I read the news today and learned that rapper Chris Kelley
had passed away due to a drug overdose. I myself am not
a fan of this genre of music, but that is not the point of this rant.
The point is that another bright, intelligent, talented young star
had succumbed to the curse of bright lights and fame...drugs.
(Watch Kriss Kross video "Jump" and tell me he was not a bright and
promising young man...)
How did he get from there to last night?
This has been going on for a very long time. Does anyone remember
the 1950 Disney classic Treasure Island? Bobby Driscoll who played the role
of the boy Jim Hawkins was a major star...dead from drugs 1968.
Brad Renfro, Corey Haim, Heath Ledger, River Phoenix.
The list is really way too long and I'm not going to include it here, but
I shutter when I see photos of and read stories about Miley Cyrus,
Macaulay Culkin and Justin Beiber. I am outraged that we as a society
accept this slaughter of our youngest and brightest.
These children are surrounded by people who know and do not
intervene. Parents, brothers, sisters, friends, mentors, managers, agents,
directors, producers, writers, choreographers, trainers, teachers,
fans and assistants.
Sadly, these may be the same people who actually introduce them to
the agents of their demise.
Is there REALLY nothing that can be done?