People have no respect for anybody these days. As I’m sure all of you know, Whitney Houston, 48, has passed away after an incident that occurred at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Apparently she mixed a deadly amount of Xanax and alcohol. After doing this, she got into the bathtub and this is where she took her last breath. Now that we’re all caught up, let’s continue.

So many people are talking about how Ms. Houston was a washed up drug addict that because of her money, was capable of getting herself better. People that have dealt with addiction and know people who have dealt with addiction, are well aware that it is not that easy. We think we know these celebrities because they and their families are harassed with paparazzi and they air some of their private lives in order to gain an income. Then, once they pass away, we feel we have a right to judge what they did right, what they did wrong, and yet have no sympathy for the real scenario that is playing out.

Whitney Houston not only had a daughter, but she had an entire family and tons of friends who supported her and were standing by her side as she attempted to make changes. Beyond that, we don’t know what led her to use drugs in the first place. Some people handle traumatic instances differently than another and can’t judge the other person for not dealing with it in the same way they would have. That is just ignorant to believe that there is one way, and one way only, to react to any given situation. That is utter bullshit.

Dealing with an addiction is a hard thing to do, and personally, I don’t feel it’s our right to judge. Yes, many people in America deal with this issue and many of those people do end up on the streets. But let me ask you one thing: What would you do if your son and/or daughter, for whatever reason, turned to drugs and had a nearly impossible time turning away? Would you disown him/her and think of him/her as a washed up drug addict? I would hope not.

Like I said, each person in this world has incidences in their life or a family history of addiction that led to their demise. Those who have a history we can’t understand (molestation, rape, abuse of any kind, and so on and so on) have trouble coping. Just because you’ve been a success in life and may have a stronger will that keeps you from going down the wrong path, doesn’t mean that you have a right to judge those you don’t understand. I have MANY friends and family members who have dealt with being addicted to something, some of which have died. They were and/or are good people, who when off of drugs, were/are kind, caring, great, talented people. They were/are NOT washed up drug addicts. She had money, yes, but she still had deep-rooted emotional issues. Money can’t buy you happiness. This story of Whitney Houston’s death is proof.

The insensitivity that many people have had after hearing the news of an icon baffles me. She had provided this generation as well as many others with entertainment for many years and what do you do? Laugh when you discover that she was unable to kick her habit and instead died after years of struggle. And again, she DID NOT die from crack like many of you have implied. Although, to me, that wouldn’t make a difference because she’s still responsible for many accomplishments in her life.

The only PERSON (celebrity or not) that I have ever said something bad about after their death was Michael Jackson. I’m saying this because I want this article to reflect my exact opinions. I spoke poorly of Mr. Jackson because I feel he was guilty of the molestation charges that were brought against him. I know he was an icon and an amazing musician who had a very troubled childhood. He also was very into drugs, just no one really cared, because these drugs weren’t illegal. And neither were the ones that Whitney took on the night she passed. Just thought that was worth pointing out.

My message to you: have some respect and imagine if she were someone you knew, not someone you THOUGHT you knew.

Related articles

• Whitney Houston Dead at 48 (thenewx1023.radio.com)
• Rewind: Wendy Williams’ Tearful Breakdown Over Whitney Houston’s Death (crunktastical.net)
• Tony Bennett’s Response to Whitney Houston’s Death: Legalize It [Whitney Houston] (gawker.com)
• Whitney Houston Dead At 48 (alan.com)
• Whitney Houston, Dead at 48 (collegecandy.com)
• Whitney Houston’s death unleashes mourning, produces questions (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
• Whitney Houston death: Bathtub drowning among scenarios probed (latimesblogs.latimes.com)