Saturday, March 26, 2011

Elizabeth Taylor: Queen of the Screen, Dreg of Humanity

Hollywood Icon and Starlet Elizabeth Taylor passed away March 23. A child star turned enchantress, both on and off-screen, Taylor dominated the headlines for her roles and many loves. Or rather, too many loves. Better yet, her many romantic entanglements. Reporters, fans, and the general media eulogize her as if she were a queen.

In reality, she was anything but. In spite of her involvement in important charities and caused, her immoral life compromised any official good works, which ultimately she did to have another turn in the public eye. The whole thing recalls the nightmare sequence from Rob Reiner's classic movie "The Princess Bride". The heroine, Buttercup, now a recently-wed princess, stands before her adoring people. Suddenly, a strident "Boo!" breaks up the quiet adoration of the people. The crowd gives way to a decrepit old woman. "She had true love! And what did she do? She treated it like garbage!" The old woman then mocks the gathering, "So, bow down to her if you want, bow down to her, the queen of slime, the queen of filth! Boo! Boo!"

Someone needs to stand up and shout the same calumny about Elizabeth Taylor. There is something profoundly troubling about a world that dotes on the illustrious career of a movie mogul, yet not only neglects to chide, but even accommodates her deplorable morality. This woman, who married the same man two times, went to the altar a staggering eight times! Even the Wife of Bath was not so frivolous! She said "I do", yet not once did she commit to those vows. In the midst of her turbulent life, her private life dominated the tabloids.

Everyone was moved by her eyes, windows to a troubled and dissolute soul that everyone seems content to ignore. Rather than celebrating Taylor's life, the world should mourn that once again fame has trumped morality and inner peace. Celebrity, for all its wealth and warm wishes, takes away far more than it can offer. If such fame makes living a moral life infamous, then we should not celebrate it all.

Yes, Taylor led charities. Yes, she was outspoken about important causes, like AIDS. But her life, and lack of moral integrity, cries out far above any official good works that she did in the public eye. And did this woman have any peace? From estranged family members to debilitating illnesses that plagued her, Taylor was not enjoying her life. About now-deceased Elizabeth Taylor, Queen of the Screen, one can only ask: "What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world, but lose his soul?"

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