shame Cleo shame

Apologies up front to all non Australians reading this post. Context below...

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24948059-661,00.html

Big brother caused me some concern, Paris Hilton's television exploits made me scratch my head, channel 9 has me forever questioning the notion of commonsense and decency but CLEO magazine has got to take the cake....

Ben Cousins, are you people serious??? Ben Cousins as an eligible Australian bachelor of the year? How any adult in a senior executive position in a media company could seriously allow Ben Cousins to make this list simply defies belief...

This has all the worst elements of publicity stunt and so unashamedly shirks the corporate responsibility of a media outlet that shapes the attitude and perceptions of young people. This glides past poor taste, zooms past irresponsibility, eclipses bad judgment and lands squarely in the negligence box.

Let's get the facts:

1. Ben Cousins is not a hardened criminal.
2. Ben Cousins does deserve a chance to redeem himself and win back respect
3. Ben Cousins is a self admitted, recovering drug addict
4. Ben Cousins is the OPPOSITE of a role model, although in a few years if he stays clean and can reach his past football exploits again, he might get there...
5. Bachelor of the Year represents the BEST in the community, the most worthy in the community, the most 'winnable' young men in Australia

I ask you three critical questions:

1. What self respecting woman is yearning for a mixed up, sexed up, recovering addict who has yet to prove to his family, friends, employer, governing body and most importantly himself that he is past the danger point of his particular vice?

2. In an age of increasing equality for women, where girls and young women aspire to the loftiest of goals and can legitimately achieve them, what does it say about a magazine that says you should chase a man based exclusively based on his looks and fame (regardless of moral strength, values, intelligence and manner) because looks and fame are the only criteria by which Cousins could possibly qualify.

3. When will the community say enough is enough of crappy, gutter journalism that positions for the lowest common denominator and chases, hounds and crucifies good people for making everyday mistakes but then champions popular losers regardless of their reckless and dangerous behaviour.

Someone should be fired for this and the magazine should apologize to the women of Australia for treating them with such little respect.

Shame.