OLTL mentioned in article about all the tv coverage

From: http://www.crossville-chronicle.com/opinio...=secondarystory

Published: February 22, 2007 01:45 pm

I SAY: In the big scheme of things ...

By Michael R. Moser / [email protected]

In the big scheme of things, is the world better off today now that the legal wrangling over Anna Nicole Smith's body has played out with gavel-to-gavel coverage on national news?

Talk about slow news days.

I knew there would be a brouhaha over custody of the child, but never considered for a moment there would be a custody battle over control of the dead woman's body. And making it more incredible, the legal custodial fisticuffs are taking place on and off in the same hearing.

The television coverage makes "One Life to Live" look like "Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood."

While the battle rages in the courtroom, her body lies in a morgue waiting for someone to do the right thing and put her in the ground.

What this Florida courtroom drama has done is:

•Caused people to recognize Howard K. Stern more than they recognize radio shock jock Howard Stern.

•Forever changed the way I will look at Malory's classic after the judge called Anna Nicole's life "Camelot."

•Illustrated just how voyeuristic is our society.

•Made a farce out of a very sad tragedy.

•And made this tragedy the butt of many jokes.

I sit here today having just received the news that a high school classmate died this week and will be buried in Thorsby, AL this afternoon. James was a studious but average student in school and we all knew James was just a little different.

Even in school he was considered eccentric.

After school James attended and graduated from college with a teaching degree. He couldn't teach, however. The students ate him alive and he soon found a safe and quiet niche working in grocery stores and retail outlets. He didn't change jobs much because that would require stepping out of his comfort zone.

James worked hard, married, raised a family, and died pretty much as he came into the world. Privilege was not a place in society that he ever was familiar with, or even understood.

Another classmate will preside over James' funeral this afternoon and with proper dignity, his family and friends will say goodbye.

At the same time, the Anna Nicole Smith circus will probably be continuing on TV and despite all her privilege and millions, she will never know the dignity that a human being deserves as they are taken to their final resting place.

I think I would rather be James than Anna, the millions be damned.

Mike Moser is the editor of the Crossville Chronicle. His column is published on Friday.