The investigation surrounding Michael Jackson’s death has reached a feverish point and is likened to a school of piranhas at a flesh eating feast. The issue, Michael’s excessive use of illegal drugs which ultimately contributed to his demise. From what is being reported, Michael began his use of prescription drugs following a horrible accident which occurred during the filming of a Pepsi commercial in which his scalp was severely burned. It’s also a known fact that Michael spent time in recovery for his addiction to pain killers. Obviously, rehab didn't help. And now the possible cause of death, the illegal use of Propofol.
In a perfect world, it would be wonderful if addiction wasn’t a reality. All those lives that have been stolen by addiction wouldn’t have been lost. But truth of the matter is, we don’t live in a perfect world and addiction is, like it or not, part of our society. Some kick the habit. Some struggle endlessly. And unfortunately there are those who are unable to overcome their addiction and remain an addictive slave which in the end robs them of their life.
With all the hype surrounding Michael’s addiction there seems to be this political correctness mentality taking shape in that, yes, Michael was a great artist, but he was a drug addict. Therefore, we shouldn’t honor him as highly as we are because of the “message” it sends to our children. In honoring Michael we are glorifying addiction. Well, ok. I understand. However, I think we all need to take a big ol' deep breath and pull back a minute. Yes, it’s sad that Michael lived with an addiction which caused his demise. But, before we put him down we all need to understand that addition comes in many forms and to some degree or another we are all, including myself, quality of some form of addition.
Sex, food and drink is just as addictive as any prescription drug, crystal meth, cocaine, tobacco, or in any combination thereof.
There is no doubt the abuse of prescription drugs has become an epidemic and because of this those who truly are in need of pain medication is finding it more and more difficult to gain access to them. Therefore, addicts are to blame. However, before we start pointing fingers at Michael Jackson, I think we all need to take an inventory of our own lives. We all have our crutches. We all have crosses to bare. We all have some sort of addiction. Therefore, to judge or ridicule another individual for their habits or addictions isn’t this a bit hypocritical when we are just as guilty of what might be perceived as a lesser addiction, nonetheless an addiction?
For some forty years I have been addicted to tobacco. I’ve always wanted to quit and have made numerous attempts at doing so but failed. Then a year ago I decided that it was time to really put my mind to the task of trying to quit. My plan … to stop smoking in my house. Well, I’ve succeeded at this and no longer smoke indoors and do not allow anyone else to do so. However, I am still battling the addiction.
I find it interesting that I can go for hours without smoking when I’m around those who don’t or sit in a non-smoking section and enjoy whatever time is spent dinning. But when I’m around some of my smoking friends or alone I have to admit that I do occasionally light up. Another thing I find interesting, when around those who are smoking, whether it be in or out doors, the smell is horrible which makes me wonder why I ever picked up the habit. As for the smell in my clothes, even worse! Now I understand why indoor smoking has been banned and I accept the ban. Just the smell alone is enough to put it outdoors!
Though I've cut my smoking habit from one pack per day to one per week, I constantly ask myself why I find it necessary to occasionally light up? Honestly, I really don’t know! Do I want to totally quit? Absolutely! But until I do, whether it be an occasional light up or not, I’m still addicted to tobacco. Nonetheless, my goal is still ahead of me ... to stop smoking and I believe that I will.
Yes, for whatever reasons, we all have our addictions. Some addictions are easier to overcome than others. But to point fingers at someone who might be more addicted to something that we’re not, I think we first need to take a look at ourselves in the mirror and make a change concerning our own habits and addictions before we judge and ridicule others for theirs.
One last note. Enough already about Michael Jackson. There are more important issues we need to worry about like the economy, unemployment, and booting Nancy Pelosi to the curb.
In a perfect world, it would be wonderful if addiction wasn’t a reality. All those lives that have been stolen by addiction wouldn’t have been lost. But truth of the matter is, we don’t live in a perfect world and addiction is, like it or not, part of our society. Some kick the habit. Some struggle endlessly. And unfortunately there are those who are unable to overcome their addiction and remain an addictive slave which in the end robs them of their life.
With all the hype surrounding Michael’s addiction there seems to be this political correctness mentality taking shape in that, yes, Michael was a great artist, but he was a drug addict. Therefore, we shouldn’t honor him as highly as we are because of the “message” it sends to our children. In honoring Michael we are glorifying addiction. Well, ok. I understand. However, I think we all need to take a big ol' deep breath and pull back a minute. Yes, it’s sad that Michael lived with an addiction which caused his demise. But, before we put him down we all need to understand that addition comes in many forms and to some degree or another we are all, including myself, quality of some form of addition.
Sex, food and drink is just as addictive as any prescription drug, crystal meth, cocaine, tobacco, or in any combination thereof.
There is no doubt the abuse of prescription drugs has become an epidemic and because of this those who truly are in need of pain medication is finding it more and more difficult to gain access to them. Therefore, addicts are to blame. However, before we start pointing fingers at Michael Jackson, I think we all need to take an inventory of our own lives. We all have our crutches. We all have crosses to bare. We all have some sort of addiction. Therefore, to judge or ridicule another individual for their habits or addictions isn’t this a bit hypocritical when we are just as guilty of what might be perceived as a lesser addiction, nonetheless an addiction?
For some forty years I have been addicted to tobacco. I’ve always wanted to quit and have made numerous attempts at doing so but failed. Then a year ago I decided that it was time to really put my mind to the task of trying to quit. My plan … to stop smoking in my house. Well, I’ve succeeded at this and no longer smoke indoors and do not allow anyone else to do so. However, I am still battling the addiction.
I find it interesting that I can go for hours without smoking when I’m around those who don’t or sit in a non-smoking section and enjoy whatever time is spent dinning. But when I’m around some of my smoking friends or alone I have to admit that I do occasionally light up. Another thing I find interesting, when around those who are smoking, whether it be in or out doors, the smell is horrible which makes me wonder why I ever picked up the habit. As for the smell in my clothes, even worse! Now I understand why indoor smoking has been banned and I accept the ban. Just the smell alone is enough to put it outdoors!
Though I've cut my smoking habit from one pack per day to one per week, I constantly ask myself why I find it necessary to occasionally light up? Honestly, I really don’t know! Do I want to totally quit? Absolutely! But until I do, whether it be an occasional light up or not, I’m still addicted to tobacco. Nonetheless, my goal is still ahead of me ... to stop smoking and I believe that I will.
Yes, for whatever reasons, we all have our addictions. Some addictions are easier to overcome than others. But to point fingers at someone who might be more addicted to something that we’re not, I think we first need to take a look at ourselves in the mirror and make a change concerning our own habits and addictions before we judge and ridicule others for theirs.
One last note. Enough already about Michael Jackson. There are more important issues we need to worry about like the economy, unemployment, and booting Nancy Pelosi to the curb.
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