Bittersweet memories.

That is all many will be taking with them after the news of Whitney Houston’s passing this weekend. But unfortunately, many others choose only to remember and ridicule Whitney’s issues with drug addiction.

It’s no secret she struggled with drug addiction for many years – even while she was in her prime. We all know that. We get that.

Though many fans remember the highest heights of her career and impact, they undoubtedly recall her public meltdowns.

From her incomparable rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 1991 Super Bowl to the infamous “crack is whack” interview with Diane Sawyer, we saw Whitney at her best and at her ugliest. Only in recent years did Whitney publicly own a struggle that was clearly visible to many.

With the 2009 release of her comeback album “I Look To You” and her role in the upcoming movie “Sparkle,” many fans and others patiently observed and cheered, holding out for Whitney to continue progressing in recovery.

And though it’s too soon to know the cause of death – she was found underwater in the tub of her bathroom at The Beverly Hilton – one thing is clear: No matter how you swing it, addiction is no joke.

It’s one thing to lament the erosion of Whitney’s pristine vocal abilities. But it’s another thing to engage in cruel mockery, taking to social media and public forums in the mere hours after her death to poke fun at Whitney’s admitted issues with drug and alcohol addiction.

If you’ve ever known someone who struggled with addiction of any kind, you know how painful it can be to watch.

You know how hopeful the addict’s loved ones are that they’ll recover and return to being who they truly are.

You wait with bated breath to see if the first or maybe even the sixth trip to rehab will change things for good.

And if addiction tragically cut the person’s life short, you know how painful the aftermath can be. With the celebration of a life comes the tearful thoughts of what was and what could’ve been, whether the person never was addicted in the first place or had overcome it.

For some, she’s just another person who let fame crush her soul, send her to an early grave and benefit from an undeserved, swelling public memorial that everyday people wouldn’t get.

Yes, Whitney is a superstar. That’s not lost on anyone. Hundreds of millions of albums sold, six Grammy awards… the accolades and achievements go on and on for the most-awarded female artist. She’s famous, she’s rich and we don’t know her personally.

But she’s also the parent of an 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina, who will have to go through the rest of her life without a mother.

Whitney is a daughter whose mother, Cissy, will have one of the greatest misfortunes to befall on any mom: burying her own daughter.

She is a friend, mentor and inspiration to many public figures and countless others who looked up to Whitney during their own aspirations, or who clung to the messages in Whitney’s songs during moments high and low.

Like many others, I’ll remember Whitney not only for her singing, but also for those other little things she gave us – and the joy they continue to bring.

I’ll hear “The Greatest Love of All” and remember my 5-year-old self – when my mother shared her own gift after videotaping her own rendition of the song sharing it to the amazement of family and friends.

I’ll hear “Queen of the Night” and recall my teens when I clung to this section of the lyrics while I was coming out: “You’ve got a problem with the way that I am. They say I’m trouble and I don’t give a damn!”

I’ll hear “Joy to the World” during Christmas and think of her rousing, gospel rendition of it with the Georgia Mass Choir in the film “The Preacher’s Wife.” Her version remains my favorite and I’ve watched the movie almost every holiday season since.

I’ll hear “When You Believe” and remember going to the movies with my family as a 10-year-old to see “The Prince of Egypt” – and the excitement I felt when hearing her duet with Mariah Carey rolling during the end credits. Fond memories those will be.

What I won’t do is deify Whitney, as her life and her struggles show she is marked by her humanity as everyone is.

It would’ve been great to have more years of her music and it’s sad that she apparently couldn’t realize lasting freedom from her addiction struggles and live peacefully as a mother, daughter and friend.

I won’t mock her for the fact that she’s not here to do so because of her own struggles. Yet as news continues rolling in following her passing, that’s all some can seem to think about and discuss.

At a minimum, empathize with her addiction struggles, or the struggles of everyday people dealing with addiction issues. At least have respect for the fact that a person has died. For many who have survived addiction or know those who did, seeing Whitney pass away at only 48 years of age is sure to hurt.

And if you can’t empathize, then that’s just a damn shame. If nothing else, have some respect.

Derrick Clifton is a Communication senior. He can be reached at [email protected]

All opinions expressed in this column are solely the opinions of the columnist and do not reflect the views of The Daily Northwestern. If you would like to respond to the column, you may comment below, email the columnist or submit a 300-word letter to the editor to [email protected].