not rock hard, no, she doesn’t have a six-pack, no, her ribs are not visible, and, yes, she probably has about 10% body fat. How are such characteristics defining factors of flab?

It truly amazes me as to how critical some people are towards others. I find it hilarious that the media constantly focuses their attention towards a side role on Jessica Simpson or the slightest bit of extra skin on Mischa Barton’s stomach. I mean, we live in a society whose number one killer is obesity and can focus our attention on people who truly are overweight, and yet the media choose to harshly criticize individuals who are technically considered healthy? I don’t understand it. What is this teaching the young children of America? Is it illustrating to them that even if you are at a healthy weight, you are still too fat and need to lose some major pounds immediately?! No wonder why so many college women have eating disorders!

Sexuality

Upon scoping out People Magazine’s online website, I noticed that one of the top stories was entitled “Ricky Martin Reveals He’s Gay”… big shocker there! I find it funny that one of the most popular stories deals with a former celebrities’ sexuality – as if this is supposed to make us think that a man liking another man or a woman liking another woman changes who they are and what they stand for. Our culture is so heteronormative that anything outside the prescribed cultural norms of heterosexual relationships is considered deviant and wrong. What a crock! I mean, I am all for free speech and free thought and individuals believing whatever they want to believe, but come on people, it’s time to start opening your eyes to different things. Being a lesbian or being gay does not make anyone better or, more importantly, worse. It just means that they are just that – gay. I think it’s funny how people make such a big deal about sexuality. I mean, you wouldn’t open up a Hollywood tabloid expecting to see a headline entitled, “Celebrity Actor Reveals He’s Heterosexual!” So, why does a person being gay/lesbian carry so much weight and significance? Does it really matter?

L ? O ? V ? E ?

Love only seems to last so long, at least in Hollywood. From Reese to Ryan, Brad and Jennifer, Tiger and Elin, now Jesse and Sandra; all couples undoubtedly have something in common: infidelity. Such dynamic duos were once idolized for their healthy, successful relationships and now are only spotlighted and infamous for succumbing to the spell that Hollywood stardom seems to cast upon the majority of celebrity couples. It’s sad, really. All relationships that seem to have love figured out in the land of fame and fortune eventually fall from the weight and pressure of their admired partnership. Even when they shatter to pieces, the former couples’ romances are all the rage in every major tabloid. It makes you think: are we supposed to not only idolize the scarce successful Hollywood relationships that seem to dwindle with every passing year, but also the relationships that succumb to infidelity and sex scandals? What is this teaching the children of the future? Are we dooming future love with the failures of Hollywood romance? Are we portraying to the world that true love no longer exists? I don’t know, but such questions are fair to ask and definitely ideas to ponder.

Only in Hollywood...

Only in Hollywood can someone remain the highest paid sitcom star, receiving nearly $1 million dollars an episode, while concurrently awaiting a fate in due of domestic violence charges. If you don’t recognize this scenario, I’m speaking about no other than Charlie Sheen, head actor of the television series Two and a Half Men. As one of Hollywood’s most notorious bad boys, Sheen has a history of criminal behavior, including anger problems that dates back to before he and his current wife and supposed domestic violence victim, Brooke Mueller, were together. Although Sheen took a leave-of-absence from the show for one of his court hearings, he is headed back to the set to finish shooting the remainder of the season for the series and doesn’t seem to be too concerned that his wife has accused him of holding a knife to her throat, choking her, and threatening to take her life. Even one online tabloid mentioned that if convicted, Sheen will face minimal jail time due to lack of physical harm against his wife. In plain terms, because he didn’t actually follow through with physically hurting his wife, all is good in the world of Charlie Sheen.

Personally, I think this is ridiculous. The man allegedly assaulted his wife with a deadly weapon and threatened to kill her and yet is allowed to go back to work as if nothing happened? Furthermore, IF convicted (and that seems to be a big “if”), he’ll face hardly any jail time, even though he has a history of criminal behavior? Where’s the justice in this situation? Our nation seems to have a decent working legal system – that is until you reach the level of stardom where certain individuals can simply buy their freedom and forego prison. Something just doesn’t seem right here.

Tragedy in Hollywood

Like every other Monday night, I sat down in front of my laptop and caught up on my weekend gossip via the online tabloids of Us magazine and People magazine. In doing so, I noticed that the top stories on both websites were not pertaining to this weekend’s recent Oscars ceremony, as expected. Rather, the headlining story appearing on both sites dealt with Marie Osmond’s late son, Michael Bryan who recently died at the age of 18. The young adult not only died, but took his own life nearly a week earlier by jumping off of the eighth floor of his apartment complex. Thus, my question to you is why? Not why did the young man follow through with what he did, but why was this account the most read about story on both websites?

Prior to this incident, no one really knew who this young man was (I didn’t), nor cared to know. All of a sudden, the entire nation wanted to read and learn more about this troubled young man’s seemingly dejected life. But, the question is, why now? Why is it that when someone dies, everyone becomes intently fascinated and weirdly captivated on said person’s downfall and demise? Is it because we feel sympathy and empathy towards the person and/or his/her family? Or is it because, in some twisted, Freudian-like philosophy, we – as human beings – are oddly intrigued by death? My answer to this question would be, that as human beings, we try to make sense of that of which is nonsensical. We try to rationally explain that of which is not rational. In this case, I believe that people became intrigued in not only the direct tragedy of the young man’s death, but the “behind-the-scenes” story of what lead to such an irrational and illogical decision. Such a topic, however, is open to interpretation.

Nature vs. Captivity

By now I’m sure everyone around the nation has at least heard about the 12,000 lb. killer whale, Tilikum, that supposedly attacked and killed one of the most experienced trainers at Sea World in Orlando, Florida this past Wednesday afternoon in front of a group of eager onlookers. According to visitors and reports, the behemoth male whale grabbed the female trainer in its mouth as she was standing on a ledge and shook her like a ragdoll before carrying her underwater where she eventually drowned. Although this was a terrible tragedy, I think it is important to take a step back from the incident and take a deeper look as to not only what happened, but why it happened.

Reports have indicated that this whale has been involved in two other attacks on trainers prior to the attack on Wednesday. So why would the facility allow for its trainers to engage in physical contact with this killer mammal in light of what they knew? With this information, I do not believe that people should blame the whale for doing what it did – if anything, they should be directing the blame towards the park for putting their employee’s lives in danger. Furthermore, on an airing of a CNN report the other day, an interviewee had mentioned that orcas/killer whales travel, on average, about 100 miles per day. Thus, being cooped up, in what would be considered a small tank to the whale, is really animal cruelty. I mean no wonder why the animal acted out. Day in and day out, this large mammal is forced to swim around in circles in a small aquarium and put on shows as if it were a domesticated animal – it’s a KILLER whale people; the word killer is in its name – that’s what it’s born to do. I think it’s ludicrous and borderline comical when people act shocked that this specific species could do such a thing; it’s simply living up to its name – it’s carrying out its innate and natural capabilities. It is not a dog or a cat that is born into domestication. A killer whale is a wild animal that belongs out in the wild, not performing lame kiddy shows as if it were some sort of circus animal.