It has taken me a while to articulate a meaningful response to your heartfelt and thought-provoking post. You have spoken for many people in your position who may never otherwise open up.

I have been caught up helping a dear young friend in my own city with mourning the loss of his mother and returned to read your response to RS, Kim and Nadine. The words that have instantly struck me and made this response flow out are “Why as a grown man with a busy career do I spend time on this? Is it a morbid preoccupation?” Quite the contrary Professor! We, as grown people with our own pressures at work, applaud you for your courage in “going there” , for feeling impelled to explore the reasons and for taking the time to share . Your sadness which is ours, indeed “pays tribute to a man who challenged and changed attitudes with his courage, skill and beauty”. Happenstance brought me face to face with the Brokeback Mountain phenomenon at a time when I was at the crossroads and bewildered about the direction my own life would take. I was drawn as if by a magnetic pull, to take the road “Up The Mountain”. As a person who was led to Brokeback Mountain via my “cyber-discovery” of Jake Gyllenhaal, I believe that Jake will articulate his sadness, not necessarily in ways that he may be expected to but in ways that will surprise us, give a keener voice to our quest and “further change how people think about love”. Thank you for speaking out your mind and opening a channel for more of us to express ourselves.
Regards,
Mayalakshmi

I suppose that in reading RS’s observation that it was unfair to expect Jake to make a comment immediately, I responded with some defensiveness. No, of course I don’t want to pressure him to speak; I don’t want to feel guilty that I intimated that I did. But on the other hand, in all honesty (since this is the sort of situation which justifies honest, emotional talk) I want to believe that Jake grieves Heath’s death as much as Ennis grieved Jack’s in Brokeback Mountain. I think I’ve figured out why: it’s because I want the emotions I felt in watching that film validated as much as possible in real life. That is selfish of me, and irrational, but I confess it’s how I feel.

I listen to Santolalla’s “The Wings”—different interpretations on youtube, some recent, amateurish but heartfelt. An uplifting melody, but also one that breaks my heart. I look at the photos of Jake and Reese in the LA park last week. I read the report about Jake’s reaction to the news of Heath’s death on the set in New Mexico…with that melody in the background.

Why as a grown man with a busy career do I spend time on this? Is it a morbid preoccupation? I’d like to think instead that my sadness pays tribute to a man who challenged and changed attitudes with his courage, skill and beauty. And I’m hoping Jake’s sadness will sometime acquire articulate form and further change how people think about love.

For those interested in pursuing some of the points raised by your essay, including those revolving around the role of the media, let me link you to a global forum, Strike Me Gyllen: http://gyllenhaal.suddenlaunch3.com/.

My exasperation and venom in my second post was not directed at you in the slightest,your respect and sympathy for Jake was self-evident!!
It was the more ruthless sector of the gutter press,who never let the truth get in the way of a good story, and those more misguided and demanding “fans” who feel entitled to a piece of Jake, who were the target for my tirade,although such unfeeling creatures would probably be impervious to my disapproval.

I hope you’ll go back and read my first comment on your article as I feel you might have missed it,as in it I was fulsome in my praise and gratitude for your article.

Once again,may I thank you for a wonderful essay,sensitively written in really sad circumstances.

Regards,Nadine England

I am of course not “demanding” a statement from Jake Gyllenhaal, and agree that it’s “unfair” to expect a statement from him immediately. As I said, I respect his silence. He will no doubt share his pain when he can. The reason I wrote my peice (thinking aloud for the half hour it took me to compose it) was merely to express my own pain and anger. I’m gratified that it’s apparently moved some people and stimulated them to express their own thoughts. But please do not interpret it as an effort to pressure Gyllenhaal, for whom I in fact feel nothing but admiration and compassion.

‘Bizarre sleepwalking linked to sleeping pill
Friday Feb 2 04:00 AEDT
By ninemsn staff

A suspect sleeping pill is causing Australians to paint the front door, binge-eat, and drive while still asleep, a new study reveals.

The Federal Health Department has received 16 separate reports of odd “sleepwalking” behaviour caused by the drug Stilnox, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

A woman taking the drug “woke with a paintbrush in her hand after painting the front door while asleep,” the Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee said in a bulletin published yesterday.

Another patient reportedly gained 23 kilograms over seven months while taking Stilnox.

“It was only when she was discovered eating in front of an open refrigerator while asleep that the problem was resolved,” the bulletin said.

The committee also received two alarming reports “which suggest the possibility of driving while asleep.”

The new study marks the first time “inappropriate or strange automatic behaviour” related to Stilnox has been noted in Australia since the drug was introduced here in 2000, although cases have been reported overseas.

The health department also received 104 reports of hallucinations and 62 of amnesia relating to the drug.

Alan Brindell, a spokesman for the manufacturer of Stilnox, Sanofi-Aventis, told the Herald it had not been proven that the drug was causing the disturbed sleep behaviour.

Brindell could not provide an estimate for the number of people in Australia using Stilnox, which is only available on prescription and attracts no subsidy.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=225025&rss=yes

I share your incredulity at the attitude of certain members of the press and public.It amazes me that anyone thinks they have the right to demand a public statement from Jake on the death of someone so dear to him. Anyone who has seen heart-rending recent Pap pictures of him, taken a few days after Heath’s passing,it doesn’t take a body language expert to imagine the depths of his inner devastation.

The public should not feel they are owed any kind of soul-bearing from Jake on any issue,let alone on a tragedy which has so obviously affected him very badly. If he chooses never to describe his feelings or pay tribute to Heath in public then that is up to him. I for one would shudder to see him run the emotional gauntlet any time soon,trying to articulate his sorrow.

Nadine,England

This is one Republican, Christian, Conservative who feels great sympathy for his family and friends and will miss Heath Ledger and his work.

I became a devotee of both these marvellous young actors as a result of their emotional pas-de-deux in “Brokeback Mountain” ,a film which for me will never be surpassed,and I have sought to learn as much as possible about them and their work,past,present and future.

Sadly there will be no future work for Heath now and for Jake,a future,I’m sure. changed for ever by Heath’s passing, a heart and soul which will ever carry the scars of losing someone with such deep personal and professional significance.

Like many of my fellow “Brokies” as we affectionately call one another in cyberspace,I have been really distressed by Heath’s tragic death,made heartsick by Jake’s obvious devastation at his loss and sickened by some of the bigotry peddled in its aftermath. It is with some relief,therefore, and much gratitude that I found,via one of those aforementioned “Brokies”, this wonderful,thoughtful,balanced,sensitive and poignant article. Again,thank you so very much for publishing it.

Nadine, England.

Obvioulsy, the sadness stems from the fact that a family member, a friend, and a father was lost. But I (and many others I presume) are depressed at the realization that we will never have the joy of seeing Ledger totally immerse himself in future film roles. Sure, he will be in this summer’s blockbuster, but if anything, the previews, the hype, and the movie will only rip open old emotional wounds that may not totally heal by then. How depressing.

The power of the internet allowed me to find this article, as well as come accross old tv interviews Heath was in. When watching these interviews, he came accross as uncomfortable and nervous. Its obvious he didn’t care for the spotlight. This made him even more real to me, and ultimately, makes me sadder.