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Post by stardust on Jul 23, 2011 18:46:24 GMT -5
Thank you NoAngel. I feel speechless and bereft over this awful event. What can we possibly say.  |
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lynne
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Post by lynne on Jul 23, 2011 18:48:49 GMT -5
Tragedies like those in Norway are so shocking and unimaginable and sad. My heart is full of grief for those suffering. My heart grieves over Amy Winehouse, too, even though her death is not as unimaginable.
Maybe so many people are talking about it because they can personally relate to a very real fear that they know... as so many people know someone who is struggling with, or has struggled with, addiction in the past.
And for celebrities, we have watched it play out in the media as we have watched it play out in our real lives with those we love.
My nephew, for example, had trouble with alcohol and drug addictions from 17-23. He has been clean now for five years with the support of a wonderful family and an outstanding treatment center in Arizona. Every time I hear one of these stories, I know it could have been us if things had gone differently. I'm sure it is the same for many others.
Thankfully, Adam seems to be very self aware, very centered, and very well aware of what he needs to do to try to make sure he stays that way.
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Post by PastaBaby on Jul 23, 2011 19:25:13 GMT -5
I find it VERY odd that Adam hasn't tweeted anything about Amy Winehouse. She was one of his favorite singers. Maybe he will later. Oh well maybe it's because it's very late for me here,but the day in the US is just in the middle, we'll see. I hope that he doesn't. Firstly, I don't want Adam's name in those cheap "celebrities react to a person's death" articles that I despise. Secondly, I see it highly distasteful that people are mourning ten times more (in twitter, in here etc.) about a death of a known drug addict than the 85 innocent people, most of them teens, that were murdered by a right-wing extremist lunatic in Norway. At basically the same time. I understand that tragedies shouldn't be compared, a death of 85 doesn't make a death of one any less tragic, but still. Is it that much easier to relate to a death of a celebrity than deaths of unknowns? IMHO you have a legitimate beef about this and I am one of the guilty ones. I apologize for this with the poor excuse that I can relate to a drug death more so than a political death. |
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Post by LindaG23 on Jul 23, 2011 19:26:52 GMT -5
emmuzka - I understand your concern and maybe something about my personal perspective on the Norwegian tragedy will help. My eldest is 21 and very involved in the political process. The type of camp these young people attended is exactly the type of experience my son would participate in. An extremist religious zealot came and murdered these children for no other reason than their passion to be involved in their government. There was no warning, there was no time to prepare, there is no way to know the last words that were spoken between them and their grieving parents. The sorrow of that knowledge is almost unbearable. We, as parents, cannot let our thinking go there because who knows what zealot may decide to go to our children's college campuses tomorrow and to dwell on that prospect would incapacitate us.
The Amy Winehouse tragedy is embraceable. Her parents had spent time with her in courts and rehab and worried for her probably every day because she was on a path to destruction. So, in some ways her more comprehensible tragedy acts as an outlet for the more overwhelming tragedy of Norway.
Some of the Norwegian young people were only sixteen years old and today I am sad and yet ashamedly thankful that they were not my child who was so suddenly taken away. I suspect that many parents today are calling their children just to hear their voice and say I love you.
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kapsiz
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that which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet...
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Post by kapsiz on Jul 23, 2011 19:40:19 GMT -5
Happy Birthday Danilo85!
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Post by 4Ms on Jul 23, 2011 19:59:09 GMT -5
Someone else will say this better, but the Norway story is too big, shocking, random, scary.
Saying that's it's sad seems inadequate.
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kapsiz
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that which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet...
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Post by kapsiz on Jul 23, 2011 20:00:19 GMT -5
The Amy Winehouse news is so tragic and serves as another reminder that talent like Adam's combined with his common sense, family and friend support, and awareness that life is about many things, not just success and "party hardy" is rare. It also validates his statements on Idol about his age perhaps being a benefit. Living and struggling through the early years, acquiring close and talented friends, and seeing what fame can do to some people may all be blessings in disguise when sudden fame and pressure become your life. Adam is really one of the most stable and normal celebrities I've seen. Amy's sad ending should make us all appreciate that even more. A big shout out to Sauli, mom and dad, even Neil, his bandmates and dancers, the Cherrys, Ferras, etc. for their part in it.   RIP Amy  |
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Post by lulu2365 on Jul 23, 2011 20:05:27 GMT -5
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wiga
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Post by wiga on Jul 23, 2011 20:17:26 GMT -5
I think Amy Winehouse's death is easier to wrap one's mind around. So there is more said about it on the media. Her passing is sad, there is no happy ending here.
What happened in Norway is just tragic. I have been thinking all day, "I am so sorry that you (Norwegians) have to experience this (terrorism). It changes who you are to go though these experiences and it changes your nation.
I haven't lived in an area where we have been directly attacked (Utah) but I was glued to my television, trying to make sense of Oklahoma City (homegrown terrorism), Columbine (student on student attack in Denver) and in front of my classroom of deaf students for 9-11 (NYC/DC/PA). All I can think to do in these times is to remember "Humanity is good overall". There are some people out there that do not fit this mold, but most DO.
I am glad they have the man they think is responsible for the attacks in Oslo and the camp in custody. If there are others, may they be found soon. May justice be served. Bless those families that have lost a loved one or loved one is injured. May Norway find their way through this tragedy.
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Post by SusieFierce on Jul 23, 2011 20:29:35 GMT -5
Linda, Lynne, NoAngel, RabbitRabbit, keyboard ... and many others. Just caught up and there are so many great posts.
I think the duality of the two tragedies is in not being able to even process the massacre in Norway. It's like our brain stops us before we can even fully conceptualize the tragedy, because it's too horrific to contemplate.
I think we react to celebrity deaths as we do because of the level of familiarity that exists. For good or for bad, we know a great deal about these people. We've experienced Amy's struggles second-hand, we've seen the pain in her eyes and listened to the emotion in her music. We've seen her lay her soul bare when she performs.
It occurred to me today that yes, though I've never met her or seen her in person (and I really didn't follow her at all), I know more about her than I do about the 20+ people I have met/interacted with at various events I attended this week. Many of these people I have met many times but I don't know a thing about their real lives, other than their name, job title and general reputation.
We react to Amy's death because on some level, we feel we KNOW her. What the people in Norway went through yesterday is as incomprehensible as the train crash in China. We can't even grasp that other to feel overwhelming dread and horror.
And when my father, a lifelong smoker, died of lung cancer, it wasn't at all unexpected, but it was every bit as devastating than if he died in any other way.
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