The Explorer : A life well lived. A life too short.

Karra Gardin, Arts and Entertainment Editor
April 4, 2012
Filed under Arts & Entertainment

Michael Jackson, 2009. Lena Horne, 2010. Amy Winehouse, 2011. Whitney Houston, 2012. Over the past four years, major contributors to the music industry and pop culture have departed, way too early many would agree.
On Saturday, February 11 just before 4pm, Whitney was found dead in her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills. The Thursday evening before her death, she performed with singer Kelly Price at a Hollywood Club, making that her last public appearance. According to Price, Whitney was happy and seemed fine, ?Whitney on Thursday night was one of the girls,? Price said to Entertainment Weekly.
A coroner?s report recently released showed that drug use did in fact did contribute to the singer?s death.
?The first thing I thought about [once I heard about her death] was all the great tracks she offered to the musical world,? Music Appreciation club moderator Tony Rodriguez.
There is no doubt about Houston?s impact on pop culture. However, images on Facebook labeled ?One dies, a million cry. One million die, no one cries? featuring Houston next to starving children in Africa has surfaced criticizing the media?s extensive coverage on her death.
Is society?s obsession with Hollywood celebrities taking over coverage of what?s really important in the world. ??[The media] did the same thing for Michael Jackson and I think his coverage was too excessive,? senior Tatyana Lark said.
On the other hand, images such as those seen on Facebook can be viewed as hypocritical and judgmental. ?People that try to prove that point need to examine their own conscious as well,? Rodriguez said.
Her funeral, held on Saturday, February 18, was broad casted on major TV networks such as CNN and Fox so family and fans alike could celebrate and mourn the passing of Houston.
?I don?t think the funeral should have been televised because funerals are times for close family members to grieve together without the whole world watching them,? sophomore Lauren McGary said.
Regardless, respecting the privacy of her family and respecting those who mourn her death is certainly most appropriate in this situation.
After weeks of investigation, the coroner has not established an exact cause for her death. But speculation about murder has erupted from major gossip enterprises such as TMZ. However, there is no evidence to back up those claims.
?Because of how famous she was and how iconic she was, it does make sense that her die hard fans would be sad,? Lark said. And, with such a remarkable career as Houston?s, there is no doubt that her legacy will be passed on for many generations to come.

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