R.I.P. HEATH LEDGER :(

JANUARY 22, 2008

I, along with most of you, was saddened and shocked to learn that Heath Ledger had died today.

So that’s why I was even more shocked to see a few “friends”on Facebook who are already joking about this.  I find that sickening.  You have to take a long look at yourself when you’re actually joking about a loss of human life.  There’s no justification in it, and just because Heath Ledger was a famous actor, it doesn’t give us the right to blow off this tragedy as a joke.

I understand that if this were a “regular” person there probably wouldn’t be any coverage of the story, and that’s a whole different subject… But you have to remember that although Heath Ledger was a celebrity, he was also just another “regular” person.  He was a human being, and although death is a part of life, any loss of human life is deeply traumatic for anybody who is left behind.  Not to mention the fact that he was only 28, and hadn't lived a full life.  How could somebody make light of that?  You would never joke about a “regular” person being found dead in their apartment, so I don’t feel as though it is right to joke about Heath Ledger just because he’s “Heath Ledger”. 

He was a father.  Not a lot is known about his relationship with Michelle Williams and why they called off their engagement late last year… but you have to feel for her.  To say she is devastated is an obvious understatement.  That is the father of her CHILD and I’m sure on some level she still loved him, whether it was romantically or not.  Now she has to raise her 2 year old daughter alone, and have the difficult task of explaining to her one day why her father isn’t around anymore.  This poor girl will never remember her Dad, and never really know him either.

My heart really goes out to Ledger’s family and his friends… And I hope they find the closure they need in this tragedy.  There is not a lot of information at this time.  Why it happened, what state his mind was in, how it happened, whether it was sickness, accidental or suicide… It doesn’t bring him back, but I understand how these questions will need to be answered in order for them to one day start healing.

You might find the story will get “old” soon, and you won’t want to hear about it anymore because it is depressing and you gotta move on, which is natural.  But most of us are compassionate enough to understand that it won't then mean it's OK to start with the jokes!  The ones who knew him, cared about him, and loved him will be dealing with the loss of their loved one their whole lives.  Anybody who has ever lost anybody can understand that.  Maybe that’s why some people joke?  Maybe they are lucky enough to not know how it feels to lose somebody they love?  OR they’re just ignorant.

And for the rest of us, whether you were a Heath Ledger fan or not, I hope we can at least learn a lesson from him.  If nothing else, just live life to the fullest (he was only 28) and follow your dreams.  He has truly an inspiring rags to riches story, and you could tell he was somebody who didn’t become an actor for “the fame”.  He did it to further his craft, and that’s to be admired.  He wasn’t the typical “Hollywood type” unfortunately and tragically until today.  Rest in Peace.

xo~Bri