Posthumous awards...

So Heath Ledger won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

It is as expected and rather predictable. Why do I say that? Well, people tend to honor the dead (and those who died prematurely) more than the living. As the old saying goes, artists only get rich after they're dead.

What is it with this screwed up world that prevents artists from getting paid their dues before they die?

The NYC medical examiner's office "concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications". It's quite contradictary that an abuse of perscription medications can be deemed "accidental". I find it quite funny actually.

Okay, it makes sense that he didn't intend to die but isn't it quite obvious that when a person abuses something, it's usually bad in the first place? When the substances being abused are drugs, in large amounts aren't they usually fatal?

Okay so he wasn't suicidal but he was definitely self-destructive. Obviously he can't handle the pressure (whatever pressure it may be) and therefore in my books doesn't deserve even a pity vote.

Well, I suppose he paid for it with his life. He could've had so much more. Too bad then.

All that talent's just been flushed down the toilet.

Back to my point, why don't they honor the living as much as the dead?

Humans are selfish by nature and in their selfish manner, the want to make themselves feel better by honoring those that they feel have "sacraficed" for the art/cause/whatnot.

If you ask me, wanna honor someone? Do it while he/she is ALIVE! Then at least it's appreaciated.

Well, Mr Ledger, you can bury your award statue with you now. RIP.