Youth Heroes - A Double Standard
Some of the most famous heroes of our youth have met with a
terrible end. Some have died from drug overdoses while others
have succumbed to alcohol, committed suicide or something worse.
What kind of message does this leave?
As a boy I danced and shook to the music of Elvis Presley along
with the rest of the kids in my generation. I was shocked to
hear how he died from the usage of drugs but even when I heard
of his death I still was unable to gather the significance of
it. I've had decades to ponder the significance of it and I am
sure it doesn't fall under the heading of good experiences from
my childhood. It is less confusing than it was when I first
heard of it but I am far too old now to just pass it off with a
one word cover all like, tragedy.
It is far worse than tragedy, it is an experience that if not
carefully examined and weighed would slip by without anyone
noticing that it is a dangerous double standard that our youth
rarely ever see until they are dangerously close to repeating it
in their own lives.
No one would argue that Jimmy Hendrix was an innovative rock and
roll musician but he died from a drug overdose. No one would say
they didn't think Janis Joplin did a bang up job with songs like
"Bobby McGee" but she's another drug overdose casualty. John
Belushi made us all laugh but he joined the ranks of the dead by
drugs in his prime.
Enter the suicides like Curt Cobain, Freddy Prinze, and the list
goes on. It isn't the lives, the talents or the careers of these
people that falls into question; perhaps it is not even how they
died that is the biggest double standard. What we say about
these people following their deaths is the real problem.
To constantly refer to the talents, the lifestyles or the fame
of these people without regard to the matter of how they met
their end is a dangerous oversight. It is a way of saying that
death from suicide or drug overdose goes with the territory.
Media exemplifies and extols their lives for the media sake, not
for the youth who purvey the pop culture in search of role
models and icons. In many cases it is hard enough to explain the
lives they lived much less their deaths.
Showing kids fried eggs and comparing that to their brains on
drugs will have little effect if we continue to glorify the
lives of those who fried their own brains to the point of death.
If we keep feeding our youth the business of their lives how
won't they also be fed by the manner of their deaths?
I still have fond remembrances of days when I danced to the
music of the King. I'm now glad to say I have decided to dance
to the tune of a new King. This King never took drugs, didn't
commit suicide and beat death instead of using it to cop out.
His death produces life for others; in fact there is no life
without him.
Jesus may have lived the lowly life of a suffering Messiah but
the Bible says he will return as the omnipotent ruling "King of
Kings and Lords of Lords." Revelation 19:16 No one can say with
certainty that any of the previous mentioned kings, icons or
heroes will ever be seen or heard from again so I think I'll
stay with the promise I've discovered. How about you, how about
your kids?