Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's death is a very sad thing. There is no doubt that he was a very talented singer, dancer, and overall entertainer. But now that the memorial service is over can we please be relieved of the wall to wall coverage? Listen up. He was not a cultural icon. John Lennon was a cultural icon. John and Bobby Kennedy were cultural icons. Martin Luther King was a cultural icon as was Abraham Lincoln. They changed or at least attempted to change our culture in ways that were meant to move our society forward.

Michael Jackson, on the other hand, was a celebrity icon or perhaps I should say an icon of celebrity. He stopped making music and became famous simply for being famous, thus opening the road for the likes of Brittney Spears and Paris Hilton and their ilk. What a step down that is for us. I know people who never read a newspaper and don't have a clue about what's going on in the world, but they devour the celebrity magazines and avidly watch the E channel on cable. How very sad that is.

For now, good night.

About Me

I work in health care, love books, love music, enjoy the internet, my friends, and my routine. 8-)