Greetings…
I know I’ll probably take some heat for the next paragraph or two,
but I can’t be the only one who is wondering when the “madness”
of the Michael Jackson coverage is going to end?
I mean, puleeeeeeze, his death was sad, but so were quite a few
other deaths, Yes, he was an icon, and the King of Pop, but he
wasn’t a Biblical figure, it’s not like he moonwalked on water!
I can’t remember coverage like this. Maybe I can’t remember it
because I’m old, or because we live in an era of mass media and
constant updates and “breaking news”…
I remember feeling shocked and sad when Elvis Presley died and thought
about the money he made and how unhappy he was, the tragic way he died,
and how he spent the last few years of his life…
I felt the same when I heard about Michael Jackson’s death, and the
same feeling about his life crossed my mind again…
When John Lennon was murdered, I think I personally felt a bigger
loss because of being such a Beatles fan and feeling that a true
musical genius, through no fault of his own, was silenced and my
own generation as well as generations to come were cheated…
In each of the three deaths I mentioned, I felt the same…
Shock and sadness. While millions of people were shown crying their
eyes out and making pilgrimages to pay their respect to their iconic
idols, I didn’t cry, and in fact, I don’t recall ever really crying
when a celebrity died…
Until…
The day that Michael Jackson died, only the tears that trickled down
my cheek weren’t for Michael, they were for Farrah Fawcett who lost
her battle with cancer that same day and was overshadowed by the
much “bigger” death. Farrah was laid to rest on Wednesday…
Her funeral was carried out the same way she spent her remaining
days, with dignity, and private with friends and family attending…
Michael on the other hand, is going the “James Brown” route and
hasn’t been buried yet because his family wants him to be buried
at Neverland and I guess that’s against the law…
The Jackson death is playing out like the Jackson life, a circus
event filled with people looking for their 15 minutes of fame,
“experts” giving their opinions on the who, what and why’s of
Jackson’s life and death, and a mother, (and I use that term
loosely), who may have not had plastic surgery on her nose like
Michael did, but obvously has a VERY good sense of smell when it
comes to money. She is now deciding if she wants to play mommy
after having nothing to do with her children since their births…
According to his will, he wants his mother, (who is 79) to take
the children and if she ’s not able, he wants Diana Ross, who is in
her late 60’s to take them. Diana Ross??? Alrighty then…
This story will continue to draw big ratings and viewers and while
I don’t fault people for feeling the way they do, I wonder how many
of them know that one of our soldiers in Afghanistan was kidnapped
yesterday? How much coverage did that get? No, he wasn’t famous,
no, he didn’t make music videos, but he has family who love him and
we can only hope and pray that he doesn’t have to make the ultimate
sacrifice and is found safe and unharmed…
I know I basically rambled today and you could tell me just don’t
watch all the coverage about Jackson. Some of it you can’t help,
and truth be known, it’s like a train wreck, you know you shouldn’t
look, but you can’t help it and sometimes our priorities seem to
take a back seat to the madness that the celebrity world lives, (and
die) in…
This weekend we will be celebrating the 4th of July here in the
United States. Have a great weekend and be safe!!!
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It’s sad that Michael Jackson died, but the soldier that is in Taliban hands, Farah Fawcett that died from cancer and Ed McMahon (who was a retired Marine Colonel) also passed away and yet we’ve heard very little about any of these three. Let Michael rest in peace.
I just told my husband I am so sick of hearing about this. This has overshadowed so many important things going on in the world and it’s gone on way too long. But at least they are not talking about the idiot octomom for a change, but geeeezzzeee, enought already.
Jamie I could not have said it better, you hit the nail on the head he isn’t God.
i know about the soldier, but i like to keep up on all the news. so many just read headlines or get bogged down in the “news” about celebrity. you are right on the fact that that soldier has a family and friends that have just got to be hanging on by a thread.
Jamie,
I agree wholeheartedly with you..God Bless .
And I thought it was only me. Not too much coverage on Karl Malden’s death although he’s been in countless movies and TV shows.
Well said.
Blame the media!! This morning it was announced that 11,000 free tickets to his Memorial Service are being handed out and over .75 million people are expected!!!
I agree with Jamie re: Michael Jackson. People forget about the really important items in the news. Many celebrities have passed on without too much brahaha and it was very tasteful. This is too much. There are more important lives we should be mourning.
I cried for Farah too. I had the same kind of cancer she did 10 years ago; but I am lucky to be in remission. Even so, I can only imagine the suffering she must have endured. I also worry about that soldier that was kidnapped. Enough already of Michael Jackson! I just hope his children can be spared the bloodsuckers that are likely to come from everywhere and take advantage of them.
Kuddos Jamie! Shame on you media! I wholeheartedly agree. I hope people will remember what is important this 4th and remember our troops fighting and dying for our freedom and not let Whacko Jackos death and after effects over shawdow that. So sad that Ed’s and Farrah’s death took backseat to this parade of media hoopla.
Hello,
Everyone has a right for an opinion including the ignorant. I know the media is bias and are looking for ratings. People should not judge others and the media is the worst to bring out trash…we need integrity the media and in this country.
This was my first issue – very well done. You all have a great 4th also.
Hi!!! I soooo agree with you on Michael J. Farrah deserved more attention than him. Only celebrity I cried for was Luciano Pavarotti. MJ could only dreamed about having voice like that. Have a great 4th. Randi J.
Thank-you! I thought that I was the only one who felt that way about all the Michael Jackson coverage. Yes, I did know about the soldier being kidnapped and wish for him to be returned safely. Carl Malden’s death was just a blurb on the news. Too bad that Michael can’t even have any dignity in death. His family needs to get a clue.
If I drank I’d drink to that Jamie. ENOUGH already, for all the good the media can do they wipe it out in a heartbeat with this kind of crap. Personally, I just grab the remote & watch Discovery or History. This sounds bad & it’s not ment too but ‘others’ say the opposite so I guess I can say it too, if the poor man was white this would be down played conciderably. Our Pres. thinks “what” of the CT decision in that reverse case so I guess I too can have my opinion.
Jamie, I completely agree with you on this Michael Jackson circus. Most of the newscasts have it as their lead story! That means there are no other stories more important. Good Grief! We have two wars going on. Our country is in financial ruin. We had a soldier kidnapped in Afghastan. We have lost two planes in the last few weeks and we need to find out why so it doesn’t happen again. People are starving all over the world. I could go on and on. I just hope they do not televise the memorial service. Television stations lose thousands of dollars in revenue because they cannot televise commercials. I am sure they don’t need that! I, too, had tears when I heard about Farrah. She had such courage and so much hope. I felt terrible that she and Ryan O’Neil waited too long to get married. They had such love and respect for each other. Have a safe and happy fourth.
Thank you for all you said. You hit the nail on the head. I was upset about all this coverage because as this was going on Congress was busy creating laws and voting on massive spending that will do massive damage to my country and my life. We will be spending the 4th celebrating this country’s formation based on “FREEDOM” All these freedoms are now under attack and are being taken away by this Congress. What will the 4th of July mean to my grandchildren in the furture? The memorial that will draw millions should be for our country not Michael Jackson. We need to stand up and fight for this country. Michael Jackson will rest in peace. I am sorry he is gone but I am also sorry he made the choices (freedom) he did and wasted his God given talent. Happy 4th to all and I pray we will always have a 4th to celebrate. God Bless our troops and their families.
Hi Jamie. It’s my first time writing to you and I want to say that I enjoy your column. It’s sad about Michael and all the leeches that are coming out of the ground to get their 15 minutes of fame. I worry about his kids more than anything because it won’t be over for them for a long time to come. The only positive thing is that we aren’t hearing as much about Jon and Kate.
AMEN!!!!!
Never have I ever agreed more. We have so many people doing good things in this world and sometimes I wish we had a news outlet just for those good things but I am so very certain that it would not be watched enough to keep it on the air. Thank you so much for your timely and sensible comments. Amen again.
Yes, it is sad that all these deaths of famous people have befallen us and I am hoping that all this fan-fare will be done with soon. Our soldiers are fighting for our lives as well as their own and with this 4th coming up, we should all bow our heads and lift up a prayer for their safe return home to their loved ones. May we all be Blessed during this coming holiday of freedom.
May all those who have passed on this pass week or so, find restful sleep with God.
P.S Gale Storm also passed away.
Boy, are you ever right..again! Here in WI our “local” news is saturated with MJ too. I ask myself every nite: “Is there no REAL news to report?” I think he should be creamated and scattered over Neverland; after he’s buried watch some nuts try to dig him up! As for his mother, oh ya, I knew from the first second that she’d be “happy” to get her hands on all that money. Luckily he left nothing to his abusive father. ON THE OTHER HAND: I had my head taken off when I posted something like this on FB by my “friends” who came up in the 80’s..to them he’s like John Lennon was to us. I understand that, but I don’t understand the rest of the BS. Watch his funeral turn into a major riot.
Here – here – here!!!!! This is very reminiscent of when Diana Spencer died and I certainly don’t put Michael in the same calibre as this. That had a huge impact on the world and I’m sure most of us were riveted to the television for coverage. I was never an M.J. fan and found it way overkill when he was in Court and every night on the news and all the special shows and I thought that was ridiculous. Now this – it is just too much. Let the man rest in peace. It seems the man led such a strange and bizarre life that none of the media can leave it alone. There are far more important and meaningful things happening in the news and I can’t wait for things to get back to more important issues that we truly NEED to hear about.
I’m wearing my remote out and in disgust shutting the TV off. Jackson may have had talent but he also did a lot of damage in his personal life. I cried for John Lennon, who I thought was so great because he fought for peace, for Farrah for her bravery and humor and her beauty until the end in so many ways. Yeah, Debbie, your motherly love is overwhelming. I wonder how interested you would be if you weren’t cut out of the will.
And to the missing solder and his family, my prayers are with you. Now he should be in the headlines every day and in every way.
I like your article today and I agree completely. Farrah did take a back seat to Michael’s death and that was a shame. I am not a big Michael Jackson fan but he was very good in some of the things that he did.
I think this Fourth of July weekend should be more about our Troops who are protecting this Country with their lives. Thank you so much for your articles and God Bless.
I am with you all the way about this big deal about Michael Jackson…It is simply disgusting and everyone is after a limelight appearence or a dollar from it……Smart girl you are……Happy 4th
Yea, and amen
Hi Jamie: I’m with you all the way on this one gal. I too was shocked and sad when I heard of Michael’s death as I’ve always felt he was an incredible talent but a very sad man all rolled into one. His life became so strange in his quest to be white and a loved child. So many famous people are walking around with tons of baggage and the way the media is today it’s like their lives are thrown into a shark pond and it’s who can devour their story the most. I did not cry when I heard of Michael’s death but did shed a few tears when I watched an interview he did where he talked about the abuse at the hands of his father. Having grown up with severe abuse by my mother I understood his feelings but what a shame he never got the help to get past what was done to him. When I watched the special movie Farrah did for all of us, I balled my eyes out, as she showed so much faith and courage. I have reached a point where I simply don’t understand why our society puts so much time and interest into those who are considered celebrities. Tell me just what Paris Hilton has done for anyone and yet she continues to be in the public media daily, weekly, and no one calls her out for being just what she is. An empty headed spoiled idiot. Sorry that came out so fast but my fingers were flying and now they won’t allow me to backspace and remove what I wrote. Oh well. Guess I won’t be one of Paris’s BFF,s. I remember crying for John Kennedy and for Princess Diana. But the bottom line is this. As long as people read rags, blog, email, watch celebrity T.V. like E.T. as well as celebrity reality, they will continue to pump it out because it makes money. With this day and age of technology what a shame that so much of it is devoted to garbage. Sad.
Have a happy 4th love and my best to All In The Family.
Susan and Scooter
His family is so dysfunctional. No family would ever wait this long to put the man in the ground. I hope his creator understands this maddness. He was only a pawn of others.
Like you, I feel enough is enough. What I don’t understand is why anyone wants to go to Neverland, or Staples Center, and be part of this crowded mess. I believe the MJ was a great talent, and probably worked as hard as anyone ever did to perform to perfection, but he’s gone now, so is going to where he lived going to “sooth” your grief?
Oh my gosh …. I agree 100 % with you on the whole Michael Jackson fiasco. And yes I am the odd ball in the crowd that always makes the comment, excuuuuuse me, there was another death that day, it was a wonderful lady by the name of Farrah Fawcett that everyone seems to have forgotten. I have never ever written in to comment to any web-site blog, but OMG I am so tired of hearing about him and I just had to write in. Why has the Jackson family waited till a family member died to all come together. Where were they when he was lonley and depressed and getting deeper and deeper into his addiction, where were they when he could of appreciated them being around. Too little too late I’d say. I wasn’t a huge Jackson fan. I did like alot of his music and I think just about everyone of us can hear a Jackson song and it will bring back some kind of memory or a ‘ I remember when ‘ story, but as for himself, why do we glorify his weirdness, it’s a mystery to me. Thank you for speaking out, I’ve been a reader for many years and as I said, this is a first for me to comment. Happy 4th of July to you and yours
Hi Jamie,
Never posted before, but have been a long time reader of your column. Just wanted to say thank you for a well written post today! I am also growing weary of hearing about Michael Jackson’s death. There are other major news stories that should be covered & are definitely taking a back seat to a “has-been celebrity.” It amazes me that there is anything new to report beyond the “he’s still dead!” Being that I live in Southern California just outside of LA County, MJ is constantly in the news, & somehow people keep dredging up along with old stories & tired pictures/videos about the former King of Pop. I guess what really bothers me is that he is getting so many accolades when he had so many issues, one of which seems to be he had a major drug addiction. Is this something we want others to emulate? Has everyone forgotten how he died??? He’s not the first star to burn out in this fashion, & sadly I doubt he will be the last. It’s ok to pay respects to a deceased person in the public eye, but then everyone needs to move on!
Have a wonderful & safe 4th of July!
Dearest Jamie,
Thank you thank you thank you!! I can’t agree more, He was NOT a GOD nor was he a superstar of yester years. Grant you it’s sad he is gone BUT only for the family as far as I’m concerned. He had a lot of emotional & physical inflictions as well as a few other oddities about him and for the media and public to put him up on a pedestal is LUDICROUS and shamful, giving his past and all the hurt that came from it. Guilty or not it is wrong wrong wrong. There were a lot of celebrity deaths in June and not one of them have gotten the respect or praise that this guy did. SHAME on the family and the so called fans of the man, and I use that term LIGHTLY!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Jamie….you said it all… Now that Jessie Jackson and the Rev have reared their ugly heads….will there be no end to the madness?
Jamie, as long as people view and are interested in his life the stories will continue. Michale was an international figure, thus the publicity, people love to listen to commentators when they go back and try to dig up every dirty thing they can find on them. You might not have known him but Karl Malden just recently passed away. He was a great actor and was married to the same woman for 70 years. I too followed Farrah’s struggle and Ryan’s other son has started rumors calling his dad a gold digger and that he did not really love Farrah. I liked and admired all three but am getting tired of hearing about Michael.
Thank you for saying what a lot of us feel. I also am sick and tired of hearing any and all about Michael Jackson, give it a rest already. I used to like him until all the changes. He was never a white person and he was never a woman. Way too much plastic surgery. Hope he is happy now.
People have funny ideas about who they idolize. At best Mr. Jackson was a junkie who had mental issues; at worst he was a junkie and a pervert. Whichever, it is a sad state of affairs when all you hear about is his death when the world has all the problems it has now and when there have certainally been other folks who have passed away that deserve far more adoration. It it had of been a “regular” person they would have been found him in the gutter and no one would have claimed the body.
I am sick of hearing about MJ, but even more I am sick of hearing this. I am sick of hearing about Ed McMahon. The only reason he’s mentioned is because of the celebrity deaths coming in three thing. Before MJ and Farrah’s death he wasn’t even mentioned. I’m also tired of everyone whining about Farrah not getting enough attention. I know WGN did a tribute by airing Charlie’s Angels episodes on Sunday. If MJ hadn’t died on the same day she’d get her bit on Thursday, WGN’d still air their special, TV Land would probably do something (they have that show Chasing Farrah) and that’s probably it. We probably wouldn’t even be talking about it today.
AMEN Jamie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy 4th and God Bless our troops!
Ann in MIssissippi
Thankyou Jamie, for setting the world straight on importance of happenings. I, too, mourned for Farrah and appreciated the class act she gave us in dealing with her illness and death. She was a beautiful person inside and out. Thank you, also, for remembering the soldier abducted in Afghanistan and the agony his family is enduring. My son arrived from Aafghanistan for 2 weeks R & R at the same time the soldier was abducted. Thank you for your kind words and thoughts for those of us that have children serving in the military risking their lives to protect our way of life in this great nation where we are priviledged to live.
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!
Correct Jamie, too much of anything is too, too much of it all.
I’m in agreement with all the postings. Sad about MJ’s death, but tired of hearing about it. This man’s death has become a spectacle. I live in NY and you would not believe the spectacle at the Apollo Theatre. I would like to wish all a Happy 4th and let us not forget our Troops and their courage and bravery for the good of us all. God bless our Troops and their families!!!
You said it all so perfectly and are so gifted with a talent for writing. I am American living in New Zealand and every time MJ’s name comes on the TV I walk out of the room. I never really cared for him and his personal life was pitiful. My heart went out to Farrah also as she suffered and really fought for life and used to watch Johnny Carson every night in my earlier years and always loved Ed McMahon. I have an American flag flying on my patio and tears roll down my cheeks as my roots and heart is still there. Such a privilege to be an American and having a brother make a career in the USAF….our troops are the greatest and God Bless them for serving so willingly. Happy 4th to all!!!
Thanx for the acknowledgement of the ‘insanity’; it’s the way our society is now. The bigger the ‘circus’ performer the bigger the ‘news’. We have heroes, courageous fighters, respectable people being ignored, forgotten, left by the roadside; as we spend our time watching, like a the proverbial ‘train wreck’, the incredible foolishness of the latest social deviant. An accused pedifile, unsure of not just his ethnicity, but his actual being; and the people responsible for creating his image surfacing to show us what ‘family values and love’ is … And ‘us’ gawking at it all. Not as easy as it sounds to just not watch the coverage. IT IS everywhere. My thoughts presently are on the soldier in the hands of the enemy overseas … now if I can just find a ‘news’ station that is going to cover the story.
Amen Jamie! I was a MJ fan back in the day and was extremely sad to hear of his passing, but this over-the-top coverage is beyond ridiculous. Like another poster, I had tears running down my face when they showed the Oprah interview, but now I’m completely numb to it as I have seen it over and over and over again, ad nauseum. One thing I would like to say that I haven’t heard spoken of, I pray so hard that Katherine Jackson does NOT get custody of those children. In my mind she is as much a child abuser as her husband as she stood by while that beast beat at least one of their children into submission to the point that he vomitted just at the sight of him. Why did he adore her so? And why on earth would he entrust his children to her, only for the cycle to begin again?
Maybe Sarah Palin really does have a brain in that head of hers, boy did she pick the right time to drop her bombshell. I wish the media wasn’t so tied up with the MJ coverage, there’s a scandal to be uncovered up there in Alaska.
I agree. Enough about Jacko. He got really weird in the latter years anyway. I had lost all respect for him.
Laurie says…
“Maybe Sarah Palin really does have a brain in that head of hers, boy did she pick the right time to drop her bombshell. I wish the media wasn’t so tied up with the MJ coverage, there’s a scandal to be uncovered up there in Alaska.”
Boy are we on the same page Laurie, I said the same thing while watching that rambling nonsense that came out of her mouth and her subsequent resignation. I have a few theories on what the scandal could be, but will keep them to myself, for now…
Jamie
I agree with you on the MJ thing. Too much ado about nothing. I cried when John
Lennon died, but this is a three ring circus. When will the looting and riots start when everyone can’t get into the stadium for the circus/funeral. He was a musical genius, but after that, I don’t care for him. It’s like when Elvis died. So many people willing to do so much for a famous person, whatever it was, that the person ends up dead.
Let’s remember our troops and the missing soldier. That’s a much more important story.
carol ô¿ô
I,too, am sick & tired of the blazing headlines about a person who lived his life & now his death, in the glare of the cameras.
Modern science has perfected a way for people who truly want to have children. how ‘NICE’ that you can take the biological ingredients to make another human being, put them into a female ‘incubator’ until time says they should become human beings in their own rights, with no real ties to either the male or female who made them possible,or even any idea as to who they would be.
whose are these kids,really? are the 2 older ones even related to each other ? how is this going to make them feel when they get to be adults?
meanwhile, people who really deserved more than a 3″X5″ inch box about their death & funeral services gets shoved to the back pages.
I never cared for Elvis, & even less about Michael. the only reason I liked ‘Thriller’ at all, was because Vincent Price put his voice on it!
ENOUGH already! he’s gone. let him rest. give ME a rest from all this hype.
That’s okay Jamie, speak your mind, it’s okay to voice your true thoughts, I fully agree with you the way that Michael Jackson’s death is receiving all this media attention, people actually think more of MJ more in death than in life, but please, this is rediculous the way they treat him now, they actually treat him as if he was a real King that has died, he’s not a real King, he’s just king of that type of music, what are people thinking, this is real crazy, and like you say poor Farrah Fawcett did not receive the attention MJ has, and I too cried over Farrah’s death, I thought she should of received more attention than she did, but am happy she is at peace now and don’t have to deal with that dreadful Cancer. Thank you Jamie for sharing with us your true thoughts and feelings, I enjoy your postings, keep up the good work Jamie !
I was a bit mad too that Farrah’s death has been over shadowed but I think maybe that is how she would want it. She didn’t want a big fuss made about her illness and maybe she just wants to be remembered by the people that cared. Not just anyone and everyone. Yes Michael Jackson’s death was a shocker but now we need to move on. No one has said who is paying for the big hoopla that is going on today for his memorial. My heart is really with Farrah’s family. I’m just glad that Redmond got to go to the funeral. Let’s hope he will keep himself clean after what he has lost.