Michael Jackson was a pop star icon who earned the title, ‘King of Pop.’ He was a talented singer and dancer who broke down barriers for the African-American community. Unfortunately, he was also a tortured soul who suffered through two marriages and divorces, along with medical and substance abuse problems. His lifestyle and behavior often bordered on the bizzare and controversial. This may be why the public and media are so fascinated by him.
There are also questions and concerns plaquing the minds of people. Some areas of interest are, what kind of drugs he took, which doctor or doctors will be held responsible for his death, or whether his elderly mother will be able to care for his children. This opinion is further solidified by the media that has continually played out his life over the airwaves and in print.Â
It has gone so far that government has gotten involved. It amazes me that Congress, our Congress was so affected by his death, they honored him with a moment of silence. There has also been talk of putting his image on a postage stamp. It is so tempting to say, ‘please, wake me up when it’s over!’
American culture has changed its views on what constitutes an American hero worthy of high praise. This is unfortunate for the American soldier, who is now taking a back seat in place of wildly popular personalities, including a pop star icon. The American soldier might have a special loved one, kids and extended family members that are praying for his or her safety. This soldier is a person who has dreams, wishes and plans for the future.
In spite of everything, for the love of family and country, this person lays it all down, all the while knowing that they may not make it back home again. The soldiers who come back are the lucky ones. For those who pay the ultimate sacrifice, their dreams, plans and wishes die too. What remains in the hearts of loved ones, are the memories along with the pain and knowledge that children will grow up without a parent, a wife is now a widow and parents have experienced a pain like no other. They are faced with the reality that they are going to bury their child.
How are the American soldiers honored? Was there a moment of silence to honor them? Are their lives and sacrifice honored by the media showing respect, giving testimonies and tributes to these worthy soldiers? I am sure there are a select few, but not enough. For starters, it would be a good thing to see an American soldier image on a postage stamp. It would also be nice to see Congress set aside time each session to give a moment of silence to our fallen soldiers. How about a memorial to honor those who have died?
American society and culture has changed so much, people no longer recognize a real hero when they see one.
by J Elizabeth LaFon
20 users commented in " Michael Jackson, an American Hero? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackTo the rest of the world, Michael Jackson might not be a hero, but if there’s one thing they could collectively say they don’t hate about America, it’s Michael Jackson.
Ben – I cannot say it any better than you just did.
RIP MJ
Hero is defined in different ways by different people. MJ might not be a hero to the writer of this article, but i am sure he is one for the thousands of children he has helped around the world. Ailing children, poor children, terminally sick children…name it and MJ has reached out to them.
That is more that can be said about the writer of this article, whose only claim to fame is that three people have responded to his / her writing. And thats only because these three people are not cynical and recognise goodness which J Elizabeth LaFon cant or wont.
Michael jackson is more than an american hero. He is more than any hero you can think of. The reason he was not mentioned much as a hero is because people forgotten all the humanitarian works he did not just in america but around the world. He actually feels the pain for all the suffering children; that was Gods gift and burden to him. Every time he writes a song he sings for the suffering ones with great emotion that can convince you that he really feels the pain for others. He also reflected his concern by establishing humanitarian foundations such as heal the world and heal the kids. He contributed millions and millions of dollars for charity and songs that contributed to those charities and other human concerns. That is what makes him stand out among other musicians. It is not just music. Second of all, a person does not have to use a gun to be a hero. The soldiers are one type of heros. There has been a moment of silence for them as a group not individually. Michael got individual recognition because he is one individual who accomplished many. He did not use weapons but used music as a weapon to change the hearts of people. He used money to address humanitarian causes. He inspired many to accomplish more by helping them believe that they can be greater than they are. He did all this not as a healthy person who had a loving father and a normal childhood, but as a person who is made fun of by his own father since he was a child; having denied his childhood life and being greatly misunderstood by the world. Now that is more than being an american hero.
a little leaven destroys the whole loaf. mj had more than a little leaven
I really wish we would not attribute “hero” status so willy nilly as to include celebrities, sports figures, and even soldiers who die in battle — unless said soldier dies performing some heroic act.
A hero is defined as: A–a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability. B–an illustrious warrior C– one who shows great courage
While Michael Jackson was a great entertainer and did support some charitable endeavors, he was in no way a hero.
I do not think I would call MJ a American hero, however I think I would call him a humanitarian icon, MJ made the world book of guiness records for the Pop Star to give the most money for the benefit of charities. He may have led a bizarre and somewhat odd lifestyle, however we did not walk in his shoes from childhood. I could not imagine the life this man had to lead because of who he was. I do hope that now he may rest in peace.
RIP Michael Jackson~You was a great entertainer and I shall remember my days of Thriller forever!!~
First of all, why did you delete my comment which I wrote yesterday Aug 10th 2009 J Elizabeth Lafon? I wrote the fact that michael jackson is more than an american hero and you deleted it write away. That shows how dishonest you are that some how you think you can hide the truth. The ultimate source of truth is the spirit of truth which is the spirit of God. God saw you when you deleted my comments, and it was God who put it in my heart to write what i wrote. This is the first time I experienced the author of the article deleted a comment when there is nothing is wrong with it. However, God who is the ultimate truth will protect the truth about michael jackson. No body will be able to destroy anyones Godly inspired work because trying to do that is like trying to reject God. I believe God will approach you after you read this.
To Maryann Miller
First of all the definition of a hero at dictionary.com says as follows.
a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
That is just one meaning among other meanings it has, and I believe mj has many of those qualities. However, I believe nobody said what jesus said better than michael jackson if you hear what he has to say about the importance of childhood. I believe jesus christ is the ultimate hero in the universe. Michael jackson has most of the qualities of chirst until he was hit by depression in his last 15 years of his life. Even in those years he managed to parent a well behaved adorable children while the world percieved him as a weard creature denying him of the dignity of being human. He also continued his humanitarian effort which was also reflected on his will. Having said that, the 30-35 years of his early life were perfect being blamed for nothing except for having vitiligo ( a skin disorder). Michael may not have all the qualities of a hero which is a world term which is not devine in anyway. If you think hero is a description of divinity you are absolutely wrong. Since michael was and is the closet thing to jesus christ, he is the altimate desire of what God wants his children to be except his continuous plastic surgery and luck of wisdom to avoid trouble in his life.
Dawit Bezabeh
“Michael jackson has most of the qualities of chirst until he was hit by depression in his last 15 years of his life.”
Are you kidding me, are you really comparing a drug addicted, debt ridden singer with a questionable interest in little boys with Jesus??
So Dawit would you have let your child share a bed with MJ?
I’m not seeing the comparison, although I do recall seeing MJ interviewed about the abuse allegations and he tried to compare himself with Christ as a way of justifying sleeping with young boys. I didnt believe him then either.
MJ was certainly NOT a hero IMHO
Enough said about MJ – what about our soldiers?
After reading all these comments it’s easy to see that MJ is still more a more important figure. I agree with marmite MJ was NOT a hero.
Michael is not an American hero. He IS a World HERO. Everyone knows MJ for his music and (less) for his humanitarian deeds. Everyone sees what wants to see. Those with warm heart can see the best human can possible exist in Michael.
The rest of people sees only reflection of their own bad sides. Those who keep accusing him in all kinds of things without knowing and/or having any proof will pay for it eventually.
Soldiers pick their own destiny the most of the time. Yes, they are heroes, but they carry on weapons all aver the world whereas Michael was carrying love, music, dance to people as well as lots of financial help to those who needed it the most. Michael has done the most one can reach and give out.
Michael Jackson IS a HERO!
I agree with Inna – yes Michael jackson is more than an American hero. He is the hero of the world.
Anyone who can spend a bit of time to know about his life and not blindly believe everything printed in tabloids can see what a great human being MJ was. He was more than a pop icon. An true humanitarian and hero.
To the author – the public is fascinated by him not just for his imcomparable music, but also for the gentle and generous heart he has.
And yes of course I agree everything you said about soldiers who die for a country.
Hi everybody yes I agree Michael Jackson is a true humanitarian, pop icon & friend to all. We should always remember the good in him & one another. Only GOD can truely judge us & help us to be better people.
JK
To Marmite; one thing I can tell you from my life experience is that i myself let the children to the guests in my house to sleep in my bed when they get tired of playing. There is nothing wrong with letting children sleep on your bed. Michael jackson clearly said I share a bed with a child. He explained further by saying ” I tuck them in and give them cookies and it is charming and sweet” and I sleep on the floor”. However, they media did not show the whole statement that michael made because they were trying to spin a conviction. You have to understand that media and michael jackson have a bitter history even before the 93 case. In addition, how can you expect a molester to go and say it is ok to share a bed with a child on tv documentary and commite molestation right after that and then deny it and get aquited for it? Michael jackson is the least suspect of child molestation in the history of mankind because he is the one who loves children with extreme compassion. Yes I would let him share bed with my children if I have children. God bless
The best proof of all times for michael being the biggest hero of all times.
Some of you said that michael was talented and humanitarian, but he was no a hero because he did not show courage. Are you kidding me? Mj is the most courageous person than any other hero you can think of. Michael jackson was beaten since probably he can crawl. His father used to beat him and call him big nose and deny him of joy a child should have. Imagine how sensitive you were to emotional pain. Imagine you father not your school peers being the one who hurt you most emotionally. Michael was unstoppable since day one. He got other biggest emotional hit when he had vitiligo. He tried for so long to hide it with thick make up, but finally the lighter coulour could no longer be hidden with make up and he balanced the small black spots with bleeching agent to blend it. He got hit emotionally by being called a race trader. He also got scammed by his managers and father financially and decides to loose trust on adults and trusted children and formed friendship thinking all of them are innocent. He got another emotional hit from betrayal form the one he trusted the most. The world called him freak nature, child molester, alien. While he only showed pure love true his music and enormous generosity financially by forming humanitarian foundations writing humanitarian songs by always forgiving what has been done to him and said about him. He showed love without no one showing him love. He showed generosity without no one being generous to him. As jesus was called the son of the devil and being mocked and be put to death and resurrected for showing love and generosity, michael got treated for the same reasons. When your love in this world is genuine, satan makes people misunderstand you and call you names and have them emotionally abuse you. At the End michael forgave and came back with love. That is being the most courageous and heroic being of all humanity next to jesus.
Reflections on Light and Darkness
“There is a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in” (Leonard Cohen)
There are no doubt millions of fans of Michael Jackson’s music who remain baffled by what little they have known of his behavior, character and appearance. There are millions more who are totally indifferent to the music and, if anything, repulsed by what they perceive as an offensive eccentric at best or dangerous deviant at worst. In the days immediately following his tragic death, almost all commentators chose to emphasize this ostensible polarity of Michael’s legacy: “a genius in his art, but a disturbed human being.” It seems like there was always a “but.”
If mainstream gurus are good at anything, it is turning truth on its head and, in the process, eviscerating all that is pure. It is not in Michael Jackson’s musical artistry that his foremost greatness consists, but it is in fact in his wonderful humanity. His music is only just one expression – just one manifestation – of that humanity. These misguided eulogies, therefore, have it all backwards. Michael’s legacy is not limited to an artistry that is somehow soiled by a troubled and troubling life. Michael’s greatest legacy is his loving character and the lessons it teaches us, through his ultimately tragic life, about the true face of an often brutal and ugly world.
In Michael Jackson, we see an innocence and purity rarely seen in an adult. Jackson’s “childlikeness” is perplexing to many people, but it is precisely this trait that sets him apart from an adult world that has learned so effectively to be cold and calculated, smart and shrewd, proper and professional. Adults seeking to better themselves ought to become more childlike. If Michael was guilty, his sin (borrowing Dylan’s prophetic words) was that he knew and felt too much within. Unfortunately, it is typical for those who feel deeply to seem to others utterly odd and insane. Hence the proverbial Pierrot, buffoon or idiot, whose superficial lunacy conceals a deep understanding of the human heart. Michael’s intense capacity to feel allowed him to be a loving, caring and responsive human being. He was far more capable of love than are most adults. Because of this acute sensitivity, what we also see in Michael is an utterly vulnerable, susceptible man.
Michael’s bizarre appearance and eccentric behavior were, paradoxically, far more sensible than the “normal” behavior of most “normal” people within the confounding context world that is itself upside down. All of Michael’s strange gestures and attitudes make perfect sense given one profound premise – that the world is pure, innocent and harmless. Of course those of us who have “grown up” have learned that the world is not “pure, innocent and harmless.” Hence the tragedy of Michael Jackson. His actions, whether holding his baby over the balcony or jumping on top of a car to wave to adoring fans or spending millions of dollars on a single shopping spree, seem irresponsible and disturbing when seen and interpreted through the categories of a deranged world. In fact, his actions were selfless and harmless.
The truth is, Michael had the eyes and heart of a child who saw in one dimension – that of pure love. When he saw that someone desired something from him, he gave selflessly, paying no heed to logical consequences or reasonable caution. The dictates of propriety and convention were, as they ought always to be, totally subordinated to the dictates of love. It made perfect sense to him to give joy to others, even if this exposed him and his own actions to spiteful or selfish manipulation by others.
Michael was not willing to assume, as most adults are conditioned to do, that someone he approached could have a tarnished nature. He gave others the benefit of doubt, approaching them as if approaching angels and children. When he met demons, thus, he was utterly exposed and likely devastated. This, no doubt, brought him much suffering, i.e., not so much the suffering that was inflicted upon him by the malice of others but only just the sudden realization (played over and over again anew) that the person he had hoped was an angel could in fact be so malevolent. Michael never allowed himself, it seems, to draw the seemingly rational and sensible conclusion that most adults have drawn from repeated experience: the world is generally just this way. In other words, Michael’s purity was such that if he met nine people, all of whom turned out to be vile, he would still greet the tenth as an angel. This defies reasonable human “logic,” but it remains steadfast in an adherence to the greater logic of divine love.
Michael surrounded himself with children not because he was perverted, but because he saw in them the hope for a world which had grown to be far too mature. What he loved in children was the proof and justification of the “purity of heart” of which we hear in the Beatitudes. He tried desperately – in only seemingly irrational ways – to protect this adolescent purity from a world whose hideous cruelty he felt in his very own flesh. If the fact that he saw nothing wrong in expressing love toward children in emotionally intimate ways attests only to his purity, our inclination to assume that he was a pedophile and our willingness to assume that love is a pathological deviation can only attest to our essential impurity. In a world that has fallen to pieces, it only makes sense that (to quote Dylan once again) what’s bad is good, what’s good is bad. Thus, love is a pathological disturbance, whereas cold, rational remoteness defines the new “humanity.”
Michael created and surrounded himself with a world fit for a child because he felt that this is the ideal the entire world should aspire to – an ideal that the world so woefully fails to live up to. It was also, incidentally, a way for him to compensate for the pain that was so ever-present to him – the pain of his past and present, the pain of his visceral, personal experience. Michael was sensitive – perhaps hyper-sensitive – and in so being, he felt the pang of every brutal truth far more directly and deeply than most others would. The harm that was inflicted upon him and others was so real to Michael that it induced in him an absolute and immediate moral response. This response – this Neverland world that eradicated the pain of reality through one sweeping contradiction – however unrealistic and idealistic it might seem to a practically minded adult, was totally reasonable for Michael. Michael was the perfect mixture of a child’s innocence and an old-man’s sagacity. He saw both much less and much more. Quincy Jones was therefore profoundly astute and when he famously described Michael as both the oldest and youngest man he knew.
Michael’s innocence is strangely evident in his infamous shopping spree that evoked such a furor when shown in Martin Bashir’s exposé. My own socially and environmentally conscious logic is tempted to condemn and rebuke such wanton excess. And yet, I can only smile when I see Michael in the store. Why? Perhaps because what I really see is an innocent child grasping for an ideal utopia – pleasantly oblivious to the ugliness of a consumptive and destructive society concealed behind a façade of harmless, pretty, enjoyable products. Michael sees only what is immediately there – the potential for a beautiful world wherein children and adults alike have what they need – the joy and inspiration, the peace and beauty. There is really no concern here for stuff. What allows me to smile rather than to cringe is that Michael’s thoughts and actions flow so naturally and effortlessly along these ideal and pure categories, which seem so improbable to my rational mind. He does not see the horror and the ugliness. These do not factor into his thinking. His urge to buy is not inspired by an egoistic urge to amass stuff for his own gratification. Nor does it arise from being manipulated by an insidious system that wants you to buy for its own impure interest.
The Bashir Interview: Casting Pearls before Swine
When I first (only recently) watched the notorious Martin Bashir special, which was shamelessly aired again and again on MSNBC after Michael’s passing, I could not help but cry. At times I felt as though I was witnessing the public humiliation, flogging and crucifixion of an utterly helpless and harmless child. My first thought was, “why did Michael agree to do this? He should have refused!” Upon some reflection, however, I realized that Michael was willing to expose himself (repeatedly) to Bashir’s sadistic onslaught precisely because of who he was. Michael thought that Bashir’s intentions were pure. He wanted to believe that Bashir would not manipulate what had been said and that the journalist’s quest was simply to share the truth with the world. Why not believe this to be the case? Why assume that the interviewer’s instincts could be self-interested and impure? Would that not be admitting that the world is ugly – that the world is not and will never be Neverland?
The contrast between Bashir and Michael really could not be greater. Bashir went out of his way to appear reasonable and measured. Michael, on the other hand, had little regard for how he appeared. His main concern was the truth of how he felt and what he believed. To many people he appeared “crazy.” The truth, of course, was just the opposite. Bashir was consistently cynical, sardonic, judgmental, and seemed to exhibit a pathological indifference when, again and again, he picked at Michael’s raw, open wounds. He showed no regard for the human heart and its anguish. If he had any concern for Michael’s torment, perhaps he was too proud to show it. Bashir concealed his cruelty behind a façade of intelligent, reasonable and intellectual professionalism, as if he were just a skilled journalist in the disinterested pursuit of truth. But it is when things sound perfectly civilized and appear so prim and proper that we should be most wary and suspicious. If we pay close attention, we see that Michael possesses the genuine and good heart and is quite reasonable in all he stands for, whereas Bashir is the true sociopath.
Bashir conducts his hurtful interviews all the meanwhile adhering to the highest professional protocol and journalistic etiquette. At one point in the broadcast, Bashir reflects: “Confronting Michael wasn’t going to be easy, but now it had to happen,” as if this shift to difficult personal subject matter were the result of some inescapable logic, perhaps some imagined standard of journalistic professionalism, which dictates that the truth must be uncovered, whatever the human toll. It is not relevant or important to Bashir how personal the truth may be, whether it has any important humane or useful significance to the audience, or what the consequences of the pursuit of that truth might be. The single thing that matters is the successful exposure of facts, which will secure for Bashir pride among his peers. Are we to admire this journalist’s professional ardor, persistence, and his supreme objectivity in the pursuit of his goal? Is it of no importance that a human being must be sacrificed on the altar of this professional ideal?
In yet another disingenuous attempt to establish his superior ethical and professional credentials, Bashir explains to his audience that his line of questioning is inspired by a “worry” for Michael’s children. Meanwhile, Michael sits and writhes in obvious pain and discomfort. Seeing this, Bashir, ever the objective scientist in hot pursuit, does not desist but rather intensifies his inquest. Michael, the victim, is increasingly desperate and begins to crack. His humanity is bared for all to see. Michael’s legs tremble with anxiety. Under duress, Michael opens up and his emotions spill over. Defenseless because of his innocence, and so pure that he cannot even fathom the foul logic of reason, Michael describes the act of sharing one bed with a child as an expression of care and love. How fair-minded propriety dictates that care and love are in fact deviant behavior is rightly incomprehensible to him. Desperation ringing in his voice, he explains that he cannot abide a crazy world wherein guns and computers have, for children, replaced human contact and compassion. “Why does it mean so much to you?” asks Bashir. The question seems to embody concern, but there is a just barely palpable accusatory tone: Wouldn’t a normal, rational person care less…? Perhaps you care so much because you are demented or perverted…?
The proper question, of course, is how anyone could ever be indifferent to the plight of children in an alienating world? How could anyone care less? Bashir’s rationality has itself become a pathological deviation. Bashir stands in judgment over a phenomenon he cannot understand, because he has grown up beyond where he could ever comprehend the simplicity of a pure heart. His logic is far too sophisticated and proud. When we have grown up to the point where we are actually capable of dispassionately analyzing a tragedy without breaking down and crying about it, we have then truly lost our humanity. Erecting ideals like Neverland in an effort to cope with dismal reality is not a moral failure. Properly seen, it is just a symptom of or testament to the pathological state of the world. The moral failure is the dismal reality in itself.
Bashir is the sort of person who could stab a person and, with cool and calm demeanor, go on to ask why the victim is in pain. He is “disturbed” by Jackson’s ostensibly eccentric behavior and “concerned” for the children, all the meanwhile inflicting psychological torture on the father of these children. Perhaps Bashir even understands that Michael’s sensitivity will make him susceptible to manipulation. He throws Michael off balance and then points to his angst as evidence of character flaws. Bashir is especially interested in the personal and largely irrelevant matter of plastic surgeries, and here his interrogation borders on sadism. Knowing the topic will open painful wounds, he pries into Michael’s demons. Bashir’s interrogation can only bring to mind an SS officer with his cool and scientific method. Perhaps what Bashir was really looking for in his ideal subject was a cold hard rock rather than a human being. What he found instead was an angel.
Posted by: filipek7 | June 30, 2009 4:07 PM
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I’m so sorry for the Death of Pop-Star, and I I’m one of those who suspected of the Homicide because it was acceptable to die like that spontaneously/natural-death for one healthy like Michael in day before his death.
Therefore: to find who bought for him the medicine(to find out form which Pharmacy was bought and then to find the prescription and who prescribed for him)then it’s easy to find the killer….
Yes, there was a purity about Michael Jackson and I see it in his singing, dancing, energy, in how his friends talk about him, it’s quite a surprise to see the truth behind the veil of irrelevant opinions and the mediocre media. I have also perceived that purity and subtlety in him in the movie This Is It. There is so much to remember him. And ho his children love him. Shame on those who have ponted the finger to him because of his appearance and singular behavior. Imagine how these mediocres look inside!!!! And Deepa Chokra said that Michael used to read Sufi poetry after performances and Rabindranath Tagore…
I don’t dislike Michael Jackson, and I know he had a hard life despite superstardom. Still, he did not “earn” the title “King of Pop.” He declared himself to be the King of Pop, tried reinforcing this by marrying the daughter of the man who actually earned the title “King of Rock and Roll,” and got everyone to go along with the name. I’m not saying he might not have earned it on his own merits had he left it to others to crown him, but let’s not pretend he didn’t just assume the thrown and then try to live up to it.
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