BITTEN BY FAME
5/31/07
An old friend of mine was once very famous. When his light of fame faded out he couldn’t restore his reputation, and he semi retired in obscurity. It was a sad scene to watch him fade into anonymity. He once told me that fame was an addiction, once you have had it you constantly need it, and you will do almost anything to get it. Fame can also bring financial success, if a sudden celebrity can capitalize his fame into a lucretive career. The public is extremely fickle. Every generation has it’s celebrities and heroes. American Idol is a prime example of the fickleness of fame. If your not the winner no one remembers you, and your vision of stardom can end as quickly as it begins.
I thrive on controversy. Not because I like to be argumentative, but simply because I must defend what I feel is right. I have been right about many issues and have written about them on this site or spoken about them on my radio and television shows. I have followed an extremely difficult and winding path , and often reconsider my direction by checking my internal compass. I have been criticized for my statements, sometimes harshly , but I expect that if I criticize others harshly,I can expect their retaliation as part of the job. I don’t take it personally. When someone gets mad enough to write about something I’ve said , I know I hit home. The only problem with expressing my opinion publicly is; that at times it can get a little lonely. I am constantly attempting to reveal the truth publicly, about some issue or politician , or government , or corporate conspiracy. The public has a tendency to try to ignore people like myself. Many of my radio and television guests are people like myself, who have the need to reveal truths and are seeking an audience. The public has a tendency to black ball people like us. They have a tendency to want to discredit us publicly and privately if they disagree with us or if we threaten their cozy contentment by forcing them to think. Often they discredit us privately and secretly, so we can’t defend ourselves. I’ve learned to live with it as have others. It has to be expected. We value our opinions and the truth we have found, enough to fight for the right to be heard and present our truths to the public; whether the public wishes to hear them or not. My views are my own and I do not come to my conclusions without research and careful consideration of everything I support publicly. My views are shared by many, and may be disagreed with by many. I find it odd that as my audiences grow steadily, proven by statistical evidence, I am receiving far less complaints or criticisms. I believe this is a good sign that many agree with my views or appreciate them. I am very grateful of my audiences, and can not thank them often enough.
Fame is a two sided coin. It’s Janus the two faced God of the ancients. I think often of my once famous, old friend. I remember when he was in the heat of his famous battles, and fought valiantly against the thieves and bigots and fools in power. I was very proud of him. I still am. We fought the enemy together for a while, and won our battles, until the war was declared officially over, and we realized our side had been defeated. The memories have slightly faded. The battle scars have healed. Only a few people in the world remember the battles we waged. That is the nature of fame. Famous today, forgotten tomorrow. Martyrs die, devils thrive, evil always seems to prevail in time. A good fight for one’s beliefs is never lost. It is remembered by those who fought it. It is remembered by those who were saved or freed or destroyed by it. This is what gives honor to men and women, not fame.
I know there are thousands perhaps millions of people around the world; who have been famous for a while and then no more. I am reminded of all the child stars who make comebacks on a reality television show , remembered by their aging fans as cute 10 year olds. They are tragically sad. If I were ever famous I would be extremely careful to avoid acknowledging my fame. I might enjoy the attention for a while , but I would try to avoid the spot light. I would try to keep up the intensity of the work that created the fame, but careful not to indulge my ego in displays of unentitled priviledge, or revelry. No one looks more foolish than a middle age celebrity caught for a DUI, or photographed in a strip club getting a lap dance. Sudden fame creates madness to many, who are not prepared for the heat and intensity of the spotlight. Those who are prepared for fame know how to ride the wave of celebrity and catch another wave before they crash on the shore of obscurity.
L.A. STEEL
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