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Easy jokes but sad reality

Posted: 02/15/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Whitney Houston fans celebrate her memory in Los Angeles on Monday.

Re: Houston found in bathtub (Feb. 13). Whitney Houston's sudden and tragic death has got me wondering. Why is it when a famous artist dies from a drug or alcohol problem, people rush to talk about what a wonderful and talented person they were, but when they are still alive and dealing with their problems they are ridiculed?

Millions of people around the world deal with alcohol and drug problems, and these are illnesses that kill people and destroy families.

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Houston, Amy Winehouse and Michael Jackson were all the butt of jokes on late-night talk shows before their death. Maya Rudolph's impression of a drugged-up Houston became a fan favourite on Saturday Night Live, and the more she acted completely out of it, the more laughs she got. These are easy jokes that get easy laughs, and I've been guilty of laughing at them.

Well, now Houston is dead, and I assume that the character will be retired. It's not funny now that she has passed away, but it never should have been funny in the first place.

We would never make fun of a person dying of cancer, so why do we ridicule people dying of addictions?

DAVID BAXTER

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 15, 2012 A10

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