Pubdate: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 Source: Philadelphia Daily News (PA) Copyright: 2014 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. Contact: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/about/feedback/ Website: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/339 Author: Sevren Fahr FLOWERS' HOFFMAN CRITIQUE GETS BOOS After hearing of the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman, many words came to mind, too many to mention. No matter the size or complexity of the role, he owned it and it invariably was brilliant, no matter the medium. He was also a heroin addict. Not a criminal but a very sick man, except to Christine Flowers. Ms. Flowers, in her usual selfrighteous manner, dispelled the myth of sadness for the tragic death of Philip Seymour Hoffman by calling him selfish. While shocking, it is certainly not out of character, as it pertains to her moral dignity bred by her zealous trust in her Catholic teachings. Being indoctrinated into Catholicism is one thing, but seeing the 1973 made-for-TV movie "Go Ask Alice" - starring a poorly dressed William Shatner and with a dreadfully performed script - as being life-changing just seems to be a bit of a stretch. While being proud of herself for being drug free - and, one would assume, sin free - she has decided to call Philip Seymour Hoffman selfish. Of all the adjectives for his death, "selfish" just never made it, except to Ms. Flowers. Typical of the self-righteous Catholicism she always invokes, she has little time or need for biological and psychological facts because she has righteous indignation and that trumps the facts. I wonder what law class she learned that in. As to her father's fight against lung cancer, are we left to assume that as is the case in more than 90 percent of lung cancer deaths, smoking was the culprit. One of the most addictive agents available is nicotine . . . an integral part of every cigarette. Using her own analogy, Ms. Flowers' father was too selfish to realize that cigarette smoking would eventually kill him, much like Hoffman's relationship with heroin. Sadly, neither were selfish - they were sick. Ms. Flowers so often in the past felt it necessary to march her religious piety, but now we must also endure how a bad movie gave her the hubris to stand in judgment of one whose immense talent was taken by addiction, and if she had any knowledge of anything outside of her limited frame of reference (a TV movie, for God's sake) she would know that as an addict, you're always in recovery. Sevren Fahr Drexel Hill, Pa. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom