Anna Nicole’s tabloid life getting tabloid funeral

Not all situations are equal. Not all individuals warrant the same response. When Saddam Hussein is put to death, it’s understandable that such an event might bring out some spirited reaction given his heinous reign. When Anna Nicole Smith collapses and dies suddenly while grieving over the loss of her son, it might be a time to hold off a bit on the poisonous darts.

And surely there will be a lot more to come. I anticipate that no matter how careful authorities are with her autopsy photos a few of them might make their way onto the pages of supermarket tabloids. There will be lots and lots of unsubstantiated reports about the circumstances of her death, with little chance they will be challenged; who would sue on her behalf?

It’s said that comedy is tragedy plus time, but the amount of time has dwindled to almost nothing. The water cooler jokes probably began before rigor mortis set in.

Pop sociology is not an exact science, so the real roots of the response to Smith’s death and other such events are not completely clear. But suffice to say that the proliferation of media and communication outlets, especially television and the Internet, have fed a general disregard for human life.

Every day people see report after report of death and destruction, of mayhem, of horrible crimes, of unspeakable acts, until they’re benumbed to tragedy.

Another 100 people die in a car bombing in Iraq. Another spate of weather-related deaths in the East. Change the channel. See what else is on.

Into that arena comes the news about a dead tabloid figure, the proverbial blond bombshell who married a tycoon. It’s understandable why most people won’t cry. But it’s puzzling why so many snarl.

Anna Nicole Smith was not a great American. She will not be mourned by the masses.

But those who started throwing verbal rocks at the gurney that carried her out of her hotel room before she was even pronounced dead surely have some public figure that they look up to. An athlete, a politician, an actor, a musician, a talk show host.

Those folks should understand that they fed the monster that will someday devour the people they admire. You reap what you sow.