Friday, February 15, 2008

Vocabulary - Icon

[I've pondered the sadness of Heath Ledger's family and friends and most respectfully understand theirs has been such an awful loss, for which I'm truly sorry.]

Original reports stated that Montel Williams' program was canceled by Fox three days after this interview in January, on the Faux Fox News station.

The YouTube clip of the interview opens with, "...the actor gone way too soon; the tragedy a major one."

"...Boy, we're talking about a tragic situation: Heath Ledger," says one of the hosts.

The host later explains to guest Montel Williams, who has stated he would prefer to talk about our individual, fallen soldiers, "We talk about Heath because he was an icon." What, then, is the status of our soldiers on this Support the Troops news station?

Icon. In the context of its usage, this is the defintion:

3. One who is the object of great attention and devotion; an idol: "He is ... a pop icon designed and manufactured for the video generation" (Harry F. Waters).1

I'd never heard of Heath Ledger before his death. To whom was he an icon -- synonymously an idol -- and why? How he must have been loved by his family, and how sorely they will miss him.

I knew Marine Cpl. Ian W. Stewart. He was our Son2's playmate in the '80s. He had trouble pronouncing his "R's" back then, wee fellow that he was; listening to him chatter was a sweet experience. He was bright-eyed, energetic, laughed easily and a lot. He grew into an honorable young man, who served our country and lost his life in that service on December 12, 2004, in Anbar province, Iraq. Every (oft) remembrance of him makes my heart palpably ache for his parents, his siblings -- so much that I can hardly bear it.

I don't know Montel Williams personally, and I don't watch his television program. He got this one right, and I have to wonder why his show was canceled.


Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. ~Romans 13:7

1) Modern Language Association (MLA): "icon." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 16 Feb. 2008. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/icon

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