Bieber criticism ignores the real issue of his cry for guidance

By SHAMA DOSHI

The shocking news of Justin Bieber’s recent run-in with the law spurred a wide array of reactions.

The artist was looked down upon and criticized once again for failing to live up to his responsibilities. Yet society fails to see the young singer for what he truly is, a 19-year-old boy in need of guidance.

The Canadian pop star was brought into the spotlight following a DUI arrest on Jan. 23. Miami Beach police reportedly saw the 19-year-old pop star drag racing in a yellow Lamborghini. P
olice confirmed that Bieber and his friend were speeding at approximately 60 mph in a 30 mph zone.

According to a CNN article the singer was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and prescription medication, as well as resisting arrest and driving under an invalid license.

According to the police report, Bieber resisted arrest by shouting obscenities at Officer Fulgencio Medina and failed to cooperate with the police’s request to keep both hands on the hood of the car while a “cursory patdown for weapons” was performed. New York Daily News writer Lisa Lucas reported, “Officer Fulgencio Medina said he feared for his safety when Bieber kept fiddling for something in his pants pocket.” Bieber failed his sobriety test and spent the night in a Miami jail.

Following the arrest, Bieber’s mug shots were released to the public.

Unlike the typical mug shot, he wore the infamous orange jumpsuit with a large grin across his face.

Without a doubt, having a mug shot is nothing to be proud of, yet Bieber’s smile reveals otherwise. The artist’s facial expression in his photo is not only shocking but also rather controversial.

From this Bieber comes across as smug, and it suggests that the pop star is taking the arrest and situation lightly. This kind of behavior is unacceptable, considering drunk driving is a continual and deadly problem in the U. S. According to the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in 2012 alcohol related accidents saw 10, 322 people killed and roughly 345,000 injured.

Clearly, this is not something Bieber ought to be smiling about.

Considering the majority of Bieber fans are young teenagers, his recent behavior is alarming. With such a large number of young children looking up to him, he has a responsibility to be an affective role model.

While society might criticize young pop stars for irresponsible actions, it is important to realize that they themselves are also young. We idolize pop stars in ways that are evidently destructible toward them. Usher Raymond, Justin Bieber’s musical mentor, told CNN that the young star “is experiencing the pains of growing up in the spotlight.”

It is vital to stop idolizing our celebrities and viewing them so highly. They are only human beings. After all, Justin Bieber’s arrest shows he is just another troubled teenage boy lacking adequate guidance in his life.