Whitney Houston, a Disgusting Reminder of Society's Infatuation with other People's Lives

I haven't written much since deploying to Afghanistan, but the latest firestorm of around the clock media attention to the death of Whitney Houston has forced me to vent a bit. What better place to vent than my little blog that nobody reads anyway.

Let me first state that when I heard that Whitney Houston had been found dead in a hotel that my initial thought was that it was sad news. A woman with one of the most beautiful voices I have heard in my lifetime had passed on, like many other stars, way too prematurely. After a few minutes reflecting on some of her music that I grew up to, along with some thoughts about how unfortunate it was that she had chosen to get involved in drugs and lifestyle choices that ultimately played some part in her untimely death, I grabbed a cup of coffee and moved on to the tasks at hand in my day. Yes, that's right...I did not read every story I could find on the internet about her death. I did not cry. I did not scream out obscenities towards Bobby Brown or mourn for the next three days.

As crazy as those actions sound to some of you, know that a great many Americans did exactly those kinds of things over the last week. Every day for the last week there was constant media coverage on all of the news networks detailing Ms. Houston's life, the events leading up to her death, and every action by every celebrity who knew her and/or was planning on attending the funeral. Do I fault the news media for this insane amount of coverage for what amounts to just another human being? No, I do not. The news media only gives this amount of coverage to events such as this because there is a market for it. If millions of Americans weren't putting their lives on hold to watch every minute of this idiotic coverage the media wouldn't keep presenting it.

No, our society has become one in which people care more about the lives of people they've never met, and who wouldn't give them the time of day if they did, than they do of themselves, their loved ones, and their own goals and aspirations. Joe and Jane citizen would rather sit on their couch all day and watch reality television shows which consist of nothing more than watching celebrities live their everyday lives than they would trying to live their own. It's a sad state of affairs and a scary look at the future of our nation. I remember when I was turning 16. I couldn't wait to get my license, get a job, get out of my house, and start living my own life. At the rate we are going we are going to have an entire generation of citizens that will turn 40 one day, and wonder why they things haven't turned out the way they imagined. It will be because they spent countless hours watching other people live their lives instead of going out and accomplishing things in their own.

To be fair to Whitney Houston, it is not an isolated occurrence. The same thing happened when Michael Jackson died a couple of years ago, as well as any other celebrity in the news for one thing or another. The same thing is happening every day to Hollywood types that are still alive. A growing number of people are basically placing these stars at higher importance than their own flesh and blood, as well as themselves. How else can we explain Kim Kardashian?? Can anyone explain one major accomplishment that Ms. Kardashian has had in her life to make her famous (other than an amateur sex tape)?? Really?? Seriously?? People are seriously neglecting their spouses, children, and their own lives and careers to keep track of these naïve, immature, spoiled fools prancing around on our television sets every day. And then when they meet a shocking, untimely demise, they are mourning these pompous celebrities as though they are part of their own family. It's just disgusting and a sad sign of the decay of our nation.

It's time for people to look in the mirror, begin valuing themselves and their families, and start living their own lives. I'm not sure there is a more horrible feeling than getting old and not having anything to tell your children and grandchildren regarding your own adventures and accomplishments in life, because I doubt they are going to be interested to hear about how much you cried when Whitney Houston died.

In the movie “The Shawshank Redemption” the line was stated, “Get busy living, or get busy dying.” This past week is yet another sad reminder that a large number of Americans are very busy dying.  

PLASTIC SURGERY TAX

Only our current liberal statist led congress could be so reactionary as to wait until after Michael Jackson dies to introduce the idea of a tax on elective plastic surgery to help offset the rampant spending of this administration. A tax on this during his lifetime could have single-handedly eliminated the deficit! Oh well, we'll still put a dent in it via Joan Rivers and Nancy Pelosi.

WHO WE AMERICANS HONOR THESE DAYS

I am now finally getting settled from my move to Arizona. I apologize forthe lack of posts recently. I will try to be more consistent now but cannot make promises. I am working nights and it really messes up the old sleep patterns. I am writing this now at about 1am, and what better time than 1am to talk about death.

It is no secret that as a country, we are disturbingly infatuated with Hollywood. It is nauseatingly disgusting to be quite blunt and honest (asthough I'm normally not), but I will humor all of the people who are so dissatisfied with their own lives, and yet too lazy to go live a decent life of their own, and play along with their sad fairy tale...if merely to sicken myself further. I have listed below the well-known persons who have died recently:

7/6/2009 93 Robert McNamara Politics

7/4/2009 36 Steve McNair Sports

7/1/2009 57 Alexis Argüello Sports

7/1/2009 86 Mollie Sugden Entertainment

7/1/2009 97 Karl Malden Entertainment

6/30/2009 75 Harve Presnell Entertainment

6/28/2009 50 Billy Mays Other

6/28/2009 66 Fred Travalena Entertainment

6/27/2009 87 Gale Storm Entertainment

6/25/2009 50 Michael Jackson Music

6/25/2009 62 Farrah Fawcett Entertainment

6/23/2009 86 Ed McMahon Entertainment

Now let's talk about Ed Mcmahon. Ed Mcmahon, in addition to being famous for being Johnny Carson's sidekick, was also a decorated Marine fighterpilot who flew 85 combat missions, and was promoted up to the rank of Colonel during his career. He also worked as a co-host for many years with the Jerry Lewis MDA telethon, second only to Jerry Lewis himself in number of appearances. Upon his death a few weeks ago he was given a brief mention in news broadcasts, but within a day was forgotten. Two days later pop singer Michael Jackson died and it was as if Pearl Harbor had just been attacked. Networks interrupted programming to go live and give a play by play throughout the evening. This circus has continued and strengthened. Now weeks later, I challenge you to find a mainstream media site which does not have at least one story relating to the "King of Freaks" on it's front page still. Ohhh, I know!! That was unprofessional and uncalled for right?? Let's examine the history of "Whacko Jacko." He underwent multiple nasal surgeries, a forehead lift, thinned lips, and cheekbone surgery. He had a fourth rhinoplasty in 1986, and had a cleft put in his chin. Witnesses reported that he was often dizzy and speculated that he was suffering from anorexia nervosa; periods of weight loss would become a recurring problem later in life. Some medical professionals have said he was suffering from body dysmorphic disorder, a psychological condition whereby the sufferer dislikes his appearance and has no concept of how he is viewed by others (AKA Crazy). In 1986, The National Enquirer published a series of photographs of him lying in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, claiming that he slept in the chamber to slow the aging process. When Jackson bought a chimpanzee called Bubbles from a laboratory, it was reported as an example of increasing detachment from reality. In 2003, the singer claimed that Bubbles had been trained to use the toilet and to clean his own bedroom. Later, it was reported that he had offered $1 million for the bones of Joseph Merrick, the "Elephant Man." In March 1988, Jackson purchased land near Santa Ynez, California to build Neverland Ranch at a cost of $17 million. He installed Ferris wheels, a menagerie, and a movie theater on the 2,700-acre property. In the summer of 1993, Jackson was accused of child sexual abuse by a 13-year-old boy named Jordan Chandler. On January 1, 1994, Jackson settled with the Chandlers out of court for $22 million, after which Jordan stopped co-operating regarding criminal proceedings. In a series of interviews with Martin Bashir, broadcast in 2003 as Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson was seen holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with Gavin Arvizo, 13, who later accused him of sexual abuse. Shortly after the documentary aired, Jackson was charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent in relation to Arvizo.

Yeah, this is just the guy we should be having multi-million dollar memorials for on the taxpayers dime! Well done again California!! You are truly financial geniuses in that state!! And to think, I left incidents out in an attempt to be brief. So we have a decorated Marine fighter pilot and a disgusting pedophile. Yes, I know he was acquitted of all charges of child molestation and it's unfair to label him a pedophile right? Yeah, and O.J. was innocent too...and we never really landed on the moon...and George Bush orchestrated 9/11 along with Israel to make Muslim terrorists look bad. Our country is becoming as delusional and out of touch with reality as these nutbags in Hollywood! Anyone who shed a tear for Michael Jackson can feel free to never read my blog again. Truth, logic, and reality will only serve to offend you more in the future. You are better off in Never-Never Land!!

I will attempt to get back to more political discussions and away from the mad rants. Sometimes a guy just has to vent. What better to do at 2am.