Not the brightest stars

(You'll see the double entendre/horrible punniness in a moment)

I haven't felt quite up to working up enough commentary on recent matters. May Peter Jennings - and the thousands of other people who died that very hour - rest in peace.

But yesterday, I read on AOL News that Kate Hudson thinks that monogamy is unrealistic. And I have to admit, for a moment I actually thought she was advancing an argument. "Monogamy is unrealistic" sounds like a thesis, and I actually read the story. There was a picture of her with her singer husband, who looked to be about twice her size and with more hair on his face than she has on her head. And she was saying things like, "Monogamy is just unrealistic... but I think that we, as people, can accomplish it."

No, Kate, monogamy is not unrealistic. In addition to being the mandate of the loving God who walks alongside us, it speaks to simple human decency (which comes from that same God). How incredibly out of touch do you have to be with life and the world, and the American people, to make such a comment? Not only does it sound like a disconnected excuse for immoral behavior, it's a perfect example of people thinking that being famous means being smart. Ms. Hudson is an attractive woman, and I'm sure she's a skilled actress. But she's not an ethicist nor a psychologist, and her views - which she has a right to express - don't count for any more than a high school sophomore who just cheated on his girlfriend. Remember Cameron Diaz's "if you don't vote, you're allowing rape" campaign?

And now Mic Jagger decided to throw his intellectual towel into the ring and write a song about American politics, called My Sweet Neo-con. As usual, I got the story from Drudge. Apparently, Mr. Jagger is using his considerable influence as a political intellectual and renowned analyst to present his carefully weighed arguments to the world - through song.

Despite the invective herein, I actually don't think that stars should refrain from expressing their opinions. I think the last election - with most of the mainstream media, all of Holywood, and half the music industry campaigning for John Kerry - proved that Americans aren't so foolish to be swayed by the opinions of those who have no authority on the matter, especially foreigners like Jagger who once had enough class to hold his tongue.

Next time you see a story about a "star" commenting on political or moral issues, think about what he or she is saying. Chances are it's as ridiculous as "unrealistic monogamy".