Yes- often, celebrities spearhead causes, and bring issues forward that would otherwise be ignored. For example, no one discussed AIDS outside of the gay community till Arthur Ashe and Magic Johnson.

I was mostly for one side, but MagentaStudios made a great point. I hate that people are always comparing themselves to Celebrities. It makes for unrealistic expectations and so many girls are starving themselves so THEY can look like the girls in the movies. It makes me really sad. Also, people are more invovled and interested in what celebs are doing over their lives and the people around them. If you ask them about what their family did last weekend, "Oh nothing", but if you ask them what "Brangelina" did, "OMG- First they... blah blah blah, on and on" for an hour. it's stupid. You're never going to meet/be friends with Brangelina so STOP TRYING. Your kids need you. Your family needs you. Pay attention to your own life. But I agree that they do bring attention to areas and matters that most people don't pay attention to. Like AIDS, all the problems going on in africa like The Genocide crisis in Darfur, AIDS, hunger, poverty, Etc. Bono, Oprah, Noah Wyle- SO many celebs are trying to get our attention. I think more people believe in a cause because their favorite celeb believes in this cause- Good for you for doing something good. Just don't let yourself get SO caught up in their world you forget about the one you ACTUALLY live in.