Opinion

FOR ANGEL FARRAH, A FINAL FEATURE FILM

I find the article “Morbid Curiosity” (PostScript, Maureen Callahan, May 17) utterly reprehensible.

While the story does hint at the question of whether it is morally OK to film and air Farrah Fawcett’s death, you have the nerve to call Jade Goody tacky for taking tabloid money to provide for her children.

At least Goody had a solid motive for her actions. What are Fawcett’s motives? She is probably just looking for one last thrill of being a celebrity.

Michael Fetter

Charlotte, NC

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A disturbing irony of “Farrah’s Story,” which is essentially the Fawcett-sanctioned filming of her own death scene, is that throughout the documentary, the actress rails bitterly against the merciless invasion of the tabloids into the most intimate corners of celebrity life, comparing such rags to the cancer that’s ravaging her.

What is the purpose of Fawcett electing to die onstage in balding, retching detail, her iconic beauty broken, her spirit intact? A quest for more mass love? An attempt to morph her legacy from “Angel” to “Angel of Death”? To give career boosts to her co-stars, has-been live-in Ryan O’Neal and washed up wannabe Alana Stuart?

Or is it simply another example of Fawcett’s quirky performance art?

In the end, we can only conclude that “Farrah’s Story,” as poignant as it is painful, is ultimately nothing more than the commercialization of death. Hopefully, the millions earned on the project will not find their way into the pockets of her addicted and apparently aimless son, Redmond, to score more drugs.

Susan M. Silver

Manhattan

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The fact that this dying beauty queen, a woman who has only been known for her shockingly good looks and, occasionally, a well-acted film role, is willing to show her half-shaven head and claim that “this is cancer” is anything but inspiring; it is incredibly shallow and sickeningly cynical.

Ignore Britney Spears and Paris Hilton for a while and focus on more meaningful stories.

Perhaps it might open your eyes.

Kristina Bugle

Los Angeles

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To actors Fawcett and Patrick Swayze, fighting this crazy disease, our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Mary Powell

Manhattan

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“Farrah’s Story” is not only about her dying; it’s also about the neccessity to travel to Germany to prolong her life.

Why can’t we provide the same treatment in this country? Why couldn’t anyone remove her anal cancer without necessitating a colostomy in this country, while in Germany it was possible?

This documentary should be discussed during oncological conferences in US hospitals.

The fact that you have to be very rich to board a private plane and be treated in a private clinic in a foreign country is a sad reflection on the very restrictive medical care in this country.

With the government’s new health-care plans, it may get even worse.

Mary Wilson

Manhattan