Whitney Houston, One of the Greatest Performers of All Time, is Dead
The media coverage surrounding Whitney Houston's death is appalling and horrific. I am deeply saddened that the irresponsibility on the part of both officials and the media has failed to provide us the news--the information--an adoring public deserves when such a great artist dies.
Of course the entire media industry is not guilty of such shameless exploitation. Such a gross generalization would be just as guilty of spreading malicious gossip as the very examples of media I find so irresponsible. Thank you MTV, for reviewing and celebrating a great artist's career, and not focusing on the "crap" that sells papers and ups viewer numbers.
Unfortunately the entertainment industry is the poster child for the global epidemic of alcohol and drug addiction. Perhaps it's the visibility, or more so, the disgusting lust for gossip that drives the media to focus on the music and film industry penchant for substance abuse. When I say global epidemic, I'm talking about one of the most critical issues facing the entire planet.
Clearly when so many in the entertainment profession have died from overdose, this is not something we can deny or ignore. However, the utter lack of empathy on the part of media to view addiction as an illness contributes to the jaded and terrifically negative view that entertainers represent the worst side of human nature.
It would be absurd for me to report statistics on drug trafficking, or the size of the illegal or prescription trade, or the sheer volume of people on this planet who use drugs and booze as a primary coping skill. Washington is especially hypocritical in its alleged condemnation of illegal drug use while at the same time condoning the legal use of booze. There are no fewer bars or liquor stores in Washington than any other city. The social destruction caused by substance abuse is so vast, there is no need to play the numbers game.
Whitney gave us some of the greatest songs of all time. What does "Saving All My Love For You" and "I Will Always Love You" say to you? Does it say, "I love and condone drug use?" Or does it spread the very message the media is clueless about--the message of love? Everyone knows bad news sells, and the media keeps selling it and the public appears to keep buying it. But I'm going to put my faith in the audiences that loved Whitney Houston, and believe they are deeply saddened by what they've lost, and are not the least bit interested in labeling one of the greatest singers of all time as a drug addict.
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