People don't pay attention to an event or circumstance until it applies to them or until they feel some emotional pull. "Suicide" doesn't apply to smart, attractive, or popular, it applies to the social downcasts, the freaks, the maimed, the jobless, people with existing medical conditions, the poor, the hopeless...it certainly does NOT apply to mainstream America...because they can't fathom the causes. A guy in his 60's has a heart attack. Mourning, but not shock is our response. A guy in his 30's or 40's or someone who is "in shape" has the same journey and outcome and NOW people are shocked.
Some dark, brooding actor or musician commits suicide? "Well, that guy..."
Robin Williams, a hilarious, down-to-earth, highly successful comic? We're shocked.
Captain Brunette's journey and end shock us because that doesn't happen to intelligent, photogenic women in their 20's and 30's, it doesn't because they have "so much" in their life...why should they do it? "She had something to live for!"
A disease or issue shouldn't have a "poster child" but they usually do, the public needs to apply a "face" to the problem. Captain Brunette's death is tragic, but maybe this cause has found "a face" with which the public can identify. The cheerleader/ prom queen/ sorority sister looking woman kills herself? That's a vastly different narrative than some maimed, grizzled homeless vet because we "expect" those guys to do it in droves. That's the narrative society sees.
This is a tragedy, but if the cause now has a "face" then maybe the issue will gain some traction and just maybe a new slice of America will take notice. I want to believe that not only has she found peace, but also that her sacrifice pushes the dialogue forward.
I want to believe that, particularly the former.
Anyone who looks at her photo and thinks "She's hot" and then stops there...that's as deep as they dig...those people make me want to believe in hell.
Blue Skies, Captain.
Some dark, brooding actor or musician commits suicide? "Well, that guy..."
Robin Williams, a hilarious, down-to-earth, highly successful comic? We're shocked.
Captain Brunette's journey and end shock us because that doesn't happen to intelligent, photogenic women in their 20's and 30's, it doesn't because they have "so much" in their life...why should they do it? "She had something to live for!"
A disease or issue shouldn't have a "poster child" but they usually do, the public needs to apply a "face" to the problem. Captain Brunette's death is tragic, but maybe this cause has found "a face" with which the public can identify. The cheerleader/ prom queen/ sorority sister looking woman kills herself? That's a vastly different narrative than some maimed, grizzled homeless vet because we "expect" those guys to do it in droves. That's the narrative society sees.
This is a tragedy, but if the cause now has a "face" then maybe the issue will gain some traction and just maybe a new slice of America will take notice. I want to believe that not only has she found peace, but also that her sacrifice pushes the dialogue forward.
I want to believe that, particularly the former.
Anyone who looks at her photo and thinks "She's hot" and then stops there...that's as deep as they dig...those people make me want to believe in hell.
Blue Skies, Captain.
