Vilifying the VIP.

One of the concepts to which human beings in nearly all cultures subscribe is the notion of the VIP. We laud them, applaud them, report on their movements and activities, give them superior accommodation in travel facilities, and so on. We even bow the knee to some of them.

Well, it seems to me that relatively few people are actually very important. Among their number I would include the doctors and other health professionals who work diligently to heal us, the practical people like builders and car mechanics who make and mend things, those who work tirelessly in charitable and social work (often for small salaries or none at all), and the true artists of the various disciplines who use their awareness and skill to inform our perceptions by showing us things we might otherwise miss.

Are these the people we call VIPs? Rarely. Instead, we afford the accolade to celebrities, rich folks, and those who run the world in a dubious way and usually to suit their own interests. (I suppose it has to be admitted that the princes, presidents and prime ministers are important, but usually in a negative sense.)

I just noticed an article, you see, on the BBC World News page to the effect that Beyoncé is to sing at the wedding of two very rich people in India. When you consider how many issues of major significance are happening every day around the world, the fact that the BBC gives valuable space to this little piece of nonsense means they must consider it important. I find this really quite absurd, and I’ve no doubt it’s because one of the people involved is a celebrity and the other two are very rich.