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[weaktwos]

The true testament of a famous person's life is how many strangers miss that person when they are gone. It's also a testament to how much they publicized themselves, for if they didn't get airtime, we wouldn't notice their absence.

Christopher Reeve was an inspiration, as many people in livejournal here have already mentioned. It is nice to see someone who played a superhero behave like a hero in real life. Given his adversity, just breathing is an inspiration, but he went above an beyond that. That is truly admirable.

Of all things, for such a great man to be cut down by a pressure wound infection is a big bummer. I figure, if I'm going to die, I want it to be in some final dramatic battle, like wrestling a cranky bear. Sure, the fight won't last too long, especially if the bear gets the first hit...

Comments

[denimdoll.livejournal.com]

I didn't see him as much of an inspiration until I read his autobiography. It's amazing he survived for as long as he did when most people would have given up.

[imlac.livejournal.com]

All due respect to Reeve, but I think it says something about our culture that his death has made headlines, while no one has said anything at all about the death of Jacques Derrida. It's kinda like a few years ago when WWF wrestler Bret "The Hitman" Hert (I believe it was) died and news of his death totally overshadowed the death of Shell Silverstein, one of the best children's poets to have ever lived.

[weaktwos.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was contemplating this as I wrote this post. When you occupy a place in pop culture like Reeve did, people will be more aware of your passing. I don't think there is a way to resolve that.

Mourning has no reflection on the person who dies, really. It is a function of the living.

[dangermouse74.livejournal.com]

ok i after seeing this i had to comment and first off i had to lookup on google Jacques Derrida cause i never even heard fo him. and i still have no clue who he was. I didn't know that he was alive let alone died, so i certainly find it acceptable and appropriate to see Christopher Reeve in the news over him.

And as for Bret the Hitman Hart, well, that had a lot to do as well with the wrongs of Vince McMahon (or are you talking about his brother who fell from the rafters in some dumb stunt that they shoudn't have had him doing) and problems with wrestling. besides which just he was a popular figure many people knew.

I don't see anything wrong with that. popularity and how well you are know doesn't equate directly to how important or influential or meaningingful you are or your life is. Just how many people know you and in what circles. Doesn't make Bret any better or more important than Shel, just more people probably knew him, and knew him by name and likeness.

I am curious as to what you think that says about our culture and why that might be bad.

[dangermouse74.livejournal.com]

he was a fighter indeed, and it is sad he lost his battle. and as you alluded to, it is sad when you see someone who you feel is a good strong person felled by mere microscopic viruses and things. It just doesn't seem right and reminds us how frail the human body really can be.