Death of Jett Travolta Brings Out the Worst in Online Personalities

The death of Jett Travolta, the son of John Travolta and Kelly Preston broke the hearts of many across the nation this week. The death of a child is always a solemn occasion. In real life, people but on brave faces and offer heartfelt condolences to the parents and family.

Since Jett was the child of a celebrity, people somehow feel that the most basic social skills revolving around death, but especially the death of a child, don't apply. I'm talking about traits such as empathy, censorship, and basic kindness. Of course this concept is nothing new in the world online liquid courage, but in the case of a deceased child, you would think common decency would and should prevail. Instead, this sort of behavior has come to be expected online.

Comment sections of news reports about Jett Travolta's death are filled with all sorts of jerks coming out of the woodwork, such as wannabe doctors, would-be psychiatrists and most notably Scientology-haters who think that Jett's parents failed to seek out proper medical care early on due to their religious beliefs. The result is a mountain of negativity and judgments about the death of an innocent child. I've seen celebrities who died of a drug overdose get more posthumous respect than this poor child and his family.

According to reports, 16 year old Jett Travolta died from a seizure allegedly caused by Kawasaki's Disease, a disease he has had since he was little. Critics of Scientology somehow believed that Jett suffered from Autism, and say Jon Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston shunned this idea, because Scientologists don't believe in mental illnesses that traditionally require drugs or psychiatrists as a part of treatment, even if they have been proven to lessen the instance of disease or suffering.

Seizures were a symptom of Jett's disease according to several reports, and he was on an anti-seizure medication called Depakote for several years until, according to TMZ, it lost its effectiveness. At that time, John and Kelly decided to take him off of the drug. His seizures became more frequent, with Jet experiencing seizures once a week and losing conscious during these episodes. Due to the frequent seizures, Jett had 24 hour care, but not by a nurse. TMZ reported that the nanny was a photographer with no medical qualifications or experience - undoubtedly another Scientologist member who was a trusted family friend.

Personally, I think none of this is any of our business. If there was true neglect involved like so many onlookers suspect, I'm sure the authorities would have been notified a long time ago. Parents aren't perfect, and some are downright psychotic and abusive, but I find it hard to believe that John and Kelly would put their child's health in jeopardy just to appease their religious beliefs. Despite their loyalty to Scientology, I believe there comes a point when parental instinct kicks in, and the mom or dad would do whatever it takes to keep their son alive and healthy, no matter what.

The bottom line is, think before you comment on articles like these. An article about the death of any child is not the place to spout off speculation, rumors, and self-serving judgmental comments, for these do nothing but breed hatred in others and cause hurt and anger in the families that are left behind. If your child died, would you want people calling you a bad parent? Would you want some random person diagnosing your child? John and Kelly are going through any parent's worst nightmare and don't deserve this kind of reaction. You don't have to agree with their choices, but please remember that they are grieving over the loss of their only son.