"No waaayy, man, that's not her!"

Resenting the photo showed to me, I turned my back to rummage through a stack of "I am Sam" photo print-outs from my trunk. "Now this, is Dakota."

The picture my friend showed me captured an elegantly-clad lady, posing at the People's Choice Awards (PPC) 2009's Red Carpet. It was indeed Dakota Fanning. Her single-strapped electric blue number brought out the best in her eyes. She's fourteen, what else should I expect? She's grown into a beautiful, fine young lady. A bit difficult to accept, especially for us who've fixated our impressions tha Dakota Fanning will forever be a short-haired, wide-eyed little princess.

She beamed the most radiant smile as she posed for the camera. The night before, she was already awarded the Rising Star Award at the 20th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival. She was casted in the independent film, The Secret Life of Bees, which won Favorite Movie Drama (up against 21 and Eagle Eye) and Favorite Independent Movie (up against The Duchess and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day) at the PPC '09.

It must have been terribly difficult for the Travoltas to utter words of cheer in welcoming the new year. I may not be a parent yet, but the news of their eldest son’s death broke my heart into pieces. I could just imagine how deafening it must’ve been in the Bahamas that day when John’s and Kelly’s hearts screamed in pain. Jett Travolta, only sixteen, died of seizure last January 2, 2009. He was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease when he was two. John will never forget that incident when they nearly lost their eldest due to the aggravated symptoms of the rare disease. It must’ve been so hard kissing little Jett on the forehead before heading for work, not knowing if another dreadful attack would come. But the Travoltas woke up joyful from every possible nightmare that must’ve haunted their lives, for they were truly blessed with a beautiful son and daughter.

Losing Jett was already too much pain. The last thing that the family needed was to hear speculations relating their son’s death to Scientology and autism. We live in a democratic country, I know, but can’t we just hold our tongues for just a teensy-weensy moment? A little respect for a grieving family won’t rob America of its democracy. Sure we want to be open-minded people, but it pays a lot, too, to understand how much respect can be an act of a higher level of open-mindedness. I’m no Travolta fan, but I do think that these issues have their proper time and venue. Rest in peace, Jett Travolta.