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tell you that the sensational things
written in these magazines are a
rubbishy collection of fiction and
half-truths. Yet the public buys
them by the millions.
Why are human beings so fasci–
nated by the prívate lives of famous
people? What help is it to know the
prívate foibles of one's favorite
cinema star? Do they not have any
right to a modicum of privacy?
One evening severa) years ·ago a
friend of mine took a group of
acquaintances to a fine restaurant
in the Los Angeles, California,
area. In walked Charlton Heston
and his wife. Sorne of my friend's
acquaintances immediately wanted
an autograph. My friend re–
s trained them, explaini ng . that
tonight was probably a rare eve–
ning out for the Hestons and that
they had a right to a little privacy
once in a while.
The Grand lllusion!
Earlier we mentioned that movie
stars were once called "matinee
idols"- perhaps the crux of the
whole problem. The movie public
made famous entertainers into vir–
tual "gods."
What a total illusion! Celebri–
ties are usually average human
beings in their prívate lives. Said
an essay in
Time
magazine: "The
truth is that tbe events of an
actor's offstage life are usually
just as banal and repetitious as the
events of ordinary lives" (July
12,
1982).
No matter, nothing seems to
stem this craving for personal snip–
pets of informat ion about various
celebrities. The bohemian life–
styles of sorne public figures ougbt
to make clear that with certain of
them we should go in the exact
opposite direction- not imitate
their sometimes bizarre behavior.
The less we know, perhaps the bet–
ter.
The Need to ldentify
Society itself is at least partially
responsible for the problem. This
world is intensely competitive.
People who don't measure up are
made to feel failures.
Their only apparent avenue to
success is to somehow identify with
a celebrity- someone with above-
40
average gifts in a particular field .
Such people attempt to live suc–
cessful lives
vicariously
through
their favorite heroes and heroines.
Hence the desire for every possible
scrap of information about famous
celebrities.
In sorne cases this identification
need with leading screen luminaries
grows into an obsession. A love–
crazed fan begins to stalk the
object of his atfections. Paranoia
sets in.
A fan actually goes to the star's
residence. He or she is the n
thwarted by high walls or otber
security paraphernalia . The fan
finally realizes that his favorite
simply doesn't want to see him.
"Love" turns to hatred. He gets on
the phone and utters a death threat.
This is not just a scenario. lt hap–
pens!
A Better Way to Recognltlon
Every human being is unique. No
two humans have the same finger–
prints or even the same voice
prints. Each is one of a kind.
A few years ago somebody sang
a little ditty on an American televi–
sion commercial.
It
went something
like this: "There's nobody else in
the whole human race with your
kind of gifts and your kind of
grace." This is true!
We all have at least one talent.
Sometimes that talent is hidden and
it simply needs to · be discovered,
developed and brought into the light
of day. Sometimes we need that little
help from others in reaching our full
human potential.
The Proverb says: "Seest thou a
man diligent in his business? he shall
stand before kings." We may not be
able to have an audience with royal–
ty, but we can receive our due in
recognition and appreciation from
others if we will only develop our
natural, God-given talents.
You were born to be a success–
a "celebrity," if you like, in your
own right. You can be an integral
part of a grand master plan of suc–
cess.
If
you'd like to know how,
write for our two attractively
printed booklets
The Seven Laws
of Success
and
Why Were You
Born?
Both are gratis. No charge
whatsoever. Request them today by
return mail.
o
TERRORISM
(Continued from page 6)
cuss the implementation of the
peace terms, was completely caught
off guard. Years later David aptly
described this treacherous act as
"shedding the blood of war in
peace.
..
Abner's murder was more than
an act of revenge. There were dis–
tinct political overtones. Who is to
say that David would not have
appointed Abner as captain of the
host in place of Joab? Clearly
David thought far more highly of
the former than the latter.
And even the revenge itself was
not carried out in a straightforward
manner. Abner had once warned
Asahel, Joab's brother, twice
befare he killed him in battle. Ab–
ner received no warning from Joab;
he was ·both betrayed and mur–
dered in the guise of peace.
Notice David' s personal account
in conversation with his son and
successor, King Saloman (NEB,
throughout): "'You know how
Joab son of Zeruiah treafed me and
what he did to two commanders–
in-chief in Israel, Abner son of Ner
and Amasa son of Jether. He killed
them both,
breaking the peace by
bloody acts of war;
and with that
blood he stained the belt above my
waist and the sandals on my feet' "
(1 Kings 2:5).
Joab was a terrorist at heart even
though he did occupy an important
position in David's government.
And although David quickly disas–
sociated himself and his govern–
ment from these abominable acts,
he was politically powerless to
remove Joab from office.
The story of Abner' s death is
filled with pathos and irony. "When
David heard the news he said,
'1
and
my realm are for ever innocent in the
sight of the Lord of the blood of
Abner son of Ner. .. .' Then
David
ordered Joab
and all the people with
him to rend thei r clothes, put on
sackcloth and beat their breasts for
Abner, and the king himself walked
behind the bier. They buried Abner
in Hebron and the king wept aloud at
the tomb. ... [Then] the king made
this lament for Abner:
"'Must Abner die so base a
The PLAIN TRUTH