Why is Sheila being treated like a case study?
Why does Bryce talk about Sheila as though she were some alien life form whose ways are unfathomable by the mere layman?
Why does a mother have to be "unwell" in order to insult her kid and cut him out of her will?
The real issue here is that society can't get its head around the following:
The idea that somebody could ever deserve to be harshly reprimanded by their parent
The idea that a good mother would ever want to stick it to her child
The idea that a good person would ever be hesitant to get involved with her grandkids
The idea that a celebrity who makes beautiful music could do bad things
Honestly.
What is so hard to understand about these ideas?
Offspring, mothers, grandparents, musicians, and celebrities have one very important thing in common:
They're PEOPLE.
No fully-functional person is less accountable for his actions than any other. No one person has less of a right to self-defense than any other. What part of this are people still not getting, exactly?
I really shouldn't have to break this down any further, but it appears that I do, so here goes, point by numbered point:
1. The idea that somebody could ever deserve to be harshly reprimanded by their parent
Elton refused to acknowledge Sheila in any way after she insulted David. He wouldn't even visit his stepfather in the hospital, or go to his funeral, because he associated his stepfather with Sheila. Even if he weren't a millionaire seven hundred times over he wouldn't have done anything to deserve a share in Sheila's will. Why should he get a slice just because he's technically her son?
2. The idea that a good mother would ever want to stick it to her child
Let me get this straight: you're allowed to fight back and stand up to your fellow adults except when the one making you miserable is the one you gave birth to?
3. The idea that a good person would ever be hesitant to get involved with her grandkids
Why should anyone feel obliged to enter into a family situation in which they do not feel welcome? David clearly didn't want Sheila around. The grandkids knew nothing about her and wouldn't have naturally embraced her. She was basically a stranger to them. She had no reason to think that the situation would have been a happy one. Can you imagine finally showing up to meet your grandkids, only to be received with awkward shyness? And then to get the cold shoulder from your son's spouse on top of everything else? If you were Sheila, would you put yourself in that position?
If you say "yes," you're lying.
4. The idea that a celebrity who makes beautiful music could do bad things
I know it's painful to find out that somebody whose music you love isn't somebody you'd have a beer with. I get it. It's sad. But talent and personality are two separate entities, so...
