The current hysteria and obsessive coverage of Whitney Houston's tragic death is quite disturbing to me. We are gluttons for a train wreck, as evidenced by the unfortunate success of trashy "reality" TV shows, including Whitney's own show with Bobby Brown. And why is it that once a celebrity's life gives way to his/her addiction, record sales soar and people come out of the woodwork to declare their love for them? Where is all of that love and concern when the person in question is in the throws of gripping addiction and life-threatening mental illness?
Unfortunately, the relentless media coverage, TV specials, and articles written about Whitney Houston's decline will not have any lasting effect upon people's view of addiction and its severity- much like the death of a high schooler in a drunk driving incident will not keep his peers from engaging in the same risky behaviors. The issue at hand is one of a deeply-entrenched, culturally-constructed attitude regarding our own vulnerability- or rather, invincibility.
May we realize that we are all vulnerable.
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