Passion - What to use it for.

This was a bizarre morning to be checking the news online and visiting favored blogs.

My first stop each day is USATODAY.com because that is my default browser page. There I saw the standard stories, x number of people killed in Iraq, injuries with the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, and we have 7 new wonders of the world (they left off "Wonder why we need NEW wonders?"). But there it was http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-07-08-aiken-fight_N.htm

I was mildly interested as my wife likes the show that made this person famous and I like to make fun of his lame style (personal and musical). So I read the article and then clicked on the comments tab to read what people had said and possibly say something myself.

Good Lord!

I look there and about half of the comments are the most impassioned diatribes about how this singer is the victim and the news media is misrepresenting the story and what a tragedy this is. These are obviously fans of the singer as they talk about hoping the incident increases awareness of his tour and boosts his sales. Geesh.

I now invite you to visit the blog of Steven Russell. Steven is a television news photojournalist. Believe me he sees a great deal of pain in his line of work. He is so passionate about the mis-doings of the media he works for that he commented about having the ability to continue a few weeks ago.

Steven is passionate about helping others. Read his posts about the 40 day famine in which he is participating. Check back and read the comments on his post about the invisible children (July 3 post).

If people are going to be passionate about ANYTHING in life, isn't it better to be about something that matters? Perhaps something more like caring for your fellow man rather than lambasting the media for putting your favorite entertainer in a bad light? Believe me, Clay Aiken will survive this day of bad press a lot easier than the invisible children will survive their lives.