Ham Fried Rice

Hollywood.

As a former resident of Santa Monica of five years, I enjoyed then sun, the beach, and the celeb-gazing. I’ll be the first to admit I become a giddy fifteen year-old all over again in the presence of famous actors (can you say Johnny Depp…eeeee.) During my stay in L.A., I shopped with stars, dined with stars, (all at a distance, of course) and even stood in elevators next to stars. I even had the good fortune to attend Q&A meetings with some of my fave stars, courtesy of some SAG member friends.

Perhaps it’s a proximity thing, but since I’ve moved far and away, I’ve been less intrigued by these same stars and I’ve definitely become more scrutinizing and less forgiving of them. Take this article for example, about celebs going “green” for a pre-Oscar bash. Staged to promote the current trend of “green” environmentalism, the big bash raised a relatively small amount of $420,000, leaving a giant carbon footprint in its wake, which spokesperson Ruben Aronin deemed “worth it.” According to Aronin,

“As a fundraiser, the dollars that are raised are helping us dramatically to reduce carbon footprints across the country through our work to green New Orleans and create a green-building infrastructure here in Los Angeles.”

Puh-lease. The hypocrisy is so thick, I am going to vomit all over myself. These are the same self-centered, self-congratulatory, self-serving people who are chauffeured around town all day in giant non-hybrid SUVs, fly around the country in giant planes, live in gi-normous party mansions and while they’re eating organic, I seriously doubt that their illegal maids are cleaning with organic. I also find it highly improbable that these new star moms are using cloth diapers. Have you ever tried to scrub fecal matter from cloth? Or maybe their maids do it for them. (Please excuse the bitter sarcasm. I have major issues with my kids and their poop.)

In fact, the propagandist hype surrounding “green” environmentalism strongly reminds me another type of propaganda. Can you say, “Comrade?” According to the dictionary, one definition of communism is:

A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.

Doesn’t Aronin’s statement smack a little of “we should all progress towards the same goal for the shared good by all people?”

I believe in recycling and eliminating post-consumer waste. I believe in walking when you can, but it’s easy in the city (ever try carrying ten grocery bags home on your stroller handles? Andrea and I did it every week with our kids) and not so easy in the suburbs. I do the best I can to teach my children to not be wasteful and to be resourceful. But I also believe in choice. And I still have to live my life in the best way that I can. And I certainly can’t afford a hybrid Prius, let alone a hybrid SUV, or solar panels for the roof of my house. I love good acting and good films, but I think Hollywood needs a reality check. The rest of the country doesn’t live like you. And the only reason you’re in business is because of us “non-green” peeps.