This morning I wake up and turn on the tv. "Whitney Houston dies, only 48 years old" is splashed all over the news. The Today Show dedicated an entire show to her. I log on to facebook to find it completely blown up with the news.
This is certainly sad news, I would never deny that. She had an amazing and powerful voice for sure. Her acting skills were mediocre at best, but you couldn't deny that voice.
As I scrolled through facebook reading the numerous posts and comments about her death, I saw two reactions. Either people didn't care or people are grieving as though they knew her personally. There were some pretty strong opinions voiced and some very strong reactions posted to those opinions. I saw name calling and people just blatantly chastising those with the strong opinions. Whoa.....hold on here folks.... the last I checked we are all entitled to our own opinions. How boring would this world be if we all liked and disliked the same things? I am all for being passionate about something, or having a strong belief in something. But name calling and chastising? This is just no good.
While any loss of life is tragic, I find it difficult to become wrapped up in grief over this. Do I feel sorry for her? Absolutely. I find it so sad she chose a path of drugs for her life. Something people need to remember, this was her choice. I heard someone speak of her and her death on the news (forgive me I don't remember who) saying "she was so full of life." Wait, what?? How is someone whacked out on heroin "full of life??" People say she was a role model. Her celebrity status seems to have made her somewhat of a hero and a victim, one we will hear about for a long time. Just as we did (and still do) with Michael Jackson. I don't know about you, but I'm a mom and I would prefer my children don't use a drug addict as their role model. But I digress....
Before writing this post I did some quick reading about her. She went into rehab in 2009. I would love to give her full applause for this, however she didn't go because she wanted to clean up her act to be someone for her daughter but because her mother made her. But she did still go. Did she stick with staying clean? Only time will tell as the autopsies are done.
I think people are forgetting she had a daughter. She had a family and friends who, despite her choices, cared about her. It is those people, particularly her daughter, who I truly feel sorry for and offer up prayers and condolences to them.
Sad and tragic? Definitely. Newsworthy where it occupies every minute of air time on the news channels? Not really. Worth all of the ugly words spoken amongst the human race? Definitely not. Instead of sensationalizing her I would rather pray for her daughter and that through the pain of all of this she may be able to grow up and have a normal life.
I am stepping down off my soap box now. I apologize if I've offended you with my opinions. It wasn't my intent. I respect everyone and their opinions, whether I agree with them or not. I only ask you do the same.
Totally agree
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