Michael Jackson is Dead

I can't believe the sad feelings this evokes in me. Michael was mentally deranged and most likely a pervert. Yet no one can argue that he was one the world's greatest music artists of the 80's. He is an American icon with all of his flaws, weirdness and fantastic singing and dancing ability. His story ends on such a sad note. Found lying face down today from a heart attack, Michael was later declared dead at the hospital.

It is easy to understand why he died. The constant surgical alterations to his face, and perhaps also whitening his skin to purposely appear more white, Michael gave up his black heritage. The stress of his twisted view on life, the controversies that surrounded him and Neverland and eventually the negative feedback received from his fans, probably weighed on him more than we can ever know.

Strangely, his bid to create a new persona was successful. When I first heard him on the radio, and later saw him on TV, I never thought of him as the boy in the Jackson Five, but as Michael Jackson of "I'm Bad". The guy was a literal genius when it came to pop music, his name rises to the top of the 80's list when one is asked to think of the most influential music artist of that period. He continued to dominate into the 90's but slowly other artists copied his flamboyant style and he became less of a spectacle.

Despite his questionable personal activities, Michael Jackson is one of the most memorable figures in recent American history, and loved the world over. Apparently, he was set to make another comeback with a whopping 50 concerts at the London Arena. It is interesting to note that he was planning on making his comeback in the UK, gathering the British and European fans together to fan the flames of Michael Jackson love. Why didn't he plan it for the US?

The American public has never been able to shake the stigma that has followed him after the events at Neverland. He even left the US for a while to escape a possible unfavorable judgment. But even the validity of the accusation was in question, the boy he supposedly touched inappropriately never seemed certain about whether it happened or not, and it was possible that the parents of this boy were trying to take advantage of Michael's weird behavior. It is also entirely possible that Michael's strange lifestyle made him even weirder, kind of like a fire that feeds itself when it gets hot enough. Losing touch with reality, his response was to move into realms of reality that could never make sense to ordinary people. Altering his appearance was probably his way of acting on his inward desire for stability, there is no way a rational person could have done this and thought it was normal and not expect to be ostracized for it. Pursuing his dreams, he created a fantasy world for children, perhaps because he wanted to give something to children he never had and always wanted. Perhaps he really did care, but as his life became more surreal, he gave into even stranger behavior and ended up groping a boy.

There may be a reason he lost himself, but there is no excuse for his actions. It should have been clearly evident that he was out of his mind when he dangled his son high above a street to show him off to reporters. It would have been merciful to take him into custody for child endangerment right then, for the kids and for him. But people with money or power or both find themselves immune to normal rules and laws. Who knows what kind of strangeness he perpetuated with his children in his own house? Now it will be impossible to know for sure. Michael's high voice will never carry across the airwaves again to tell us how innocent he is.

And yet, I am still sad. An amazing artist, he touched the hearts of not only Americans, but those who dreamed of coming to America. His best years were along side movies like Back to the Future and singers like Tina Turner. He is unforgettable, and will likely be worshipped the way Elvis is still worshipped today. I will not say God bless Michael Jackson, but I will mourn the passing of an icon, of what he used to be when he was at his best, and one of the best examples of what America is. I mourn his sad life and pray that his children will learn from their father's mistakes.