Scholastic Inc., the children’s publishing company, responsible for classics like Harry Potter, Clifford, and Goosebumps, has recently been under attack by a consumer watchdog group, according to an article published in The New York Times.

Instead of promoting reading for the sake of reading, Scholastic decided to market things like video games and American Idol. Now, the upcoming generation can’t even read Harry Potter without being exposed to some form of advertisement or promotion for a pop-culture phenomenon.

This consumer watchdog group has been on a campaign to advocate a “Commercial-Free Childhood” for kids. And I wish them the best — I really do.

Chris Brown’s mishaps have been all over the news lately, leaving all of us who believed in his “superhuman-ness,” in shock and disgust. As Rihanna would say, “You look so dumb right now.”

I was particularly perturbed when I heard about what he had done because Brown, to me, represented someone who at least promoted treating women in a humane way.

This, of course, is in stark contrast to most popular hip-hop icons, and come to think of it, it’s not just hip-hop. We can’t blame it all on those darn rappers.

In a similar situation is swimming’s dominant force Michael Phelps.

After literally blowing everyone out of the water in Beijing, he has surfaced as one of the premier athletes in the world.

Along with his superstardom, endorsements have shot out the roof.

The New York Times reported that marketing experts expect his lifetime endorsement earnings to reach $100 million.

But now that we know he’s been smoking the reefer, is he still someone to put on cereal boxes?

Kellogg’s sure doesn’t think so. That same article quoted a Kellogg’s spokesperson saying, “Michael’s most recent behavior is not consistent with the image of Kellogg.”

I think our favorite people to look up to are those who do great things, but who also allow us to convince ourselves that they are good people, too.

Unfortunately, celebrities are the only ones whose lives are exposed enough to provide evidence for the public analysis of cereal-box-
worthiness.

If Brown and Phelps can’t even be on a cereal box, then they certainly don’t have a chance to be on the free stickers that come along with the next set of the Clifford series.

Sometimes it’s hard to know whom to put on a cereal box because you have to simultaneously define heroism and then find someone to embody it.

It’s especially difficult when nice-guy heartthrobs are capable of assaulting their girlfriends and phenomenal, dedicated athletes are smoking the reefer.

It’s simply the price you pay for setting high standards. We all need to loosen up a little, right?

Yes, as the war in Iraq keeps getting pushed further back from the headlines, pick up your controller and play Call of Duty without a care in the world — you are the hero.

Reach Houston at hfriend1@asu.edu.