What Ever Happened To Personal Responsibility

The video here is an interview of Taylor Swift, by Leslie Stahl on 60 Minutes in November 2011.

It talks about Taylor's background, rise to fame, and her brand, but at the 12:10 mark she hits you with wisdom that is far beyond her youth, and it is something that everyone needs to be aware of, not just actors and singers, but parents, business owners, teachers, and even young adults who are not married and do not have children.

Leslie Stahl: You're a role model, and you know it.
Taylor Swift: I think it's my responsibility to know it, and to be conscious of it. It would be really easy to say, "I'm 21 now, I do what I want, YOU raise your kids." But it's not the truth of it. The truth of it is every singer out there with songs on the radio is raising the next generation. So make your words count.

I guess Nicki Minaj and Ellen Degeneres didn't get Taylor's memo. Otherwise, in my humble opinion, they would not have been parading those two little girls (both under 10) out just because they can sing "Super Bass." (I chose not to include a link to the video in question - you've either seen it or you've heard about it already).

Granted the girls are cute (and cute gets ratings). But I wouldn't want my teenage daughter to listen to "Super Bass." Have you actually heard the lyrics?

"He cold, he dope, he might sell coke...

He a mother###### trip, trip, sailor of the ship, ship...

He just gotta gimme that look, when he give me that look,
Then panties coming off, off, uh...."

Those of us that own businesses, and don't think for a minute that a musician like Taylor Swift or an actor like Alec Baldwin isn't a business owner, must realize that everything we do in the "public sector" leaves a permanent impression on every person that comes into contact with us and our "brand" even if it's only on a sub-conscious level.

Those of us that are parents, must realize, whether we like it or not, we are also parents to the other children in our neighborhood. Our example can be a shining light or a red flag to future generations.

Those of us who are not married and do not have children are still burdened with the responsibility of demonstrating to the youth around us how to act and interact with those around us.

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