ITN: Miley Cyrus, the star of Disney Channel's TV show Hannah Montana, is to write her autobiography at the tender age of 15.  Cyrus who is still not even old enough to legally smoke or drink has been given a seven figure sum by the group.  It'll focus on her road to fame, growing up in Tennessee and how her musician dad Billy Ray - famous for his song Achy Breaky Heart - and mum Letitcia keep her feet on the ground. 

The singer and actress says she hopes it inspires her fans to believe their dreams.  CONTINUED

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I cannot begin to tell you how tired I am of seeing Miley's face plastered everywhere.

I will conceed, though, that it helps she's got far more talent and wholesomeness about her than the combined might of Paris, Britney, Lohan, and [insert drugged out talentless slut here].

So what's the beef?  Well...

This year USAFA produced the first Rhodes Scholar from Puerto Rico, a young lady who's off to Oxford for a doctorate in medicine when she graduates this spring.

We also have a kid who invented and patented a new metal alloy for use in high-performance aircraft.

One of my students is in New Mexico readying a student-built satellite for launch into orbit.

We have a 2004 graduate who's giving a guest lecture next week on his 100-page senior thesis which has since influence policay at the 4-star combatant commander echelon.

We have a prior-enlisted cadets who have served in combat zones, and have the medals to prove it (nothing like seeing a freshman with 12 medals on his uniform).

We have a student almost killed in a fall two years ago who fought through months of grueling rehabilitation so he could come back and graduate.

We have a student who's published a book, and a group that gave up spring break to build houses with Habitat for Humanity.

Here at USAFA I work with amazing, talented and brilliant young men and women, who's hard work goes beyond our halls in Colorado.  Indeed, many will grow to be tomorrow's senior policy makers.

Meanwhile, what does Miley do?  She sings, dances and acts.

Don't get me wrong:  USAFA has it's fair share of talented singers, dancers and actors.  But none of them have a rich dad on the side to buy favors for them.

I have students busting their butts beyond comparable civilian expectations.  About half of my students will be walking across a stage to shake Pres. Bush's hand in a few short weeks, a day marking the end of school and the beginning of at least 5 years of service to state. 

And some of my students may lose their lives in doing so.

Yet as a culture we worship entertainment.  We gobble up the biography of a 15-year old girl who smiles into a camera, while two 2001 graduates killed in action are left only with their names etched on a memorial wall.

It goes back to my feelings on Jeffersonian meritocracy:  I like to see people rise to the top from their own hard work.  What can Miley say in her biography besides having access to the family checkbook?