perspective
Heath Ledger was a brilliant young actor and a wonderful man. He died tragically, leaving behind a young daughter, an ex partner, and countless friends and family members, as well as international fans. And yes, I'm still upset about it.
Yesterday, in Iraq, five Americans died fighting a pointless war (and those are just the Americans that were reported; I don't know about Iraqis and people of other nationalities). Each of them was probably young and brilliant in their own way and wonderful, brave, selfless human beings. Each of them left behind friends and family and communities who now are deep in mourning. If they didn't leave behind partners and children, it's most likely because they were too damn young to have any.
I'm not saying that it's wrong for us or the media to focus on the tragedy of Ledger's death. While we can't bring him, or the five lost soldiers back from the dead, we can speak out so that fewer families are grieving tomorrow and the day after that (okay, realistically, next January). In one week's time, about half of America has an opportunity to vote in a primary to choose a candidate who will make bringing the troops home a priority. I don't care who wins, so long as they get us out of this endless cycle of violence and death.
Yesterday, in Iraq, five Americans died fighting a pointless war (and those are just the Americans that were reported; I don't know about Iraqis and people of other nationalities). Each of them was probably young and brilliant in their own way and wonderful, brave, selfless human beings. Each of them left behind friends and family and communities who now are deep in mourning. If they didn't leave behind partners and children, it's most likely because they were too damn young to have any.
I'm not saying that it's wrong for us or the media to focus on the tragedy of Ledger's death. While we can't bring him, or the five lost soldiers back from the dead, we can speak out so that fewer families are grieving tomorrow and the day after that (okay, realistically, next January). In one week's time, about half of America has an opportunity to vote in a primary to choose a candidate who will make bringing the troops home a priority. I don't care who wins, so long as they get us out of this endless cycle of violence and death.