Okay, so we are going through some tough times here, right? Be aware that for the past two decades we have ridden high on good wages, unlimited credit, piles of available goods and the expectation we can have what we want at any time we want it. Added to that we have suffered from the embarrassment of celebrity culture that has created some awful people, some horrendous behavior and Big Brother. Eek! The reason I don't like the program is because it creates celebrities with little or no talent unless it is that they are celebrities because they have been on Big Brother. The problem is that in Orwell's story the room 101 was where Winston Smith and Julia faced their worst nightmare and sibsequently betrayed each other. In our version the inmates face only minor humiliation and it is not life threatening. Except of course outside of the program when one celebrity with little or no talent other than her place on Big Brother is discovered to be ill with a rather nasty form of cancer.
Now, this is where I changed my opinion of the poor woman and began to wish her all the best in her fight to gain as much from the situation for her family as she possibly could. Her tragic circumstances and the media hype that was whipped up to help her maximise her profits is a brave attempt to gain the advantage in a financial climate that is as hostile as the cancer that invades her.
I do not like the persona that Jade Goody showed to the public but that does not mean that I have no sympathy for her in these tough times. In fact I must make a tribute to her and her efforts and offer my sympathy to her. Tough times for her and tough times for us but let us learn from her. Be brave and face the future however short or precarious and howver cock-eyed it may seem do what you do best and let things happen. Like Jade you may go under but there is always hope that those you leave behind will benefit from your sacrifice and survive the tough times.
