Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post

Borderstone · 08-07-2004, 03:35 AM

Restless,I'm well aware of the things that he and his co-hort did. Yes,I agree with you,it was a horrible thing to do,whether on drugs or not. ...but the way I look at it is Rick James' fame gave him all he could ever ask for but obviously it did not bring him happiness.

He became a constant partying,drug addicted,sex-a-holic. He was found guilty of his crime,served his sentence and turned himself around (maybe just a little too late though.) His drug-addiction had taken it's toll and if his body hadn't expired due to that,then he could have just as easiuly caught an STD like AIDS.

If you put all that aside,he did have a great amount of musical talent. He's not up there with Prince but his music was a fresh sound in '81 after the end of Disco. He wrote and produced his own stuff and had he been a lot smarter about the drugs & the women (and anything else),he'd most likely be a much more revered figure in music,instead of the unfortunate figure he bacame. The bad things he did were done by a person not in his right mind.

In my view,God has put Rick James in a place where he can truly be happy because God will forgive the things that people do here.
As just another person on this planet,I cannot just up and say,"Yeah,he's in hell now." That's not for me to judge and or say. I look at all people as one of God's children and even though a lot of them lose their way,I don't hate them. I actually feel sorry for them when they do and leave the ultimate judgement up to God.

The human form that was Rick James is gone. His true soul and or spirit,is in a better place (I hope) where all of earth's vices can no longer tempt him.
Lastly,it's just not right to be "glad" someone's dead. If they were a bad person all around,we can be relieved that they can do no more harm to others or to themselves.

Those of you not believing in God or not religous,I know you have different views and I respect a person's right to have their opinion or beliefs. This is simply a reply to Restless and not a sermon,just my own opinion and views. If you read all this,thank you for reading.

08-07-2004, 03:35 AM	#3
Borderstone Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Phoenix,Arizona -America Posts: 4,427	Restless,I'm well aware of the things that he and his co-hort did. Yes,I agree with you,it was a horrible thing to do,whether on drugs or not. ...but the way I look at it is Rick James' fame gave him all he could ever ask for but obviously it did not bring him happiness. He became a constant partying,drug addicted,sex-a-holic. He was found guilty of his crime,served his sentence and turned himself around (maybe just a little too late though.) His drug-addiction had taken it's toll and if his body hadn't expired due to that,then he could have just as easiuly caught an STD like AIDS. If you put all that aside,he did have a great amount of musical talent. He's not up there with Prince but his music was a fresh sound in '81 after the end of Disco. He wrote and produced his own stuff and had he been a lot smarter about the drugs & the women (and anything else),he'd most likely be a much more revered figure in music,instead of the unfortunate figure he bacame. The bad things he did were done by a person not in his right mind. In my view,God has put Rick James in a place where he can truly be happy because God will forgive the things that people do here. As just another person on this planet,I cannot just up and say,"Yeah,he's in hell now." That's not for me to judge and or say. I look at all people as one of God's children and even though a lot of them lose their way,I don't hate them. I actually feel sorry for them when they do and leave the ultimate judgement up to God. The human form that was Rick James is gone. His true soul and or spirit,is in a better place (I hope) where all of earth's vices can no longer tempt him. Lastly,it's just not right to be "glad" someone's dead. If they were a bad person all around,we can be relieved that they can do no more harm to others or to themselves. Those of you not believing in God or not religous,I know you have different views and I respect a person's right to have their opinion or beliefs. This is simply a reply to Restless and not a sermon,just my own opinion and views. If you read all this,thank you for reading.