Heath Ledger 1979 - 2008

I came back to the office after lunch the other day and was shocked when my co-worker showed me headlines showing that actor Heath Ledger was dead at 28. It appears that it may have been an accidental overdose of prescription sleeping pills.

Let me start off by saying that I wouldn't consider myself a fan of his. I know some of his movies. I liked "The Brothers Grimm" and "A Knight's Tale." I have yet to see "Brokeback Mountain", for which he received his only Oscar nomination. (I'll get around to it one of these days). My immediate thoughts were for his little daughter, Matilda, who will grow up without her father, (and probably will never remember him) and her mom, Michelle Williams, who is apparently "devasted". (The couple split up a few months ago).

I was disgusted to read the following article http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22813570/. Some Church plans to protest his funeral, due to his involvement in "Brokeback Mountain". (If you don't know the premise it's about two cowboys who have a long lasting relationship. In other words, it's a gay love story).

To the people who would do such things, I say, "Shame on you!" Are you so blind to see that this young man who died far too young left behind parents, a (former) fiancée and a little girl? Why are you adding to their grief and stress? Leave them alone. If you consider yourself Christians, ask yourself, "What would Jesus do?" Would he be protesting a funeral, or would he be reaching out to heal this grieving family's wounds? I seriously do not understand how anyone could be that uncaring and unfeeling, especially people who claim to be following Jesus's example of healing and compassion. I really dislike people who kick other people when they are already hurting and I don't think Jesus would approve, either.

Would these same people have protested Marlon Brando's funeral? After all, Marlon Brando played Don Corleone, the Godfather, a man who was a career murderer. Will they protest at Ang Lee's funeral, the director? He also made "Sense and Sensibility" with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet (two of Britain's finest actresses). Will they be tainted by association, two ladies that are destined for Damehood? Will they protest Philip Seymour Hoffman's funeral who won an Oscar for his portayal of Truman Capote, who was gay? (Ironically, he won the year Heath was nominated). Where does it end? It's just ridiculous. Such publicity-seeking self-aggrandizement at a funeral is disgusting and reprehensible, according to ANY moral code.

Wake up, people. It was a role, a job. Nothing more, nothing less. That's what art is supposed to do. Make people think, and challenge them. Perhaps, in protest, I'm going to watch this movie this weekend and I'm looking forward to it.

Rest in Peace, Heath.

Happy New Year

Okay, okay. We're almost two weeks into 2008, but since it's my first blog post of the year, I thought I would start off by saying "Happy New Year". I generally don't make New Year's Resolutions. I find they get broken all too quickly. One thing I did tell myself was that I would try to take more time to post in my blog.

Here's wishing everyone a good 2008.