[BingoTheClowno]

The glorification (or even idolization) of the dead has been a big question of mine for a while now, so I'd like to post my thoughts on the subject. I'm not a representative of the international league of students, nor am I a man of many typed words, so bear with me if my thoughts seem a bit off.

Our culture, as it seems, thrives on tragic events and the people involved. If you'll remember, shortly after 9/11, there was a veritable rat race of people making tributes and generally competing to see just who was the most touched by this tragedy. Suddenly, if you didn't cry every time you saw the smoking wreckage of the WTC, you were a heartless, unamerican JERK who didn't derserve to breathe American Air. Schools had readings, parades, and various artistic tributes to show thier love for the people who perished in the buildings. People they didn't even know. People they didn't even care about. All they wanted to do was to show how noble thier schools were and that the students enrolled there were more than mindless monkeys comparing new outfits in the middle of thier lunch block. You'll also remember the plethora of merchandise that came out just after. Those wonderful car door flags, the American car door stickers, as well as patriotic napkin holders (for real!). People were just as quick to capitalize on the deaths of however many people died in that tragedy as they were to write a pretty poem and email it to all thier patriotic friends. Even now, Bowflex has that wonderful american flag in thier ads, as well as being supported by two "All-American" soldiers. People honor the dead, then they make money off of them.

It takes place even in the music industry. Rock and roll Gods are made out of every drug-overdose rock star victim. Nirvana wouldn't be half as popular as it is if people didn't feel obligated to buy thier new album, in memory of Kurt Kobain. The only reason we are to see that band as one of the greatest of all time is because the media has made it into one of the biggest cash-sow bands in our time. The DEAD BAND IS STILL RELEASING SINGLES AND NEW ALBUMS!!! tell me what is so normal about this? given the popularity of Nirvana, realistically, the big media moguls could synthesize a new single from chopping up old songs, splicing the lyrics together, and calling it "Smells like a heart-shaped box"! Let's not forget Tu-Pac Shakur and Notorius B.I.G.

Why is it that only the dead get the recognition they deserve? If the old quote "you don't realize what you have untill it's gone" is true, how many martyrs will we have in the next decade? What rack star will OD tonight and become and instant Icon? FAce it, guys. The only reason we mourn the deaths of these astronauts is because we think we have to. That's the only reason there are tears in the eyes of people who didn't even know those ill-fated astronauts. They want to fit in and look noble. Monkey see, monkey do I suppose.

Didn't I say i wasn't a man of many words? Alright I'll shut up now.