Friday, October 26, 2001

Shameless celebrities only interested only self-promos
Tyler Vincent is a columnist for the Northern Star at Northern Illinois University.

In the expanse of time following a national tragedy, it can appear for a moment that everything is going to be all right.

It may appear those of different races and beliefs would come to a certain reconciliation in regards to Sept. 11. That we, as humans, have put a little love in our hearts and are more patient and compassionate with each other.

It may even appear that Hollywood and the music industry will be changed profoundly for the better and get a clearer understanding of the importance of the moment, and understand what America thinks about this important issue.

But witnessing the Paul McCartney-led “Concert for NYC” on VH-1 in its entirety, and reading reports on the Michael Jackson benefit show, “United We Stand: What More Can I Give?” has led me to believe that the moment is gone.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, the Hollywood elite gathered with the music community to produce a two-hour benefit for the families of the victims of Sept. 11 and recovery efforts.

Note the subtitle of Jackson’s event. Notice it is the exact same title of the upcoming new single from Jackson’s latest album “Invincible.”

Isn’t that lovely? Especially when you read that Mariah Carey sang a number with logos of her despicable movie “Glitter” in the background. Wonderful. It’s so nice that we have celebrities in this country who use a benefit concert, a benefit with proceeds going to the victims and heroes involved in a one-day tragedy that killed over 6,000 people, as a mere promotional tool for their new projects.

But that’s not all. The night before the RFK show, Sir Paul’s “Concert for New York City” proved equally distasteful.

If nothing else, aside from some great performances from Elton John, the Goo Goo Dolls and the Who, among others, the concert proved three things:

1. “Saturday Night Live” and its third-rate cast are not funny. In fact, SNL has been neither funny nor essential since 1980.

2. Jim Carrey is a complete jerk. He’s alluded to it before, but his “I’m-going-to-be-the-flag” routine was the most distasteful thing that has ever occurred on-stage since “Chicago Live at Carnegie Hall.”

3. The gap between reality and celebrities is immeasurable.

The reality is many things that were funny or amusing before Sept. 11 are no longer funny. Listen to AM radio and you will hear people testify that they have not laughed at things they usually laugh at, nor have they listened to things they usually listen to, since the tragedy. To assume that “the stars” can show up and do their routines as if nothing happened is the height of arrogance.

But Richard Gere takes the cake.

Addressing the crowd of firefighters at the McCartney concert, Gere addressed the heroes, all of whom lost friends and, in some cases, family members in the tragedy, and spewed drivel about taking this “horrendous energy” of Sept. 11, and not responding with “revenge” but turning it into “positive energy.”

What Gere said is mindless garbage, and is very reflective of the eccentric ways of Hollywood. It’s easy for you stars to come down out of your mansions, where you get anything you want, whenever you want, and talk down to us “unenlightened” commoners.

If there is one thing that we as a nation have learned from last weekend it’s that symbolism over substance should not be tolerated.

Just to sit back and say “all you need is love” is unacceptable.

Anything short of what we’re doing now in Afghanistan will be met by our enemy with more violence against on our citizens.

But there was one highlight in the whole weekend’s course of events. One for which I would sit through 100 smug, self-righteous Gere speeches to hear. Michael Moran is a New York City firefighter whose brother was lost in the tragedy. After being introduced by Michael J. Fox, Moran seized the microphone and addressed Osama bin Laden, ordering him to “kiss my royal white Irish butt.”

Tyler Vincent is a columnist for the Northern Star at Northern Illinois University.
This column was distributed by U-Wire.