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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTo Robin Williams (warning, possible offensive langauge)
The fact I needed to put the dislaimer I did is an example of the sort of stunts we need to put on humor or any sort of expression. These days, anyone who says something honest, even a comedian, has a bunch of lawyers and others ready to throw rocks, as we as a nation, and a world, take outselves very seriously. Never mind that taking ourselves so fucking seriously has not done one iota of good: the earth is still dying, the streets are harder than ever, and whatever little bit of faith, hope and charity out there gets ground to bits, as even the "left" brandished Iron Fists.
If taking yourselves so seriously is supposed to be good, why is the world even more fucked up than it ever was? This sort of ugly truth is what people like Robin Williams pointed out, only he did it in a way that people could swallow the medicine.
However, Mr. Williams, I would say you just made the worst punchline of your life, one that might render a lot of good you did a bad joke. Like you, I suffer from Asberger's and Depression, and I will admit there were many times I considered taking your route, especially as I often dealt with a right that hated me and a left that thought I was not cool enough for them. When the Hippies and Yuppies hate you, it can be a rough gig. The sad part is, there was a group of people that helped me deal with it, people who made me realize that in the end, we could be respected and loved for what we are, and that the people who called us idiots one year would be calling us geniuses the next.
You were one of them, and sadly, if the reports of suicide are true, you will have added a tragedy to a life that gave us laughter, laughter that was as valuable and sweet as ice water in the Sahara Desert. Yes, I know that there will come out the ghouls, the right wing that will trumpet your death as God's will, while the Dennis Millers of the world grow to be ugly old men.
But I do not mourn for that, I mourn for the fact that someone who could inspire others could have not benfitted from that himself. I will not judge you, after all, I know very well that the disease you suffered can bring about storms of agony that it seems only death can calm (even though it does not.) and I can guess that you were confused about dealing with an age that took itself so fucking seriously that the Comedy networks were given the mantle of news network. If I am harsh, it is only because I do not want someone to imitate your final act, as opposed to the glorious performances before.
People, if you kill yourself, you will be missed, even by people you never knew.
Like I said Mr Williams, but I am not condeming you. In one of your unsung performaces, you spoke as Peter Pan, quoting his line that "Death will be a great adventure." Honestly, I do not wish to focus on that, as while some think it noble to die for a cause, the real heroism is to live life as it is, for what it is. There is the real adventure. Let all the noble self deluded paladins die fot this ideal or that god, the heroes are those whose laughter will make surviving the aftermath possible.
All the same, wherever you are, my what lies ahead of you be a great adventure. You deserved nothing less.
By the way, the movie line in my head is Hook, but also this one.
Too bad no one could pull you from the dark..for what it is worth, if anyone could emerge from such a dark place you could.
May what lies ahead be an adventure worthy of you.
to quote this movie though, let us ALL remember a quote
"it is NOT about understanding! It is about NOT GIVING UP!"
redwitch
(14,946 posts)Please take care of yourself.
DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)let us all take care of ourselves, and remember to laugh. After all, if the world does not take us seriously, it does no good for us to take the world seriously, especially as it is often a bad joke.
Wait Wut
(8,492 posts)I want everyone to know this. It needs to be shouted from the rooftops, plastered on billboards, announced on every news network.
You will be missed. Someone cares. Someone's heart will break.
I've been the heartbroken one several times, some, I 'never knew'. Please, everyone, remember this. Reach out before someone misses you.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)First I ever heard of it. And remember, "Diagnose That Celebrity" is a popular parlor game in our world.