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I turned on the news this morning, as I dried off from my morning shower. Across MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, the news was the same. Michael Jackson was found not breathing and could not be revived. Michael Jackson dead at 50. Michael Jackson to be autopsied today. Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson.... Oh, and Farrah Fawcett succumbed to cancer.
Even as I drove in to work, KQED/NPR which generally has intelligent discourse to listen to, had an hour where nothing but the tragedy of Michael Jackson was discussed. Did nothing else happen in the world in the past 24 hours? Say perhaps something of importance in maybe Iran, Afganistan, Pakistan or Korea? Is nothing else considered newsworthy this moment to Californians (like once again, it's the end of June, we have a massive state deficit, no budget AND our treasurer is likely to start sending out IOU's next week, instead of checks...)?
I feel some sadness for these two people, for the passing of their talent, for the shortness of their corporeal existances, BUT I am not beating on my chest, tearing at my clothing, nor donning a black arm band. Their passing is not a major change for my world, nor should it be for most. However, once again celebrity appears to confer greater grief than the passing say of you or I. Or so the media would have us believe.
It seems more like bread and circus to me.
Even as I drove in to work, KQED/NPR which generally has intelligent discourse to listen to, had an hour where nothing but the tragedy of Michael Jackson was discussed. Did nothing else happen in the world in the past 24 hours? Say perhaps something of importance in maybe Iran, Afganistan, Pakistan or Korea? Is nothing else considered newsworthy this moment to Californians (like once again, it's the end of June, we have a massive state deficit, no budget AND our treasurer is likely to start sending out IOU's next week, instead of checks...)?
I feel some sadness for these two people, for the passing of their talent, for the shortness of their corporeal existances, BUT I am not beating on my chest, tearing at my clothing, nor donning a black arm band. Their passing is not a major change for my world, nor should it be for most. However, once again celebrity appears to confer greater grief than the passing say of you or I. Or so the media would have us believe.
It seems more like bread and circus to me.
