Posted on 03/05/2005 7:53:50 AM PST by Caleb1411
In death, as in life, Hunter S. Thompson continues to exemplify, glorify and, I fear, popularize everything that we as a society have tried to eradicate. His career was spawned by luridly detailed accounts of lurching through life in an alcoholic stupor, sobering up only long enough to partake in brain-twisting acid trips and drug binges that should have left him in a coma. It's a wonder he found time to skewer the prominent politicians of his day with the tireless ranting and scathing wit for which he will forever be remembered.
Now, as Hunter's generation looks back on the last 30 years with a mixture of excitement and fear (excited to have been a part of it -- fear that our kids will find out what we did), Thompson again hurls himself into relevance. Once again, he did it by glorifying that which polite society abhors. He shot himself in the head.
Undiagnosed depression is the No. 1 cause of suicide. Everyone knows that today. We have billboards that proclaim it. We wear yellow ribbons. Teenagers are told to take their friends seriously when they speak of killing themselves. When someone ends their life, it's a tragedy -- unless you're Hunter S. Thompson.
The headlines proclaimed that Hunter died as he had lived. We learned of how the family supported his decision and that he'd talked about it for years. Plans of shooting his ashes out of a cannon are fodder for the talk-show vultures. When Hunter S. Thompson commits suicide, it's hip, it's cool, it's his last great act of rebellion. Most of all, it's a media event.
Not for me. Maybe I'm a little old-fashioned, but I still think it's a tragedy when someone ends their life. Call me prudish, but when the family announces they support
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Brian Allen wrote:
Hate? What a peculiar and presumptuous judgement to make. I trust you realize it is a projection, though, considering that I remainly dispassionately objective -- and you are the only one here talking about feelings.
That is: I wrote what I think, what I believe, what I know -- and you, having read it, told me how you choose to feel.
No Dope = No Hope
thompson's 70's and the anti-vietnam war shoulb be viewed as
cultural suicide.
i want a refund.
for destroying my country and my life!
Wish libs would make up their minds. Did sKerry's loss add to HST's depression or not?
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