After reading some of the more recent posts, I feel I have to speak up. I owe it to Heath Ledger, and to many of those who have grieved
his death.
Yes, there has been an enormous amount of speculation, gossip, and even slander about the circumstances of his death. And these should
be resisted. But, in doing so, it is a hurt in the opposite direction to make it all nicey-nice, an unexpected accident, and all was well with Heath
before he died. It wasn't, and that can't be covered up or air-brushed out. Something was wrong, those last months, and arguably, this kind
soul, who often could not express himself with regard to his hurts, could only signal the inner pain that was assaulting him from some direction.
*the photos from London---look at his eyes. Yes, he had pnuemonia, but the sadness there was awesome.
*look at a few of the formal photos on that same page. They bear no resemblance to the happy Heath we knew. They don't even
resemble him. One looks like 20 years of hard times squeezed into a few months, aging him almost beyond recognition.
*am sorry-the formal painting, showing 3 Heaths, is not playful, nor artistic posing, not simple self-exploration. That painting is grotesque,
and shows a man in deep turmoil.
*the early news reports contained much garbage, but also professional reporting from verified sources (including neighbors and friends) and
those reports said he had aged 20 years and was deeply depressed. Those credible reports were yanked off the networks along with the
garbage reports.
I do well understand the different approaches to grieving. I easily understand that we should not wallow in whatever was going on in those
months. And I have zero problem with moving to a focus on the happy times and the great contributions this man made to tolerance and
decency.
But not at the price of a complete, phony, cover-up of convenience. Because one thing is NOT speculation---Heath was in trouble. And
he was showing that the only way he knew how (some people cannot verbalize their pain, but can only signal, or hint, in hopes someone will
get the message sent).
What that pain was---yes, that is speculation. But it existed, is there before our very eyes, and I, for one, feel we owe it to Heath to
get the message he sent, even if it was too late. We owe him that. And THEN, having given him what he asked for---empathy for whatever
darkness was assaulting him, THEN, this good man would want us to....move on. Not until then.
He would not want us to wallow in that darkness. He would want us to hear and see, finally, that his pain was understood. And then from
there, a celebration of his life. I can only speak for myself. I got his message. I will never agree to gloss over his suffering. I owe him that,
and this post. No cover-up. Accepting the joys.....and the pains. Both.
