Take spotlight off the drama-seekers

The "Phew, it's finally over" editorial involved the fate and future of the Gosselin parents. The June episode of "John and Kate Plus Eight," which officially announced their famous separation, was seen by 10.6 million viewers.

Kate Gosselin is still on her feet and about to start her new career as a talk-show host. She has demonstrated that life in the reality spotlight is not as difficult as it looks. Sometimes all it takes to make it is a little drama. The show will take care of the rest.

Audiences may love the sweet taste of bitter drama, and that goes for legal drama, celebrity drama, and relationship drama. But have we really sunk to the level of enjoying family drama? Publicity stunts have become a new surefire way of achieving the American dream. While it may seem that the media comes down too hard on these people, they are in fact glorifying a tacky lifestyle by handing over just the publicity schemers we're looking for.

We may laugh at Richard Heene, a storm-chasing, self-proclaimed scientist, who has a wife named Mayumi and three sons. We may sit down and think, "Oh, those poor kids, having to grow up in that type of environment." What ever happened to good ol' family values and privacy? And that is what it comes down to. In this case, blaming the media is viable. If you're going to forget about good values, might as well make a few million bucks off it.

The media needs to take the spotlight off publicity-seeking drama, especially when there are children involved. It's creating a new. twisted get-rich scheme. Let's just hope that America has learned from the Henees fate in jail. But please, don't give us any more ideas.

Riley Cook

Glen Ellyn