Heath Ledger’s death triggers personal reflection

By: Gracie Mullen-Thompson
Posted In: Opinion

A few days ago, I wanted to write this article with ammo, unleashing a weapon against a society star-crossed, vain, and borderline obsessive in its love of the self, and for that matter, celebrities.

Today, I sit down to write this article with a bit more compassion than the angry, stubborn girl failing to see the tragedy in the loss of Heathcliff Andrew Ledger.

On January 22, 2008, I was annoyed. Annoyed by the ripple effect that the death of celebrity had caused amongst peers, parents, and people I had never met. One celebrity had died, overdosing on prescription medication, when thousands of people were dying everyday across the nation, hundreds of thousands across the globe.

Our society is infiltrated and seduced by pop-culture, and I was pissed-off. I went over to the computer and noticed friend’s away messages branding “R.I.P. H.L.” and articles online with titles such as “Actor Heath Ledger Dies at 28,” and “Ledger’s Death Caused by Accidental Overdose.”

It seemed that everywhere I went, Ledger’s name flashed across my face. I was sick of it. There was a war going on in Iraq, starving children in Africa, as well as in our own country, and people dying everyday. As cold as it sounds to some, what was one more.especially a “pop-star”?

So what if he has done an outstanding job acting in 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, Monster’s Ball, A Knight’s Tale, and Brokeback Mountain? Academy-Award winner he was, I could care less. On January 22, 2008 and the week thereafter, Ledger remained in my eyes an actor, quite short of being a hero to any extent. On January 22, 2008, Heathcliff “Heath” Ledger, the Academy-Award winning actor, had died of a drug overdose and I could have cared less because he was acting, not out saving the world.

Today I sit writing, possibly wiser, possibly softer, about the death of a man.the death of a human being. Actor, hero, regardless, he was a person, a person who passed away after 28 years of life, and left behind a daughter, a mother, a father, a wife. He had friends, family, dreams, and hopes, all of which vanished like the last pill to touch his tongue. Life as we know it, as he knew it, escaped him, or possibly welcomed him warmly. Whatever the virtue, whatever the outcome, is not for me to suppose, or for any priest to judge, and is beyond anything we can ever imagine.

Where Heath Ledger is now, I cannot say, I simply understand that a fellow human being has passed on, restlessly enchanted into an eternal slumber. I look at the death of Heath Ledger today, a week and half later, with sober understanding, on death, the unknown, compassion, and the fragility of life.

Whether it be 28, 5 or 95 years of existence, we are all tunneling to the same destination.

It is essential that we remember to breathe, relax, and just enjoy the ride, because one day it will all come to a screeching halt, and at that point, there is no turning back.

Today, I wrote this article thinking about all the people in my life that had passed away.

I remembered how much I missed them, and thought about how much their life was worth, regardless of their profession, gender, age. Today, I remembered how much I actually enjoyed watching 10 Things I Hate About You when I was younger.

Rest In Peace Heath Ledger, you will be missed.