What do you want to be remembered for? Alexis Cohen died July 26, 2009, possibly of a hit-and-run accident. It was reported on all the news channels. I heard it on the morning news on WCCO radio. Alexis had auditioned on two seasons of American Idol. I didn’t remember the name, but I was curious since I watch “American Idol” so I checked out the news stories.

Immediately on seeing her picture I remembered her. She did not take rejection well. Her reaction to being rejected became viral on the internet. It was broadcast around the world. Her death became news not because she died but because she was remembered because of her reaction to her rejection. Otherwise she would have just been another hit-and-run death that happened and would not have made worldwide news.

I could not help but ponder the fact that there is more to this girl than her few moments of fame because of her verbal reaction to rejection on American Idol. Yet that is what we all remember. Alexis was someone’s daughter. Alexis was someone’s friend. Alexis had dreams and she was not going to give up her dream. However the media isn’t taking the time to tell us about the rest of Alexis’ life. Her life was summed up in a few moments on a television show. I am sure if we talked to her family and friends they would tell you who the real Alexis was and that there is so much more to be remembered about this young lady.

Most of our lives are summed up in a newspaper obituary after we die. How do obituaries sum up a person’s life? I came across an old obituary online for a Hattie Spillman that died in 1914. It is from a website by Tina Easley. This is the way Hattie’s life was summed up by her Eclipse Rebekah Lodge Sisters:

“On Dec. 12, 1914, God in his wisdom removed from our beloved order Sister Hattie Spillman, age 45 years. Death came after a long and patient illness of bronchial affection.

“Sister Spillman was a valuble member, she being one of our worthy past grands. She was always ready with heart and hands to brighten the lives of those she came in contact with. She was of a lovable disposition, a tireless Christian, was loyal to her church, she being a member of Mainshore Missionary Baptist Church for a number of years. She leaves a husband, (H.M. Spillman) three sons and on daughter (Lee Miller), also a mother and three sisters and a host of friends to mourn their loss.

“Be it resolved, that we, the members of this lodge, to which she belonged, extend to the bereaved family our sincere love and sympathy, and say to them, weep not as those that have no hope, but look up to our Father in Heaven, who doeth all things well to those who love and serve Him.”

How wonderful to be remembered as a person that is always ready with heart and hands to brighten the lives of others. How wonderful to be remembered as having a lovable disposition. This obituary tells me that Hattie Spillman was a very nice and good lady. However, I wonder had the Internet been around in 1914, would someone have found something negative about Hattie’s life to report instead of the fact that she was a tireless Christian? Lovable dispositions and tireless Christians do not seem to be newsworthy in 2009. Would something in her life become viral on the Internet that would have changed how she was remembered? Instead of being loyal to her church she could have been remembered by something foolish she did in her lifetime.

We all do things we are not proud of. We all have “American Idol” rejection moments. How would we feel if that is what we were remembered for because it was broadcast across the Internet and television? It seems that people took joy in watching Alexis explode in anger because of rejection. We seem to be obsessed with videos showing people at their worst moments. We watch with glee and we send them to our friends with no thought as to what that says about us as a person or what it might do to the family and friends of the people in the videos. We give no thought to the future of the people in the videos caught in a moment of fame that might affect the rest of their lives.

We could argue that the people who make these videos of their embarrassing moments do it to be famous. Some are caught by other people on video that others release to the world. No thought seems to be given to the damage it can do to someone that will be remembered for the rest of their lives.

My sympathy goes to Alexis’ family. They knew the real Alexis. Who knows the real you and what will they remember and what will they report?

Wells resident Julie Seedorf’s column appears every Monday. Send e-mail to her at thecolumn@bevcomm.net or visit her blog at www.justalittlefluff.blogspot.com.