(Image of the Manson Family)

Ever since I first read this article yesterday morning, I have been back and forth as to whether or not I should publish this post. One reason that I am so hesitant is because it follows topics that I normally don’t try to associate with my blog. Another is because I am not supposed to be blogging for a few days! But, just because I want to get away doesn’t mean that the world also stops around me. So here I am.

About a year ago, I posted my review of Helter Skelter after having read the book for the first time. Now I was nowhere near being able to witness the Manson murders unfolding in the news, nor the immediate aftermath. In fact, the book itself was published 11 years before I was born. However, it is one that my mum told me time and time again to read, and so last year, I finally did.

Two nights ago, my mum had made a completely unrelated comment to me regarding Charles Manson. Then yesterday morning, when I logged onto the Us Magazine website of all places, the first article that came up was entitled, “Charles Manson, Mass Murderer, to Marry 26-Year-Old Prison Visitor.” Eerie, I thought, given that we were just talking about him. However, my mum and I are strange that way. We often think about people immediately before something significant happens to them. Inevitably, while I found it eerie, I wasn’t at all surprised that Manson was there in the news. I could not help but click on the article.

The article from the celebrity magazine was without a doubt a very short and biased piece. Mockingly referring to Manson’s fiancé as “the lucky lady,” and to Manson himself as her “sweetheart” and “the happy couple,” the writer was obviously against their decision to wed. Whatever happened to journalism being objective? I get that this it Us Magazine, and that there are much more informative pieces out there, but come on.

That is not to say that I am in favour of Manson and Burton getting married. In all honesty, I felt nothing after reading the article except perhaps a little bit of curiosity. The comments were as suspected. Readers were outraged towards this impending union, other readers attacked those readers for their so-called hatred or stupidity, still others who questioned the law, brought up the gay rights movement, Hitler, Polanski and child molestation, you name it. No controversial stone was left unturned.

What did I do after that? Clicked on Burton’s website and began to read her “truths” about the man she loved. If nothing else, she is a fellow blogger, and I wanted to read what she had to say.

(Image via ecard)

While this post obviously deals with heavier issues than I am used to discussing, I am curious to hear your opinions on this matter, if you have any. If not, have a fantastic Wednesday!

<3

Emory