Cobain Legacy: Pain, Music

I am hesitant to respond to Stephen Douglas’ remarks regarding Kurt Cobain (Letters, April 30) because there has already been too much media coverage focusing on Cobain’s death. However, in his defense of Cobain as being “misunderstood,” Mr. Douglas attacked me and not my argument (Letters, April 16).

Judging from his letter, Mr. Douglas and I are part of the same generation, but apparently I am not sensitive enough and do not possess the knowledge to understand “how bad life really can be for some people.”

Even if I grant his premise as being valid, that is no reason to uphold suicide as an acceptable solution. Douglas tells us to question those “who don’t walk the walk.” Unless Mr. Douglas can demonstrate why he is able to “understand” Cobain’s anguish going from a “homeless musician to a millionaire overnight,” then his “talk” is just as insensitive as he makes mine out to be.

Douglas rhetorically asks, “How do you judge a young man like Cobain who was an overnight success story?” We may not like the results, but the answer is relatively simple: just like everyone else.

Douglas wants us to exonerate Cobain because he was a successful musician who did not want the status the public had placed upon him. His response was to turn to drug abuse and, eventually, suicide. Somehow we are to just understand and honor a great man consumed by this paradox.

According to Douglas, Cobain was tired of being held up as a spokesman for our generation. After trying “everything,” he was left with no other alternative but to take his life. This will be a great response when Cobain’s daughter asks, “Where’s my daddy?”

In the end my original premise stands: Suicide is a selfish, cowardly act that should never be lauded. Life, family and friends are just too important. Where is the commitment in pursuing these things?

JEFF LE PERE

Lake Forest

I am writing in response to all of the letters criticizing Kurt Cobain for his suicide. There is no justification for leaving behind a wife and a child, but we also have to realize that he had a very serious problem, more serious than any of us knew.

We can’t bring him back, and all the condemnation in the world won’t change that. He was a human, and he made mistakes; it’s just a shame that this mistake cost the world a very talented musician. I think we should stop passing judgment and begin to enjoy the legacy he left in his music.

JACKIE MURCH

Trabuco Canyon