© 2024
NPR for Northern Colorado
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Your Letters: Parkinson's Dad, 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

SCOTT SIMON, Host:

Time for your letters.

(SOUNDBITE OF TYPING AND MUSIC)

SIMON: We heard last week from Jesse Hardman, a reporter whose father is afflicted with Parkinson's Disease. The story told about the emotional isolation as well as the physical hardships caused by the disease.

JESSE HARDMAN: In most ways, Parkinson's is just as hard on my mom, who acknowledges that her partnership with my dad is inherently imbalanced now. He needs her in a way that she does not need him.

SIMON: And Juli Tannenbaum of New City, New York, writes: My father is also suffering from Parkinson's, dementia and is living in a home. It is so true that you don't know what or how to react when you are not part of the group who suffers from these insidious diseases. My children don't understand and, my sister and mother don't understand, and it took my diagnosis to fully get what my father is going through.

SIMON: We also spoke with Alan Connor who shared his ideas on the meaning behind the most popular song ever in the United Kingdom, Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY")

QUEEN: (Singing) Mama, I just killed a man, put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he's dead...

SIMON: Richard Mandl of Canoga Park, California, shared his interpretation and writes: I'm an English teacher and a longtime Queen fan, and I find that "Bohemian Rhapsody" bears a striking similarity to Albert Camus' master novella, "The Stranger." Both have a sociopathic killer with serious mom issues, and both feature condemned men who only explore the meaning of their lives because of their impending deaths.

HARDMAN: Mr. Simon, your question as to why "Bohemian Rhapsody" is still popular bespoke the obvious answer: it's good. OK, OK, really, really, really good - but still, isn't that why anything endures?

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY")

QUEEN: (Singing) Nothing really matters to me...

SIMON: Well, we've been around for a while and welcome your comments. Go to NPR.org and click on the Contact Us link. You can also post a comment on Facebook or Twitter at NPRWeekend - all one word. You can send me a tweet at NPRScottSimon. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.