I’ve always been amazed of how, as a society, we have a tendency to idolize the dead. The minute someone dies, especially if they are a celebrity of any kind, their approval rating jumps to 95%, even if they don’t deserve it; and, quite often they do not, especially considering that some of that celebrity may be gained from infamy.
What is more surprising is that, if they are suicidal or, at the very best, this person lived a life that was on a path of self-destruction, (i.e., Janice Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix or Kurt Cobain); we take it a step farther; we canonize them! I don’t get it! I mean, our heroes, our life’s inspiration are people that couldn’t handle life?
Even worse are the maniacal killers that stalk the innocent, murder in mass for some self-serving reason; some silliness they call justice, and then take their own lives. There are probably too many to count so I’ll just bring up Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold of Columbine High School and, more recently, Cho Seung-Hui; as sick and sad as it sounds, there are people that idolize them also! And will honor them as some sort of martyrs. Here again, someone that couldn’t handle life but rather than just commit suicide, they had to take the innocent with them.
It’s enough to white wash the history of a so-so politician and make them something they’re not, but, to worship some one whose life was a bad example?
It’s a sad society that can’t seem to find a true hero in our history; and this isn’t just Americans; Europeans, Arab, Asian and so on, and so on…everybody does it, and it will be a sad epitaph of our existence for our grandchildren to read… if any live long enough to read.
I think, what I am trying to say… what really concerns me is, what sort of message does this action send to our children? As an impressionable youth, how would I look at this? How would you look at this?
“Little girl, your life is of no consequence unless I find you dead with a bottle of whiskey in one hand and heroin tracks on your arm!”
“Son, if you can’t take it… take a bunch with you and you’ll be a star on CNN.”
I don’t get it!
