News?

We were heading down to Maine when the news broke that Michael Jackson had died. Checking into our hotel in Syracuse the front desk staff were sobbing - I just wanted my key and to get the hell out of there.

Being in Maine relieved us of some of the wall-to-wall Jacko coverage. Now that I'm back I thought I'd throw some ideas together.

Now in the interest of full disclosure let me be clear that I have never been a Michael Jackson fan. Sure I liked the early stuff but by the 80s I had had enough - Thrillerwas full of un-danceable music (sorry - no one had the stamina to last through most of the songs - I wonder how many coronaries took place on dance floors over it?), screeches and spawned videos with Jackson groping himself. Frankly, I spent more time trying to count how many times he fondled his nether regions than actually listening to the music.

Then things just got unfortunate with the freakish surgery and allegations of improprieties. I know that he was never convicted of anything but in my world you don't give up $ 23 million if you've done nothing wrong. I know he was rumoured to be generous but there are limits.

Don't get me started on Lisa Marie Presley and that most unfortunate kiss.

My sense of the hoo haw over his death?

It has been distasteful.

It started when his father, speaking about the death for the first time, took the opportunity to tell everyone that he was starting up a new record label. MMMMMM - how nice. Your son isn't cold yet and you're taking the opportunity of having cameras in your face to build some buzz over your latest business venture.

Then there was the invasive, non-stop media coverage. Really - was there nothing going on in the world? Soldiers were being killed. People were starving. Pandemics were spreading. The numbers of poor grew. No one seemed to care a whit as the cameras focused on the final tributes to a fallen singer.

Heavens, people rushed to provide a quote. Every B, C, and D (i.e. those who can't even get onto Big Brother) grade celebrity raced to tell 'their' Michael Jackson story. Liz Taylor twittered about their love. It was too much.

I fully understand the need to grieve. I don't think grieving should become a national pass-time.

Then there was the debate over how he died. Guess what? I didn't care. I felt badly for his fans and family. Let it go.

The memorial tribute was a 'bit' much, too. People bartered for 'tickets'. Tickets to a memorial service is just distasteful. Selling said tickets on eBay is down right offensive.

Call me old fashioned but I prefer a service that isn't streamed live over the internet, twittered, nor blogged in live time. In our rush to provide 'information' (spin) we have lostsome very precious privacy in our lives. None of us really needed that, did we?

Then the city of LA started to collect fan donations to pay for Jackson's send off. Click here to give the 'King of pop' the send off he deserves. I am happy to be a nobody because should anything like this happen upon my death I'd be spinning in the eternity.

Over the weekend there was a healthy debate regarding Jackson's likelihood of getting into Heaven. Experts were asked to provide opinions. To their credit they refused to wade into the fray.

Dear LaToya (always the creepiest of the Jackson clan) topped off the weekend with wild accusations that Jackson was murdered and she knew who had done it! This become front page coverage the world over. You just know that LaToya will be selling 'clues to Michael's murder' at the end of a 1-800 call in the near future don't you?

She is just jealous that no one ripped off HER outfit during the Superbowl. That Janet always had all of the breaks afforded to the baby of the clan.

I am done.

News - sure!

Over the top, creepy, and offensive at times. You bet!!!!!

Comments

[softdrink]

I'm with you all the way. I'm disgusted by how much press his death has received.

[Chris]

Great post, Jerry! I couldn't agree more.

[Barbara]

A -F#%&ing-Men!!!!

[JDeQ]

Funny - I was expecting to get slammed a bit. LOL It is nice to know that others share the same concerns about our world and its foibles.

[Kendall]

Add another to the Amen Brother club.

[sandrac]

I actually liked MJ's music, from his days as a child star with the Jackson 5, through the 1980s.

That said, I completely agree with you, Jerry, that almost everything about his death -- the media insanity, LaToya's stunts -- are extremely distasteful. Any real grieving has been completely trampled by the pack.

[Donna in SF]

Jerry, what you said!

[JDeQ]

Kendall - the club seems to be growing.

Sandra - I can't imagine a member of the press going too far! One has to wonder where their ethics are . . .

LOL @ Donna!

[girasoli]

I feel the same way. Thankfully after the first few days of restaurants playing non-stop MJ music, there seemed to be other news of interest in Italy. I missed the LaToya business completely.

I liked him when he was a child but once he started groping himself and then the plastic surgery and the child molestation charges. He was too out there for me. The interesting thing is most of these people that now profess their undying love for him were talking trash about him a few years ago.

[JDeQ]

You were lucky to be Italy while the circus was underway. Now if only it would END!