2/4/2009

in

Kids will be kids, or just plain dumb? You decide.

Susie Kopecky

Chock it up to "kids will be kids" if you like, but at some point, that tired old adage falls a bit flat. If you are lucky enough to be rich, young and constantly in the spotlight, a little bit of common sense goes a long way. Perhaps this is a lesson Miley Cyrus still needs to learn.  
  
What does it take to learn a lesson, some have asked. Cyrus, the 16-year-old of *Hannah Montana* fame, has been caught up in a number of photo snafus in the recent year. In the last months, Cyrus posed for a number of dumb photos, which she later professed to regret, including her photo with Annie Leibovitz and the scandalous photo with other friends.  
  
In her most recent upset, the Disney star was found in a photograph with a group of friends, with everyone mocking Asian-Americans with stereotypical gestures of slanted eyes and peace signs.  
  
Cyrus has already gotten into hot water from at least one Asian-American rights group, the Organization of Chinese Americans. According to MTV News, George Wu, the Executive Director of the organization, called Cyrus's photo insulting and "offensive to the Asian Pacific American community and sets a terrible example for her many young fans." He is formally angling for an apology from Cyrus.  
  
As Uncle Ben says in *Spider-Man*, "With great power comes great responsibility." If Cyrus is not currently capable of acting responsibly, perhaps she should get out of the spotlight until she is mature enough to handle it. As President Harry Truman is credited as saying, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."