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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOn Grave-Dancing
Once again, a famous person who held distasteful political beliefs has passed away, and the grave-dancing has commenced. This time it was Kirstie Alley, an actress famous mostly for her long-standing role on Cheers. She was also an avowed conservative (although she withdrew her support for TFG in 2020 and announced she wouldn't vote for either candidate), and a Scientologist. Accordingly, some seem to think it's OK to celebrate her death because she's an "enemy."
Really?
My own criteria for acceptable grave-dancing (YMMV) upon the death of someone whose politics we deplore require considering the following factors:
1. Was the person currently causing a significant amount of social discord, suffering, or other trouble such that their demise will make a noticeable difference in people's lives? Or were they old adversaries who were no longer involved in any kind of public life; or people whose impact was merely annoying, but insignificant?
2. Did they have family, friends and/or associates who genuinely loved them, or were they so disagreeable or toxic that they won't be missed by anyone?
3. Did they ever do anything good or useful, irrespective of their politics; i.e., did they support good causes, donate generously to charities, or provide entertainment through their art, music, acting, etc.? Were they kind to children and animals? Or were they consistently greedy, uncharitable, mean, disinclined to help people or do anything to make their lives easier?
4. Did they contribute negatively or positively to public discourse; that is to say, did they express their opinions, however wrong-headed they might have seemed, courteously and rationally, or as insulting, hateful trolls?
Applying these criteria, I can't think of any reason to dance on Kirstie Alley's grave. She was just an actress with political opinions contrary to mine. I also didn't dance on the graves of John McCain, George H.W. and Barbara Bush, or Bob Dole. I didn't agree with them but I didn't hate them. In fact, the only graves I can anticipate dancing on, and might even do so with pleasure, would be Trump's and Putin's. They meet all of my negative criteria. As to other "enemies," I offer the wise words of Walt Whitman, from Leaves of Grass, written following the Civil War.
WORD over all, beautiful as the sky!
Beautiful that war, and all its deeds of carnage, must in
time be utterly lost;
That the hands of the sisters Death and Night, incessantly
softly wash again, and ever again, this soil'd world:
For my enemy is deada man divine as myself is dead;
I look where he lies, white-faced and still, in the coffinI
draw near;
I bend down and touch lightly with my lips the white face
in the coffin.
48656c6c6f20
(7,638 posts)Xavier Breath
(3,659 posts)but that gif
FirstLight
(13,366 posts)Grave dancing is a surefire way to rack up some bad Karma IMO.
Honestly, I don't plan on dancing on TFG's grave, I'd rather see him in prison first
I'm more shocked at Kirstie Alley's age...I didn't realize she'd hit 70. She wasn't my cup of tea but she did make some good art and humor.. RIP
UTUSN
(70,765 posts)that their horrible ideological/"religious" beliefs have for others?
iemanja
(53,093 posts)As far as I know, nothing. I never even knew she was conservative, so she couldn't have been that loud about it.
brush
(53,925 posts)then losing it then gaining it back then losing then gaining it back.
iemanja
(53,093 posts)I guess I had heard that at some point.
UTUSN
(70,765 posts)I said I liked her early charisma. if somebody with that used it our/my way it would be exponentially good. That's all I've got.
Nite!
iemanja
(53,093 posts)I said I had never heard she was a conservative, yet according to you--and tell me if I'm wrong-- even holding beliefs we may disagree with means her death should be celebrated? Is that correct? Anyone who isn't a Democratic isn't a human being worthy of respect? Is that your view?
UTUSN
(70,765 posts)but is enlightening about posts/posters to avoid.
iemanja
(53,093 posts)You defended grave dancing of conservatives because, you noted, the policies have destructive consequences. Is that not what you said?
kentuck
(111,110 posts)peace
The Grand Illuminist
(1,341 posts)We have to look at this old DU thread and think.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214310272
AKwannabe
(5,686 posts)I tried to kick but it aint happening.
Software wont bring it out of 2020
DENVERPOPS
(8,866 posts)and also a previous thought provoking DU article.
There are puhlenty of Republicans to Despise ahead of some lowly retired actress...............
My candidate listing of most despicable would include, beyond Putin and Trump, Trump's spawn, Jared, The entire Republican Senate, DeSatan, a number of other State Governors starting with Texas, the entire Reagan Administration including HW, and the entire administration of WBush for starters. Very high on the list would be Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld............
The possibilities are endless......
It is rumored that Donald Trump has picked out his burial site, and the Cemetery has readied his plot. For starters, they have covered a football field sized area with concrete, complete with surface drains every four feet in all directions......
The Democrats need to get ALOT tougher, for dealing with the ruthless Republicans, but not to just pick on old, retired, TV stars..........
milestogo
(16,829 posts)GoCubsGo
(32,098 posts)She went through stretches where she was a total mess, and I suspect that did a number on her head. It's probably how she got sucked into Scientology. It's hard to dance on the grave of someone with her kinds of issues.
debm55
(25,606 posts)stopdiggin
(11,395 posts)is a shallow thing, missing some key element of humanity. There are undoubtedly some few that deserve none, and would make a mockery of efforts otherwise. But - if they become legion - then perhaps look to your own compass and yardstick.
Just A Box Of Rain
(5,104 posts)summer_in_TX
(2,766 posts)They may have held the same or opposite views as hers, but either way, they should not have to deal with people trashing her. She's dead, she's no longer able to stand up to the criticism, and her kids and relatives did nothing to deserve it.
If there are valid critiques to make, a time of truce during the mourning period seems considerate.
Thank you, Ocelot! What a beautiful poem from Whitman. It's been too long since I read Leaves of Grass.
This resonated with me:
I look where he lies, white-faced and still, in the coffinI
draw near;
I bend down and touch lightly with my lips the white face
in the coffin.
luv2fly
(2,475 posts)... that Kirstie, or the next person some here deem worthy of grave-dancing, has a relative, however close or distant, who lurks on DU because they share the values so many here gloriously hold. I further imagine how horrible it might feel to read the hatred some hold in their hearts. No matter how loathsome the opinions of some might be, there are people who love and care about that person, and they are in pain. It's just not good to celebrate that.
newdayneeded
(1,959 posts)person, rush Limbaugh. I will take back absolutely not one word of it.
There's one other person on this planet that will get plenty from me too, I'll give you 2 guesses who that is.
Ocelot II
(115,922 posts)I wasn't sorry when he departed, nor will I feel sorry when TFG goes to his eternal reward. Very few people were as irredeemably poisonous and damaging, dare I say evil (a word I use very carefully) as those two.
newdayneeded
(1,959 posts)Today's evil right wing is 100% from his mouth. He made millions of once neighbors turn to hate.
Shellback Squid
(8,934 posts)iemanja
(53,093 posts)Nor do I really care. I don't celebrate the death of people because I happen to disagree with them.
chowder66
(9,090 posts)are serial killers, rapists, child molesters, mass murderers and genocidal maniacs. There are probably a few others but mostly it's the worst of the worst.
sarcasmo
(23,968 posts)electric_blue68
(14,975 posts)tfg ( in prison!)
Putin (even if I wasn't a half 2nd gen Ukrainian-American)
Oh, I was sooo happy when Rushbo bit the dust. Him on our WABC-AM radio here in NYC. No apologies. The sheer damage over ?nearly 2 decades to our country is almost incalculable!
The Poison he spread!!!!!
.
Maaaaybe D Chenbey, and Rumsfeld.
Lunabell
(6,128 posts)If one feels the need to grave dance I will not criticize. If it makes you feel better, do it. I'm sure that not one person in her circle of family or friends actually gives a shit. Nor will they ever even see it. So, dance away if it makes you feel better.
RIP Kirsty. Sorry you were such a political dumbass, but you were great on Cheers.
ShazzieB
(16,575 posts)I feel like grave dancing may not be my thing. When Rush died, I breathed a sigh of relief and said "Good riddance." I was glad he was gone, but felt no other emotion beyond that. I don't blame anyone for doing a graveyard dance for him, just didn't feel the urge myself.
Sometimes I wonder what I'll feel when TFG is gone, other than enormous relief. I definitely believe the world will be a better place without him in it.
I will not miss Kirstie Alley, and I will neither mourn nor celebrste her passing. Whatever views she held, I'm sure she did not do a tiny fraction of the damage done by either Trump or Limbaugh to this country or the world as a whole.
Lunabell
(6,128 posts)That was just stupid and antivaxxers who die from covid deserve a jig or two.
Polybius
(15,514 posts)He should have masked up though with his past health issues.
JI7
(89,281 posts)and the 2nd half of her life just seemed mostly sad. She became very unhealthy and hateful . It's like she stopped caring .
But this isn't someone like Limbaugh, Alex Jones, Trump and many others .
The Grand Illuminist
(1,341 posts)Hekate
(90,913 posts)Initech
(100,114 posts)At least she didn't try to overthrow the government and murder half of Congress and their own sitting vice president.
The Grand Illuminist
(1,341 posts)Raine
(30,541 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,840 posts)DET
(1,326 posts)This is the first that Im hearing of her death. So sudden and unexpected. Kirstie was a first rate actress who excelled at both comedic and serious roles. I didnt know or care about her political views.
Xolodno
(6,408 posts)And pay their respects.
There are people who have insulted me and my family and have died. Some even insulted my late father, when I heard of their demise, I took no celebration in it.
I decided not to be like the pitiful people they were.
LeftInTX
(25,664 posts)So when a Democrat dies, is it also karma?
I really didn't pay that much attention to Kirstie. She was just another celeb to me.
I know some celebs are into kooky stuff.
I don't think she caused any harm to the world.
For those who enjoyed her, then they enjoyed her.
She was good on Cheers.
People don't bash the lead actress from The Handmaiden's Tale because she's a scientologist,
jmowreader
(50,569 posts)...then you're going to have to dance on the graves of half the people in Hollywood. Joining Scientology is kind of "the thing to do" for actors.
Meowmee
(5,164 posts)Voted for him and then as I hear would not even vote against fascism second time around. That makes her a fascist and a hateful person who was part of the cause of a lot of harm. That is all I need to know. Scientology is also a crazy, fascist like cult that harms people. Stating the obvious is not gd. Think what could have been and the harm that would not have happened if next to no one had voted for that monster
Handler
(336 posts)Meowmee
(5,164 posts)Ocelot II
(115,922 posts)Meowmee
(5,164 posts)I am pointing out that she was a fascist who voted for him. She went on fox news to flaunt it. Maybe she withdrew her support, or maybe she felt the need to pretend to for whatever reason, that does not make what she did right in any way. You might not like me saying this, but its wrong, very wrong, what she did. It caused a lot of harm and people are going to continue to call out her and others who are fascists as they should.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kirstie-alley-dead_n_638e99fbe4b0214ec982773c
Alley was also outspoken about politics in recent years and was one of few Hollywood celebrities to support Donald Trump in the 2016 and 2020 elections. She also expressed support for the violent rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 last year following Trump losing his bid for reelection.
BlackSkimmer
(51,308 posts)I was ignorant of her politics, so all I can feel,is sadness, which I do for most deaths.
When tfg goes, I suspect relief will be my first emotion.
I dont celebrate anyones death. Seems a sad thing to do.
luv2fly
(2,475 posts)... is I get to add to my always growing ignore list. Makes DU a better place for me. Some of the venom in this thread is disturbing.
BlackSkimmer
(51,308 posts)The same folks who say they never wish ill on anyone.
MissMillie
(38,591 posts)In that grave dancing is unacceptable. FULL STOP
This is not to say that when GOPers suffer some kind of political loss, that I don't celebrate. I most certainly do.
But I won't celebrate when a GOPer dies, gets sick, or is harmed by accidents or violence. My mother would not approve.
I don't pretend that it would be fair of me to expect others to follow suit. Everyone has to make that call for themselves.
I also won't pretend that I am free of judgment. When I see the grave dancing, it hurts my heart, probably because my mom taught me that it SHOULD hurt my heart.
BlackSkimmer
(51,308 posts)Thanks for this.
MissMillie
(38,591 posts)This is just a lesson from my mom that stuck with me.
Back in '81, when Reagan was shot, my friend and I had stopped by my house to pick up something (I don't remember what) for some after-school activity. The Reagan shooting came on the TV and my friend said "Good!" My mother lit into her as if she had been the one to pull the trigger.
Let me add, my mother was NEVER a Reagan fan.
But she was a person who tried to live her life in the "WWJD?" example. She wasn't perfect, but the world was truly a better place with her in it--for everyone that knew her.
BlackSkimmer
(51,308 posts)Got it.
AntivaxHunters
(3,234 posts)because what comes around goes around.
Instead I wish for people to be better and for them to have compassion, empathy, and understanding for others.
Only love beats hate.
48656c6c6f20
(7,638 posts)Niagara
(7,701 posts)Thank you for calling out inappropriate behavior, Ocelot.
I didn't agree with Kirstie Alley's political views. However she did open a literacy and tutoring center in her hometown of Wichita, Kansas called Lillie's Learning Place.
MineralMan
(146,339 posts)They are simply dead.
Happy Hoosier
(7,439 posts)Far too often, we allow a terrible person to be eulogized as if they weren;t terrible. That serves to nomralize terrible people and contributes to the overall normalization of crappy, harmful behavior.
Kirstie Alley was not a good person. And she actively tried to make the world a worse place.
MineralMan
(146,339 posts)She cannot do anything. She is dead.
That fact is a matter of almost no interest to me. She has never been of any interest to me. She was an actor.
mn9driver
(4,428 posts)We are all on the same conveyor belt.
Torchlight
(3,384 posts)that is, no effect; and certainly no effect on the deceased.
Grave dancing is (all things being equal) without consequence, so any sanctimony I might dress myself in at the expense of others for engaging in it, or the smug self-righteousness I may feel at staying silent, is also meaningless. As grandad used to tell me: it ain't gonna change the taste of mustard.
JonAndKatePlusABird
(315 posts)I like that
Happy Hoosier
(7,439 posts)I will not criticize those who do when the deader is a such a shit person.
I'm done with sympathy. I'm done with being nice. We've tried that and it has brought us to the edge of disaster.
Kirstie Alley was a terrible person. The world is better off without her in it. I believe that and don't feel bad about it.
If you have a little checklist about when it is acceptable for you or other people to celebrate the death of a terrible person. I'm absolutely FINE with you holding yourself to some standard you feel is appropriate. I will will do the same, and ask you extend me the same courtesy I extend you.
Having said that, fuck cancer.
obamanut2012
(26,164 posts)She was also part of an organization that human traffics, forces abortions on girls and women, commits literal domestic sabotage, etc.
So, that plus everything else? Yeah, no. Was surprised to see such positive OPs praising KA on here last night and today. I never understand why those are A-OK when a terrible person dies, but saying Good Riddance is some kind of no-no.
debm55
(25,606 posts)her, but I won't wish her dead or be glad she died. What point does it make to be glad that someone is dead?
Happy Hoosier
(7,439 posts)As I said, I am perfectly fine with you deciding that such feelings are inappropriate for you.
The point of such "grave dancing" is the general satisfaction that there is one less shitty person in the world.
Yeah, maybe she had addiction issues. Lots of people have addiction issues and don't become Trump-loving MAGAts or join a a harmful "religion."
Her behavior moved well beyond "victim" and straight on to victimizer.
Yes, I've hardened my heart to people like her. Again, I typically don't grave dance, and I'm not now, but I do not begrudge those who do for a single minute. She was a terrible person.
iemanja
(53,093 posts)Is that incorrect?
Kaleva
(36,371 posts)Ocelot II
(115,922 posts)Life's too short to waste any of it on useless hate and anger. Do what is necessary to prevent destructive people from causing harm but don't get all eaten up in the process.