Rest in Peace Michael

An interesting week to be sure as icons of the twentieth century begin to fade into the sunset. First, Ed McMahon, a from the Golden Age of Television and a pioneer and late night comedy and talk shows. Then two days later, Farrah Fawcett, a sex-icon of the latter twentieth century, a talented actress and a determined fighter of cancer. And on the same day as Fawcett, today, Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson was a musical genius who wrote and performed brilliant songs that changed the world. He was dancing prodigy who inspired new and creative ways for performers to express themselves with their bodies for centuries to come.

Michael emerged as a star performing with his four brothers throughout the 1960′s and 70′s, but became a megastar as a solo artist in the late 1970′s and early 80′s.

Jackson apparently had a horrificly abusive father growing up which unfortunately, but not shockingly led him to VERY bizzare behavior as an adult.

Michael was almost daily crucified by the media and was driven to extreme plastic surgery, prescription drug addiction, manic depression, eating disorders, and alienation.

For nearly two decades Jackson has fought off extreme and convincing allegations of child sexual abuse on many fronts, but never has been convicted of doing so- although large settlements have been paid to the accusers families from Jackson.

He was a man who could not cope with living in the harsh realities of this world and tried to escape it all by living the life of a child for most of his life.

As mentioned before, Michael will be remembered as a musical and dance genius who, along with Elvis Presley, contributed more to his field than any other person to walk this earth. He will also be remembered as a business man, an entreprenuer, and philanthropist (giving away tens of millions throughout his lifetime to charities in need).

But I wonder how history will reflect on him in the long run.Elvis had all sorts of skeletons in his closet, but for the most part it’s not those parts of his life that are remembered collectively by the public. When people tend to think about Elvis, they think about the young Elvis who was in the prime of his artistry and carrer. Iis that how people will remember Michae; Jackson- a pop superstar from the early 1980′s who wow’ed the world with songs like ‘Bad’, ‘Beat It’, and the all time classic ‘Thriller’? Or will people remember ‘Wacko Jacko’ who was obsessed with the unusual, who lived as if he was Peter Pan, who radically changed his appearance to something almost unhuman, and who was accused of so many sexual atroscities against children?

Either way, the world has lost a man who has influenced American culture-no- world culture on a level that only a few dozen people can claim throughout the history of mankind.

Rest in peace Michael. I hope you found it through Christ so you can escape the hell that was your life.

One Responseto “Rest in Peace Michael”

1. Lori says:

   June 26, 2009 at 12:30 pm

   That was very well written/ said.