Michael Jackson
EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT IT! I just wanted to be popular :(
So, I'm a little late to this party, but it always takes me a little longer than most people to digest my thoughts. And I have decided that there are two things that piss me off about Michael Jackson's death.
1) The media. Every news organization in America is weeping and singing his praises. This seems a little at odds with the fact that previously they had nailed him to a fucking cross, then nailed an other cross on his front side, and then set the whole fucking sandwich on fire. Seems a little hypocritical.
I know it's problematic rolling up the whole of "the media" into one great big scary thing to poke a stick at, but I'm pretty sure you all know what I'm talking about here. We're all pretty convinced Michael Jackson was a freak, and we can all thank various news outlets for reminding us every so often.
2) People. More than a few times, I have heard people ask the question, "Why does everyone give a shit?" I actually read one comment along the lines of "They wouldn't do this for you or me. He was an ordinary man, and we should not elevate him above that status." I kind of wish this comment hadn't come from a Christian who used the attention his comment brought to preach a little, but it's an opinion I've heard again and again.
It is true that Michael Jackson was a human being, as are we all. But he was not an ordinary man. He was an extraordinary man. He was a cultural icon, all over the world. Why the fuck shouldn't we care? Maybe you're not a big fan of his music, maybe you think he was fucking crazy, and maybe he was, maybe you're sick of still hearing about it on day 5, maybe you're not a fan of our propensity for celebrity-worship, but don't for a second suggest that his death isn't newsworthy, or that one of the most globally successful and influential musicians of all time is no more special than your next door neighbor. If you want more than a dozen people to read your obituary, maybe you should get off your ass and do something to change the world in some small (or large) way.
God that shit pisses me off.
So, I'm a little late to this party, but it always takes me a little longer than most people to digest my thoughts. And I have decided that there are two things that piss me off about Michael Jackson's death.
1) The media. Every news organization in America is weeping and singing his praises. This seems a little at odds with the fact that previously they had nailed him to a fucking cross, then nailed an other cross on his front side, and then set the whole fucking sandwich on fire. Seems a little hypocritical.
I know it's problematic rolling up the whole of "the media" into one great big scary thing to poke a stick at, but I'm pretty sure you all know what I'm talking about here. We're all pretty convinced Michael Jackson was a freak, and we can all thank various news outlets for reminding us every so often.
2) People. More than a few times, I have heard people ask the question, "Why does everyone give a shit?" I actually read one comment along the lines of "They wouldn't do this for you or me. He was an ordinary man, and we should not elevate him above that status." I kind of wish this comment hadn't come from a Christian who used the attention his comment brought to preach a little, but it's an opinion I've heard again and again.
It is true that Michael Jackson was a human being, as are we all. But he was not an ordinary man. He was an extraordinary man. He was a cultural icon, all over the world. Why the fuck shouldn't we care? Maybe you're not a big fan of his music, maybe you think he was fucking crazy, and maybe he was, maybe you're sick of still hearing about it on day 5, maybe you're not a fan of our propensity for celebrity-worship, but don't for a second suggest that his death isn't newsworthy, or that one of the most globally successful and influential musicians of all time is no more special than your next door neighbor. If you want more than a dozen people to read your obituary, maybe you should get off your ass and do something to change the world in some small (or large) way.
God that shit pisses me off.