We are led to believe that, rather than read a book, most young people would prefer to blow someone’s brains out in computer games, or admire themselves in pouting selfies.
So, wasn’t it great to hear that Malala Yousafzai – who valued her own education so highly that she risked her life to go to school and was shot by Taliban gunmen for her cheek – has been jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Strangely, this brave teenager is given less attention than the manufactured celebrities who seem to be the preferred role models for many of her peers. It was particularly bizarre that another story which appeared around the same time was of Rochdale councillor Karen Danczuk, defending her right to post pictures of her (own) breasts on the internet.
Surely, as a politician, she could find a worthier cause to fight for? Put them away. Please.
Tales of high profile figures fighting ‘demons’ – the latest is MP Brooks Newmark who claims to be addicted to risk and adrenaline highs – bear no comparison to the monsters that Malala faced.
If Mr Newmark wants a great male role model he should look no further than Malala’s co-winner, Kailash Satyarthi, who has rescued tens of thousands of children from child slavery and faced several attempts on his life in the process.
I concede that many people need help for serious addictions, but Mr Newmark’s ‘problem’ was nothing more than trawling the internet for cheap thrills. In this country we can do as we like as long as it’s legal. We even let girls go to school. I have no problem with what people want to do in their own time, but surely we should take responsibility for our own behaviour?
If we are caught out let’s just admit it, and not hide behind victimhood.
Malala must despair when she reads some of the twaddle in the news, but I hope she was amused by one supermodel’s tweet congratulating ‘Malaria’ on her award.
Naomi Campbell has since corrected this and the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s name is no longer a deadly disease.
Commenting on her award, Malala told children not to give up on their dreams. Could someone please explain to them that this does not necessarily mean dieting to a size zero or appearing on X Factor?
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