My Turn

We've all seen them. They're everywhere, after all. Driving down the 190, watching television, sitting at a traffic light downtown, even seeing a movie - wherever you are, it's impossible to escape the flood of "feel-good" advertising now inundating major media outlets from the caring folks at the Foundation for a Better Life.

Theirs ads are the ones that display pictures of celebrities and everyday citizens who supposedly illustrate certain admirable values listed next to the pictures such as "Persistence" and "Determination," followed by the exhortation to "pass it on."

Pass it on. Hmm...I'll sure be "determined" to flip off the guy who just cut in front of me in the turning lane, and I'll certainly be "persistent" about it. He will probably then have the "inspiration" to run me off the road. How's that for passing it on?

These moralistic media sound bites, the informational form on which our national media is cemented, do not serve any purpose other than preaching to, and insulting, the general public. In a fashion reminiscent of the explosion of pro-American sentiment and "God Bless Everything" political posturing following September 11th, this non-profit organization has taken it upon itself to invent and supply us lowly and ordinary American citizens with the moral fiber to make our nation even greater. I guess they thought we were making a mess of it ourselves.

It is interesting to note, however, that the foundation, according to its Web site, disassociates itself from any affiliations with religious groups and political organizations and only affirms its connection to the media, thanking it (thanking the media itself - what a concept) for its "wonderful support." This means it does not sponsor any charitable events and does not donate money to help promote any outside causes. It is, after all, an entity that exists entirely within the media. Its only fuel is information and its only products are advertisements.

The money spent on these useless billboards and television spots would serve a much better purpose in helping Habitat for Humanity build homes for people ravaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, or sending mobile Red Cross units to collect blood donations for those who are injured and dying. Some funding could go to soup kitchens and homeless shelters to care for those who are truly needy, or to inner city schools which are being forced to cut teachers' salaries and valuable education programs to ensure that they stay open. Instead, this hypocritical and ineffective foundation prefers to moralize and promote values which they deem to be important. I remember being taught that one could say anything, but what one does is what truly matters. The foundation could use its resources to spread awareness about causes that are truly important instead of sermonizing about intangible ethical standards for which we should strive.

Thirty-second television spots and signs on bus stop walls are not the answer to our problems. Have you ever seen what happens to those ads on bus stop walls? A few spray paint cans later, "Pass it on" will be changed to "Pass the weed" and Abe Lincoln and his persistence will be sporting a handlebar moustache and devil horns. And I hate to be a cynic, but all this inspiration to live better and change the world: what's in it for them? According to the Web site, the Foundation "supports the belief that each individual is entitled to personal dignity and self-respect and that most individuals are willing, when given the opportunity, to take personal responsibility for their actions and well-being." Hmm. That's your motivation to create a national media campaign involving contracts with major television networks as well as plastering billboards and print advertisements across the country? You mean to tell me, then, that this is a completely not-for-profit organization designed solely to improve the lives of the everyday American citizen? "The foundation encourages others to step up to a higher level and then to pass on those positive values they have learned." Well, thanks for the inspiration. If only they practiced what they preached.