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The Spectacle Surrounding Michael Jackson- It’s Just Human Nature

July 2, 2009 on 2:35 pm | In Culture Scene, National Political | 1 Comment

Whenever a well known, iconic figure in our culture dies, the same debate always ensues. Just drop in the latest name- Anna Nicole, Michael. Some folks become apoplectic because so much attention is paid to discussion of the celebrity.

I say: don’t fight it. It is part of human nature. You cannot change human nature, no matter what other issues may loom. I know the import of other events right now, but this has happened before. It will happen again.

Humanity has always acted this way. We devote our attentions to the narrow focus of our lives most of the time. Our circles are contained. We don’t relate with the same people- usually. The exception is a mega-celebrity. Michael Jackson is known to all of us. People are strangely united on a very human level as they discuss his death and life. For a while, he is the eccentric relative everybody shares. It fills a human need.

Those who valued hard news before- still do and will find it.This will soon pass and attentions will return to other matters. Angry pundits should take a deep breath, come to understand this and save their outrage for meaningful issues.

Another point to consider is the sad realization that Jackson’s demise is getting attention beyond all others because of the invisible threat that a failure to cover every little thing is racism. Especially sad in the fact that whatever good or dreadful things Michael Jackson may have done in his life he strove to erase color distinctions. He achieved that astoundingly well. In his death, the Jaime Foxes of the world rob him of that.