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Michael Jackson: Man in the Mirror

Yesterday I sat and watched coverage about Michael Jackson's death. Today every paper, television and radio station have nothing but headlines and stories about this. Today the world is down a wonderful performer. Today his music will be played and people will sing and dance and remember where they were when a given song was first played. Today the world is down a pedophile.

About a year ago, I had a conversation with someone about Michael Jackson and my response to her was "I'd listen and enjoy his music, but I would never buy anything of his ever again." Why would I contribute to the continued success of a man who preys on little boys? The reaction to the loss of the musician can not be denied, but let's not call him names like hero. I saw a scrolling story that received no headline that 16 soldiers had died in Baghdad. I do not know if they were American or Iraqi or some other soldier from another country. These men's regardless of which side, are heroes. Why is Michael Jackson a hero? A hero is a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. Michael Jackson does not personify this. Does he?

This whole outpouring of love has made me question people's ideals. Look at the people that are idolized in today's society. Michael Jackson - a pedophile. Kobe Bryant - a rapist. Every Major League baseball player - cheated and committed a felony by obtaining steroids and bringing them into the country. Politicians- who seem to cheat on their wives at a ridiculously frequent rate. There are people like Ray Lewis who played a part in a murder only to become the face of the NFL. There's Matthew Broderick of the Producers who got away with vehicular homicide in Ireland. My point is these people did horrible things and got away with it because of their celebrity status. We as laypeople should be horrified by this, but instead we nearly canonize them. I actually heard someone say "he made a mistake." How do you accidentally molest a child? I'd like to think that if someone did this to a child I knew, that he would accidentally fall on the knife I was holding, not go on to continue his monstrous money earning career. Why does money allow us to put these people on a pedestal? Why is it when a rich celebrity accepts a plea bargain we assume they are innocent, but when someone fights for themselves, we call them guilty?

Today is the first day since Michael Jackson died. He will be remembered as a great entertainer by everyone. Let's not forget that he had some dark secrets too. Just because it wasn't your son he fondled or your daughter that Kobe Bryant raped, or your child who did steroids to get ahead, or your child who was killed by the actor or shot by the player. Maybe we should look in the mirror and before we praise these people say "what if it was my child, what if it was someone I knew, what if they weren't able to spend millions to make it go away." Look in that mirror and ask yourself, would you want your neighbor to be any of these people? Would you want to have to live with the ghosts and the fear and the shame that these people live with? Then, after all that, if they deserve your praise and admiration then so be it. I know my mirror doesn't allow that.

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