This has been an interesting discussion. The most useful distinction for me has been to think more precisely about the difference between "putting someone on a pedestal" and ascribing qualities that *may not be true* to them, or respecting someone for their genuinely admirable qualities.

I do not want the following to be interpreted in any way as not being aware of Diana and her pain, or attempting to invalidate it, and the energy she put into presenting the smiling face of the humanitarian princess to the world.

The fact that the pedestal "became her prison" seems to me to relate directly to the idea of ascribing qualities that may not be true to the person. Diana was complicit in maintaining the facade of the smiling Princess.

Perhaps Princess Diana could have performed a great humanitarian deed by fund- and consciousness-raising for eating disorders and self-abuse. I concede that her activities were tightly regulated by a Palace Guard so that this may not have been an option for her. And all coverage of this part of her life tended to be in "tabloid exposes" that played up the "poor little rich girl" (ungrateful snot) angle -- instead of -- this pain crosses all boundaries of class and race -- and deserves attention by our society.

It's interesting, Ozze, that you bring up Mother Teresa in this regard. For here is a woman who seems in every way the opposite of Diana: she was not particularly physically attractive; she worked as a maid before she dedicated her life to the poor; she had little material comfort and worked in medical conditions that would shock most westerners; and yet she apparently had the greatest satisfaction whilst Diana suffered amidst outward luxury.

I completely support your view, Ozze, that there is something wrong with a society that skews our values so completely toward material gratification.

I think there is something wrong with a society when diagnoses of depression are skyrocketing and even those who are not depressed do not feel all that great about being alive either. Where so much Prozac has been consumed that one report claimed there are traces of it in the drinking water now.

When I was young, it was earnestly believed that by the time I was the age that I am now, we would all be working a four-day week and have more time than ever for sports and creative pursuits.

Instead, the unions (okay, I know some of you are going to be really angry about positive statements about unions -- but study up on the facts) whose efforts won the 40-hour work week, health insurance, paid vacations, paid sick time, and retirement benefits, have been gutted. (Unions are always covered unfavorably by the media, esp. TV, bec. --guess what? They are corporations who don't want their own workers unionized. Thus, unions are widely perceived as "bad." ) Corporations have pillaged the retirement accounts. 45% of all Americans lack health care, and people who are lucky enough to have jobs may have to cobble together 2 or 3 to get by and work 50 or more hours a week. Even the best paid professionals -- CEOS, attorneys, physicians -- expect to work a 50 hour week. Even professors. Certainly school teachers.

So we grab what relief we can in over-eating, over-spending, and vegging out in front of the tube.

Where the photogenic are put on pedestals and inner worth isn't worth all that much.

Okay, enough ranting.