I don’t know much about Downey…or Strawberry or comparable English actors, etc. And what I do know is gossip, not news. These people have absolutely no impact on my life, other than being fellow human beings.
But since awareness has intruded it’s hard to understand how anyone could offer anything but sympathy and head-shaking tough love. They’re gifted, high-visiblity people who’ve messed up. Not an excuse but not an instant sentence either.
It’s tempting to think, “how could you toss that all away?” But every person–passerby, street person, star or whatever–has internal fissures. They’ve all “tossed things away”. Being gifted and blest isn’t a free pass, but it doesn’t exempt a person from ordinary human compassion.
Nobody can tell what will break another person. But I’m damned sure Downey and Strawberry didn’t set out to mess up any more than raving street people did.
And I beg to differ on the “tattling” issue. This is about no one but Downey. Piggy-backing onto personal experience isn’t relevant. Downey has a track record of losing control, wandering, and presenting a danger to himself and others. It’s sad but true–and his reality, which is the only thing under discussion right now.
He’s fighting demons right now, which doesn’t make him a victim or an icon–just human.
Nice , Mr. Bear, too bad you didn’t continue with your quote from the link where the police stated “no weapons were found”.
So, an anonymous caller calls to say some one has drugs, weapons etc in the room, turns out the weapons weren’t there, and wow - look it happens to be a celebrity.
I have no problem with Mr. Downey being subject to the terms of his parole, as he should be. However, I tend to be suspicious of the anonymous caller gig, and in this case, would really suspect that next week in the National Enquirer or some other rag, there’ll be the ‘harrowing’ story of the hotel employee who made the call. They didn’t mention if the caller had ID’d Mr. Downey himself, but seems that the media was out in full force. That’s where I think it’s unfair -not excusing his behavior - but that there’s some other factors here.
If it’d been Joe Drug Addict, would the anonymous call even have been made? only enquiring minds will know next week.
I agree that drugs should not be illegal. If the matter comes up for a vote, I’ll vote for it. (I also voted for Prop. 36 here in California)
But for the time being, they are illegal. If we’re gonna have laws, they should apply to everyone equally. Maybe if RDJ has do time in the state pen, he’ll hit bottom and decide he wants recovery. So far, the star treatment he’s gotton from the California justice system has just been enableing him.