I think someone was saying in the last thread that her letters to the newspapers shouldn't be looked into or regarded too much. I disagree. From the first time reading the one about addiction, before that leaked poster became public, I thought that this was something that had personally affected her life. Obviously some of them have clearly been in jest but I do think they provide insight into her life and what's been going through her head.
Some of her other letters...
- Responding to a column about an academic who had maintained a successful career whilst being addicted to heroin.
"His family's ultimate acceptance of his drug use was no doubt an important part of enabling his recovery. I think it is equally important to stop using such terminology as "beating" or "winning the battle" against drugs. Such vocabulary carries with it great stigma, making addicts feel like they are failures, and creating the perception among families and friends that their loved one is simply not trying hard enough."
- When Carrie Fisher passed...
"Carrie Fisher used her genius wit and personal experience to de-stigmatise addiction. Please use the sadness and mourning of her passing to extend empathy and understanding to all those who are impacted by addiction and mental illness in our communities. Carrie would have wanted that. Thank you, Carrie, for your honesty and self-deprecating humour which helped so many people."
These letters and the ones quoted in the article above are very telling IMO. She loves her kids and staying home with them but often feels like she does everything on her own as husband is working long hours, possibly has his own health problems. She is also well aware of possible money problems in the event of a divorce for a stay at home mum.
And then there's the ongoing emphasis on how addicts have a hard time being understood and/or accepted, publicly and within families. Could be her, could be people close to her. But I just feel like she writes about things close to her heart and life, not just random thoughts plucked from the air. Paints a very sad picture, IMO.
