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For the record, let me say that I am and always will be a Nirvana fan. Kurt Cobain was on the verge of becoming one of the most interesting song writers ever. Hell, he may have reached that point before his tragic death. But his death was tragic, not because we lost him, but because any life lost in a foolish manner is tragic. I respect the fact that Kurt Cobain and the band he belonged to was very supportive of not only the unheard, and the ignored, but also of the lost and hopeless. He also challenged people to get rid of racist and homophobic ideals. For that, I do respect him. But I also feel that his end decision was selfish and irrational.
Reading the editorials in Rolling Stone about a week after Cobain's suicide, I came upon this entry. I read it all the way through without realizing who had written it. I guess an article was trying to compare John Lennon's tragedy with Kurt Cobain's. This letter was submitted... I agreed completely.
Dear RS:
I find the comparisons between Kurt Cobain and John Lennon misleading to the young people in the world today who may not have heard Lennon's music. Both were incredibly gifted songwriters, but as for inspirational figures, the two could not have been more distant.
Lennon sang of peace, starting over, going cold turkey and starting a revolution. Cobain sang of apathy, lithium, and just may have inspired a generation that suicide is the only way out. Lennon was taken from us with a body of work spanning almost four decades; Cobain took himself from us after four albums.
When Nirvana came out, they were supposed to be a reaction against rock's traditional values--they talked of having morals about yourself, your sexuality, politics and the world around you. Then why is it that Cobain decided that his fans were more worthy of his life than his own daughter? As I hold my two sons listening to "Beautiful Boy" by John Lennon, I feel heartbroken. For Frances Bean. Suicide is the ultimate act of selfishness. Megalomania. Cowardice.
John Lennon was a father and a man. Kurt Cobain killed himself before he had the chance to become either.
Sebastian Bach (Skid Row)
One last thing. Suicide is something that we've all thought about. And thinking it and doing it are two different things. Anyone who believes that people won't care or be hurt are sadly mistaken. I was fortunate to have figured that out in advance. I only hope that others out there do the same...
© 1997 hawkeye_boy@yahoo.com
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