There are a few stories in the news today and/or this week that have captured my attention so I thought I would comment on them today...
* On CNN.com today, it was reported that Owen Wilson apparently tried to attempt suicide. I feel a bit icky discussing such a private matter, but I cannot help but ponder how easily it is for the world to look at someone else's life and think they have everything they could ever want in the world. Stories of celebrities' failings, dark sides and personal demons are nothing new, but for some reason this particular story struck a cord in me. Perhaps because Owen Wilson wrote two my favorite movies of all time - Rushmore and The Royal Tennenbaums. What I love about both of these stories is that they are, in many ways, bittersweet, with a deep well of melancholy just beneath the surface. No matter what things look like on the outside, one never knows the difficulties each of us are struggling with on any given day. (To be honest I am secretly hoping the reporters got the story wrong.)
* I have also been following the story of Michael Vick, who first made his mark as a student at my alma mater, Virginia Tech. I have no pity for Michael Vick and believe what he did is beyond reprehensible, but I must say it is incredibly refreshing to hear the words "I take responsibility for my actions." He no doubt has a team of lawyers, advisors and handlers telling him what to do, and advising him in the way they believe will serve his personal interests best, but that still, in my opinion, does not take away from the fact that he has pleaded guilty and apologized. This does not take away from what he did, and I do not believe he should be given any leniency because of this, but I have to say I give him credit for standing up and holding no one but himself responsible for his actions.
* There was an interesting editorial in the Los Angeles Times yesterday about the importance of the United States ensuring Afghanistan becomes stabilized socially, economically and politically. You can read it here. I normally would have skipped over it as I am fed up reading about all of the woes in the Middle East, but because I have become a devoted follower of this fascinating blog, I took the time to read it. It is wonderful the way new friendships can generate an interest in issues, places and events that I would have otherwise perhaps never learned much about.
What stories have caught your attention this week?
you write as i think. i love that you can put it all in perspective. i finally got to see the royal tennenbaums, of course, the darkness of the movie is what i dug most. i can hardly discuss michael vick, because i look into these big soft brown eyes of delilahblue everday....i just don't get it.
i love the painting above, the soft colors simply make me melt.
you rock girlie
Posted by: kelly | August 29, 2007 at 05:54 AM
I too was really saddened and shocked by the reports about Owen Wilson. it makes me wish i could reach out and offer a hand of friendship and hope that someone in his life will do that for him. the cult of celebrity means we put these people on pedestals and elevate them to god-like status, and what normal human being can really survive that? there's been so many programmes on TV over here recently about princess Diana, and how the press hounded her, and i'm not a big fan of the monarchy, but you can't help wonder at how so much intrusion can screw up someone who was so very emotionally vulnerable..
and yes, Frida is doing such incredible work over in Afghanistan, and i'm thrilled that she's going to be staying with me this weekend! :-)
Posted by: Susannah | August 29, 2007 at 02:41 AM