Issue: Should others be blamed for Whitney's drug abuse?

Houston needed real friends

THE EDITOR, Sir:

CNN's Piers Morgan has, over the past few days, featured the tragic death of incredible entertainer Whitney Houston. Piers has been interviewing Whitney's producers, music peers, and even politicians, seemingly in an attempt to prompt them to consider culpability in her death.

With the exception of Chaka Khan, no one agreed with Piers' suggestion that just as someone was responsible for her travel, accommodation and nutrition arrangements, someone must be responsible for her demise!

Persons sat with Piers and proudly took responsibility for her success but denied any hand in her failure. Friends reminisced about their association with the glory days of her life, but had no similar willingness to associate with the sadness of her death.

Past and present security personnel boasted of their ability to keep her secure from the grasp of screaming crowds. But these same persons had no sense of responsibility to keep her safe from alchohol or other stimulants to which she was addicted.

So she died, possibly alone - unless the rumours are true that persons conveniently extricated themselves for the sake of their reputation.

Piers' interviews show the underside of humanity in all countries and all strata of society! Some people are willing to unashamedly stand with you in good times, but are ashamed to associate with you in bad times. Whether they are pastors, politicians, teachers, doctors, business persons or unemployed - they love you in life, but leave you alone in death.

Only lawyers and mercenaries seem willing to break that rule.

Yet the Bible says, "A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity."

RIP, Whitney, for in faith we now believe you're now in the arms of "a Friend who sticks closer than a brother". It's we who need real friends in this life.

MICHAEL AIKEN (Rev)

Gideon Educational Centre

Buff Bay, Portland