ashleytwigg

Celebrities & Politics

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by ashleytwigg on February 21, 2012

I don’t hate or even dislike celebrities. I value genuine talent in acting, music, crazy Youtube stunts- whatever propels people to earn fame. However, I also believe that people need to form their own opinions. It’s no secret that, these days, Celebrities use their platforms and status to promote political figures.

This is a free country and they are welcomed to do so, but if Lady Gaga tweets to her nine million followers that she’s going to vote for whomever, that doesn’t mean the rest of the “little monsters” should jump on that bandwagon. Anti-bullying bandwagon? Absolutely. Voting people into office you have no knowledge about? Please don’t.

Pro-Voting- YES:

When it comes to any type of power, people can use it for good or they can use it for evil. As much as I am not a fan of Puffy Daddy, P-Diddy, Shawn Puffy Combs- whatever his name is, he did a lot of work  with the Rock the Vote campaign and urged people to go out and vote. The celebrities involved in that campaign weren’t pushing youth in any political direction- they were simply promoting the importance of voting. Whether we like to admit it or not, a great deal of the population can be swayed by celebrities and the media.

For those of you who don’t think we live in a “monkey see, monkey do” society, you may want to take another look around. We all have minds of our own and I wish more people used them ALL the time, but if celebrities are promoting something GOOD- it will only benefit the rest of us “little people”.

Copy Cat Voting- NO:

People need to be informed on issues and about candidates. I’m sure some celebrities do take the time out to research and truly understand the candidates they support, however, just because you like their movies or music doesn’t mean you see politics on the same level. We are talking about celebrities with huge sums of money. How can we assume their political values would necessarily even compare to ours?  You are adults and I’m sure  (like me) you are more than familiar with our old friend Google. Learn about the candidates on your own and vote according to the TRUTH that you learned.

Welcomed Attention:

Now I don’t want to completely rag on celebrities because, like I said, power can be used for good. Instead of celebrities simply supporting a candidate, they sometimes use their power to support a CAUSE. The money celebrities have donated, the awareness they have brought, and the impact they have had on AIDS, cancer research, homelessness, and thousands of other causes in the past few years is incredible.

These are the things people should be jumping on board for and following. Politics and “your vote” should be a personal endeavor. Family members, celebrities, boyfriends, girlfriends- what have you, these people shouldn’t effect who and what you vote for! You are an adult, form your own opinion don’t take the easy way out by following someone else’s.

Do you vote based on celebrities? Do you gain political awareness from TV, Twitter, and the media? Do you think celebrities affect the way people vote?

 

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Between the passing of a music icon and all the craziness in the political world, this has been a wild week in the news. Here are a few things people have been chatting about this week.

Whitney:

Whether you were a die hard fan or you are simply sick of hearing old songs playing on the radio, the fact is, Whitney Houston was a legend. Yes, maybe she had issues with addiction or other problems, but that does not take away from her vast amount of accomplishments. She was a singer, an icon, and also a mother and, regardless of ones opinion of her, it is a sad event. Although her funeral was originally going to be an invite-only event, it has been announced that the star-studded memorial will also be streamed live online… which I think is in seriously bad taste. The press have field days with saddening things like this and, regardless of her stature, cashing in on a tragedy is never okay.

Poltical Mayhem:

I’m sure everyone is starting to get overwhelmed (or annoyed) with the political jargon and nonstop Republican media coverage.  Quite frankly, it is hard to keep up with. We still have a ways to go until the actual elections so I don’t feel compelled to get too involved just yet. However, between Romney and Santorum, the crazy seems to be enough to go around. I realize that people say we should vote on how candidates “govern” and not on their own personal beliefs.  HOWEVER, this is 2012. Gay people deserve to get married. Women should be allowed to choose if they want to take birth control or not, and while I personally am anti-abortion, no man should ever be dictating what a woman chooses to do with her body.

Grammy Buzz:

As many of you know the Grammy Awards were last Sunday.  Adele cleaned up at the Grammy’s this weekend bringing home SIX awards. The fact that she is ACTUALLY talented, not a super-stick thin celebrity, and seems to do what SHE wants in life and in her career,  is ridiculously refreshing. I think it is time that people value real talent without voices being altered, transformed and covered with loud background music and fireworks. Good for her.

 

What did you hear buzzing in the news this week? What are your thoughts on the trending topics?

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Everyone knows the feeling- you are filling out a job application or an internship form and you get to the “references” section. At age 14, it was acceptable to put down a neighbor we used to babysit for (guilty) or a family friend (also guilty). However, we are in college now (or getting ready  to graduate) and those references are more important than ever.  College is the best time to meet people, make connections, and get the references you need. Here’s how!

Don’t Quit That Part Time Job

The jobs we have during college aren’t typically glamorous. More often than not, it’s easy to complain or even quit those lame part time jobs. Don’t. As much as we may hate these jobs, we are building references while being there. You pulled an all-nighter on that paper or covered a coworker when they were sick? Employers remember good work ethic and will speak highly of you in the future. Maybe the part-time job isn’t in your “intended career path” but your punctuality, accountability, and work ethic will be noted by any company.

Join an Organization

Being involved at school will never ever be something you regret. The connections you make and the people you meet will be invaluable during your time as a student and afterwards.If the organization is community service based or a Greek organization, you will be constantly meeting people from different outlets  that you can network with. Keep in touch with those contacts and let them get to know you so that they can vouche for all of your great qualities in the future.

Intern, Intern, Intern!

Internships are a huge part of a college career that shouldn’t be overlooked. They give you a hands-on experience into what you may be doing with your life while also giving you the opportunity to let a company see you on a professional level. What more could companies want in a reference than hearing from someone who has seen you work in that field? Internships give you college credit, work experience, and references to use once you graduate.

Professors

Not everyone forms close bonds with their professors, but in some instances they do. If there is a professor you respect or look up to, seek them out as a mentor while in college. Gain a relationship with them and they will remember you. Employers realize that professors have thousands of students. If you have the ability to make a connection and leave a positive impression on a professor their opinion of you may be a helpful reference when applying to jobs.

 

Who do you write for your references? What connections have you made while in college that you will use as references? What do you think is the importance of networking while in college?

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