Thursday, July 10, 2008

Celebrity Moms: Our New Faux Heroes



I am tired of seeing these new-mom celebrities and their newborns on the covers of magazine recycling the same ol tired retort about how motherhood 'changed their life', how motherhood is so 'wonderful', or how courageous or honorable these mags make it seem like. Like we're suppose to worship them cause they gave birth. It is just so played. And every month, its a new celebrity mom, in a glammed out photo spread cuddling her lil bald-headed, wrinkled offspring. They are heroes or saviors or saints cause they had a child.

Not to mention these people are millionaires and can hire all the help they need. I bet you motherhood is pretty sweet when you can hire the best help while you review your latest script, record your next album, plan your world tour and get in 2 hours daily with your personal trainer. I feel like the mags want us to admire them and their faux strength.

Who the hell cares?

I'd have more admiration for a real mom, with a real job raising healthy kids in real life. That takes strength, guts, determination and a strong head on your shoulders.
And I think this OK spread on Jamie Lynn Spears sets a bad example for teenage pregnancies.



*eyeroll*

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Death Is Not A Better Place



The recent news that a friends' father had passed away got me thinking about how some of the religious or goo-intentioned, I should also add have a tendency to try and make you feel better by saying that the deceased has gone on to a better place.

Always disappointing.

While I try my best not to get angry when someone says this (and luckily I don't think anyone said it to me when my father died) it is a bit disappointing to me because it feels like a cliched response, as well as, one that plainly gives me no comfort.

He's in a better place.

Looking at the situation realistically and using my father's death as an example, why would he be in a better place, in death? Even if you believe in an afterlife, which neither he nor I do, there is still a vast amount of uncertainty in where you actually go after death so how can you really believe that that unknown abyss is better? You know what life has to offer, at least I do. But what does death have to offer? My honest opinion: nothing and a great nothingness.

The other argument here is for an ailing person or one who died of a terminal illness, as my father did. I guess death and the end of their pain would still be a better option, right? Again, still gives me no comfort. Because I know in my heart that if given the choice between life and its possibilities and potentials and death and its unknown uncertainty, I would always choose life along with a clean bill of health. I honestly, truly believe there is nothing more precious than life.

And if given a choice I know my father would have chosen life, with me, in good health of course.

For that, ultimately, would be his heaven.