Rich, famous cry fowl

Celebrities complain too much about the problems money has caused them. It’s the “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems Syndrome.”

I find it hard to sympathize.

Somewhere between paying tuition, buying books, paying bills, and trying to eat at least once a day, I can’t understand the woes of these celebs.

Money, cars, jewelry and beautiful women or men – these are the things of many people’s dreams. These are the things celebrities are blessed to have. Yet, these celebrities have the audacity to complain.

Celebrities-whether they’re athletes, musicians, or actors-made the decision to enter into public life. No one forced them, and they knew what to expect. Life is about choices and consequences. Celebrities are well aware of the fact that with fame comes paparazzi.

Celebrities, don’t blame your problems on money. Perhaps the problem lies in the way you let the money affect you or the way you handle your money.

Celebrities don’t have to buy all the big cars. They don’t have to throw the most live parties all the time. And they don’t have to entertain every person who approaches them. Those are all choices.

In most cases, the only difference between a celebrity and the average person is the number of zeros in their paycheck.

True, you will come across many people who don’t have your best interest in mind, but that’s a problem that everyone has to face. Celebrity problems are not much different from those of others.

I remember Wu Tang Clan once saying “Cash rules everything around me.” One of those things is the mind. People get too caught up in the dollar signs.

We live in a time when athletes and entertainers complain about making $7 million when they feel they deserve $10 million. But somewhere there is a single mother working two jobs to keep the lights on and feed her kids. So who has the bigger problem?

So many people would love to be in the position of a celebrity.

To many people, the thought of financially stability for the rest of their lives is a dream. Money and notoriety is a burden – not a blessing.

If the money brings so many problems, then for your sake and the sake of others, please pass the burden on someone else. I’m sure many would lind up to embrace it.

Courtney Culmer, 19, is sophomore a broadcast journalism student from Houston, TX. She can be reached at cljculmer@aol.com.