Oh dear. Whitney Houston has really hit the skids.

Are you calling him a crackhead because he's black?

Bill, what exactly are you trying to say? Is being a "crackhead" limited to black people only? I was under the impression that anyone can be a crackhead- any by the way, I didn't name that video. I would have said "goofball".

I don't get it. He could be developmentally challenged. How is this supposed to demonstrate compassion for life?

Bill, I have to be honest with you. If I found out the man was developmentally challenged rather than on drugs, I would feel terrible for having posted the video. It's been going around and I thought it was funny- because the assumption was that he is stoned. My only intent was to make people laugh- not to poke fun at anyone who has a disability. I'm sorry for having offended you.

Also, when I get home I'll replace this video with a different one. I can't seem to do it from my laptop.

Bill,

I've met crackheads, meth-heads and stoners of all races. Drugs are not exclusively used by minorities; nothing in the video implies that and no commenters have implied that. What in this video gives you the impression a) that it is not highly probable that he is under the influence (check out his eyes) b) that race and hard drugs are linked?

I think he can't carry a tune in a bucket and doesn't know the words to "Amazing Grace." That's all I can determine from watching the video.

IF he IS on drugs, this video is sad.

IF he HAS developmental problems, this video is sad.

Either way, I find absolutely NO HUMOR at all in poking fun at someone with problems. I'd rather pray for them than publically post their humiliation online.

I'm surprised by this one...I really am.

Kanye West's latest attempt at winning a Video Music Award.

yor bro ken

Bethany,

When that fellow sobers up and regains control of his life then he will look back on this 'Kodak' moment with embarassment and gratefulness that the grace he tried to sing about was able to save, heal and deliver a wretch like him.

We were all once vessels (think chamberpots) of wrath just one more chip away from the scrap heap, but that 'amazing grace' changed into vessels of HIS mercy.

We all get saved from something(s) to some ONE.

yor bro ken

One of Bill Cosby's schticks was to recount how he used to attempt to sing hymns, with which he was not familiar, withwithout the benefit of a hymnal and it sounded very similar to this fellow.

If the poor fellow had made the effort to be at my funeral and attempted to honor my memory by singing the only song that vaguely remained in his drug addled brain, then I would say leave him alone and let him sing.

He is doing the best he can do in his present condition.

Who could ask for more than that?

(But I have to confess, if there are tears in heaven, then I would have a mixture of tears of laughter and tears of sorrow running down my face as I heard this fellow singing.)

yor bro ken

"If I found out the man was developmentally challenged rather than on drugs, I would feel terrible for having posted the video. It's been going around and I thought it was funny- because the assumption was that he is stoned. My only intent was to make people laugh- not to poke fun at anyone who has a disability."

Bethany,

Wow, wow, wow, wow, WOW! I'm surprised people that are on drugs amuse you.

Apparently, you have never had a close friend or family member with a drug or alcohol-related problem.

Let me tell you, there is absolutely NOTHING funny about it.

But hey, whatever floats your boat.

kbhvac said, "If the poor fellow had made the effort to be at my funeral and attempted to honor my memory by singing the only song that vaguely remained in his drug addled brain, then I would say leave him alone and let him sing.

He is doing the best he can do in his present condition.

Who could ask for more than that?"

THANK YOU! IF he is on drugs that's the same exact thought I had. It's the thought that counts. He is more than welcome to sing exactly how he sang here at my funeral. I would be honored. :)

I've seen this going around facebook lately too. The man is not on drugs, he's mentally handicapped, I researched it. I think it's touching, not funny. Please have some respect.

Erin,

Would you feel the same IF he were on drugs?

Bethany, apology accepted. I can understand that your perspective of the video was not the result of ill-will and therefore did not influence your posting of it.

Kind of reminded me of a funny video I saw years ago of former President Bush 43, who obviously is very bright, accomplished and moral, intoxicated and slurring his speech at the wedding of a family friend. But, haha, I suppose the camera caught him off guard.

Although he is Reborn, Bush was addicted to the drink and cocaine earlier in life. So I guess you could replace your post with the video I'm talking about and title it "Never let a cokehead speak at your wedding."

Thank you so much for having understanding, Bill. You have really helped encourage me with your last post.

You are right that I truly would never mean ill will, and never would make fun of someone simply for having an illness that they had no control over.

Thanks for understanding- (and now I have to see if I can find that video of Bush). :-P

Woah, woah, woah. Bethany has been covering for me. I was the one who posted that video yesterday, not Bethany. Blame me if it was an insensitive post. I'm sorry.

Jill,

(note Bethany's comment bolded here)

Bill, I have to be honest with you. If I found out the man was developmentally challenged rather than on drugs, I would feel terrible for having posted the video. It's been going around and I thought it was funny- because the assumption was that he is stoned. My only intent was to make people laugh- not to poke fun at anyone who has a disability. I'm sorry for having offended you.

Posted by: bethany at September 15, 2009 4:27 PM

It seems as though she said she posted it. (and the by-line was her's as well) but I'll take your word for it that you posted it and not her. However, that wasn't my issue at all.

MY PROBLEM was with Bethany's comments that it would be ok to laugh at a drug addict (if indeed he were one), but NOT a developmentally-challenged person because one is a problem one can have control over, and the other problem they don't.

Her comments were naive, ignorant and insensitive.

"There by the grace of God go I".

I really hope that Bethany never has someone close or dear to her have a problem with drugs. I'd feel really badly for the other person, though, because apparently Bethany thinks it's ok to laugh AT them.

I found her mindset insensitive, not the video. Again, I would be honored, whether the gentleman in the video was developmentally challenged, or high on crack, to sing at my funeral because it was a nice gesture, he did his best, and sang one of my favorite songs.

Marie, I am very sorry that you are suffering through a time where a friend or loved one has a problem with drugs. It's not easy, I know that. Believe me.

You're right- I DO believe there is a huge difference in someone being born with a disability that they can't control, and being influenced by a drug or alcohol that they made a choice to put in their body. I'm sorry, I don't think I am naive or insensitive to say this- I have had a LOT of experience with family members who are on drugs. They made a choice (and they almost always do it for very selfish reasons).

This is NOT to say that I don't sympathize with them or care about them, Marie. Please don't confuse these two ideas.

I do think that the choices we make in life and that we sometimes make ourselves look silly, and sometimes yes, things that we do will look funny to others.

And YES, I do realize how serious a drug addiction is. It's terrible. If you don't get anything else out of what I said, get that.

That doesn't take away from the fact that sometimes they do things that are actually in fact funny.

I'm sorry, sometimes a person who is on drugs or influenced by alcohol does things that can make you laugh.

Take Bill's video of Bush, for instance. I went to Youtube and found it. That was really funny, and I think that Bush himself would probably be laughing if he watched it. (he has a great sense of humor)

I don't think that by my laughing about it I am insensitive or uncaring- I love George Bush. My laughing about his moment of foolish behavior while drunk is NOT an indication that I think I am better than him or that I dislike him or whatever it is that you think it implies.

It simply means I saw something and found it funny.

And I didn't look at George Bush at the Wedding and say, "haha, it's so funny that he had a drinking problem!", I thought, Haha, the things he's saying are funny".

I probably will never get you to understand, but there was a try anyway.

Bethany,

"Marie, I am very sorry that you are suffering through a time where a friend or loved one has a problem with drugs. It's not easy, I know that. Believe me."

I'm not. But "been there, done that".

"I probably will never get you to understand, but there was a try anyway."

Why would you say that? I truly appreciate your reply, and I do understand, and I thank you for explaining your side of things to me.

I guess I have to remember to realize that no two people will have the same reaction to something like this.

Take Whitney Houston's reality show, for example. I couldn't watch it because I physically cried for her. I felt bad for her. I saw how drugs were ruining her life, what she was like before them, and what happened to her for simply getting involved with the wrong people/person. On the flip side, others thought it was funny, and tuned in to every episode to see her make a fool out of herself. I look at her now (from Oprah's interview) and see a burned out Whitney Houston. She may have overcome drugs, but it took such a horrible toll on her appearance, voice, etc. She looks "hard" now.

When I see show like "Cops", and see someone high on drugs, I feel the same way I do for Whitney. I see a tragedy in front of my eyes. Laughter never comes out, no matter how ridiculous they may look.

Every single time I see someone that may be high on drugs, I PRAY for them and their families. I do the same thing when I hear the sound of ambulance sirens, or see something horrible that happened to someone on the news.

Maybe I'm just getting sensitive in my older age. There was a time when I laughed, too, and I regret those times now.

I'm sorry if I was hard on you. I let my emotions get the best of me, as this is not an open wound, but an extremely sore spot for me.

And, I can't help to think in every sad situation that I see, that "there by the Grace of God go I" (or a loved one).

Thank you Bethany for opening up about your feelings and allowing me to do the same.
I am truly sorry if I upset you in any way over the way I feel while disregarding the way that you feel. We are individuals!

Have a super evening and thanks again.

Marie, you made me feel so much better. I really appreciate your reply...and I'm sorry that I hit a sore spot with you- and i'm also sorry that I misjudged you and said that I might not be able to get you to see my point of view. I feel so much better now that we have come to an understanding.