Whitney Houston is dead and I really don't care. I get so sick of people who have it all, money, fame, and stardom and screw it up with drugs and other things. The list is endless, filled with people who can't seem to handle success. I really don't care anymore. Whitney was hardly one of the all time greats. Most of the females on the Grammys last night were every bit as good. To compare her to the likes of Rosemary, Ella, Karen, K.D., Diana and others that were truly great over a long period of time is ludicrous. Look at all the superstars here on the forum, Donny, Fran, Don Mason, Scott Yee, and Eddie Shoemaker. None of them are having trouble handling their stardom.

To be honest, I wasn't saddened nearly as much as I would have been if she were killed in a car wreck or plane crash. Still, it's a shame that such a talent was ultimately wasted. I'm not going to judge. Someone else will take care of that.
Maybe she's jammin' with Elvis, Jimmy H., Janis and the multitude of others who couldn't handle life in the fast lane.
As for drugs, I depend on tips to help pay for my aspirin and viagra. I could never afford the good stuff. . . bad stuff.
But then I was never tempted. Thank God and my parents.
DonM

Amen guys...I have zero tolerance for drug users..Now and 40 years ago...If you want to prove you are a loser...do drugs..

"We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path.”~Paulo Coelho.

“When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.”~Wayne Dyer

As a person who's life has been touched very closely by addiction, those two quotes sum it all up for me.


Ian

PS...You know guys, perhaps stuff like this should really be in the bar...it has nothing whatsoever to do with arrangers.

It took me a while to decide to post this, should I or shouldn't I ? I decided for whatever it's worth another point of view may help.

First I don't believe anyone's a jerk because they have an opinion that is different from what others think.

I can stay this without question addiction is a horrible thing, some are luckier than others some have been blessed to beat those addictions others have not or cannot for a variety of reasons. There's many text books that explore the issue. Unfortunately, money, fame or fortune cannot beat addiction and many times those characteristics make it even tougher to beat those demons. Sometimes it's easier for one who has nothing or next to nothing to beat them than the man or woman who has a house cash and talent. Whitney was one of the unlucky ones and I'm sure she didn't believe them when they told her if she didn't stop using there would be 3 options, death, jail or the asylum.

Sorry if I'm sounding like a preacher or got too philosophical, that's just my 2 cents.

[quote=ianmcnll]"We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path.”~Paulo Coelho.

“When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.”~Wayne Dyer

Those two quotes sum it all up for me.


Ian Quote






Discussion here is fine...if it gets the point across...and I disagree with your counter view...I know you had some experience in the drug world...It ruins lives and lives of innocent family members...My wife's brother was an example ..died via drugs at 46..left twin 8 year old girls..they in turn were not told about drugs taking their father..their mother didn't want them to know...it would have been a great lesson for them...expand the story..the mother died (heart) and left the girls alone at 14...and they know the history now, with many struggles , defiant and yes drugs too...

No excuses Ian..drugs are just dumb, and to justify one that uses is a losers game...

Of course drugs are dumb Fran, but, unless you have suffered from addiction yourself, you really can't talk the talk, if you haven't actually walked the walk.

Anyone who justifies drug use plays the loser's game every bit as much as someone who judges without having actually walked in the other person's shoes.

And yes, I think a subject as sensitive as this one, probably should be in the bar...it serves no actual purpose on a General Arranger Forum...there are plenty of other sites that deal far more knowledgeably, objectively and thoroughly with drugs, addictions, and their consequences on human life.


Ian

My ex wife died from drugs at 32 years old ....standing at the coffin with my 12 yr old son was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life.... I agree with Frans post 100%.

We can't simply say that someone is a bum because they went down the wrong path. Human beings are frail. Not everybody is going to do the straight and narrow. THAT is a fact. As for me, empathy is a super powerful force inside me, for some reason. My mother, I suppose.

Drugs have a powerful hold on people. Tragedy is nothing new. Blame whoever invented wine. Jesus?

Yes perhaps it should have been discussed in the bar but the orginal post about her death was here. I didn't know I was being judgemental just because I said I really didn't care that much and have become numb after seeing so many others take this path.