The Axiom Of Respect
Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior
By Treating Themselves And Others Respectfully
And Respecting Only Those Who Earn It

It goes without saying that rapper Kanye West, the self-described "voice of this generation," has an insufferable ego. We had hoped that after South Park's "Fishsticks" episode aired back in April, he would finally get a grip on reality and his arrogant, just plain disgusting attitude, as he claimed he would on his blog. (To read his exact response, please see "Kanye West Admits To Getting 'Murdered' By 'South Park,' Promises To Deflate Ego.")

Apparently not.

This Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards, 19-year-old country singer "[Taylor] Swift was in the midst of her acceptance speech for Best Female Video when [. . .] West rushed onstage, grabbed her microphone and let loose an outburst on behalf of singer Beyoncé Knowles, who had lost out in that category." ("MTV Awards: West Disrupts Swift's Speech; Tribute To MJ") You almost have to see it to believe it:

In stark contrast to West, Knowles graciously handled the situation and tried to make up for what was in no way her fault: After winning Video Of The Year, the biggest award of the evening, she did not use the time allotted for her acceptance speech. Instead, she "invited Swift onstage and gave the teen singer her moment in the spotlight."

One of the tenets of Magna Sententia is to respect only those who earn it, and when undeserving celebrities like Kanye West show such a lack of respect for others, we must vote with our dollars.

The music industry should really blacklist West for his pitiful behavior, but if they don't (and it doesn't seem likely), perhaps he would act better if he laid off the pre-show Cognac.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society