On Michael Jackson
I have some things to say about Michael over on the ABW, so check it out if you’re interested in another remembrance. If not, here’s another take on things: It’s not even been 24 hours and I am already sick to death of people saying things like, “Instead of everyone mourning Michael Jackson they should worry about Iran/blood diamonds/starving children in Africa/whatever other something that is important.”
Now, I certainly feel that the latest antics of celebrities does not merit 24 hour news coverage; but people, someone died. And whether you were a fan or not, liked him or not, recognize that he was an important person and therefore his death means something. Plus, it’s not as if everyone has forgotten everything that’s going down in the world, it’s just that this particular news story is going to take precedence for a bit.
So, chill the fuck out people who are worried about Iran/blood diamonds/starving children, or a host of other important issues, some of which most people ignore all the time. The news cycle s a 24 hour one, and they can’t fill all 24 hours with MJ. Iran will get covered, especially if something impotant happens, other stories will get covered if something important happens. Being nasty about someone’s death doesn’t make you a saint, it just makes you kind of an ass.
Someone on my f-list summed it up well last night: you can’t tell other people what they’re priorities SHOULD be, and you can’t tell other people how they SHOULD feel. If you want to mourn the death of someone, celebrity or not, that’s your right, and if you don’t, that’s your right too. The problem is these people telling us what we SHOULD care about, which is just silly.
I especially enjoy the link between “OMG the REAL dead people!” and the amount of carrying on (and warm comments) these same people who complain about celebrity deaths get when their cats die.
I can walk and chew gum at the same time.
I can care about the death of a single person and the death or misery of many at the same time, too.
It’s really not that hard.
This.
Reminds me of the stupid troll comments one sometimes gets during discussions of racism or sexism in media. You always get some jerk saying “God, it’s just a MOVIE. Don’t you know there are children starving in India?” as if I can’t be concerned with racism in media AND starving children. It makes me wonder if people who say these things are some strange breed of creature that can only focus on one thing at a time, and that one thing consumes them totally.
“they can’t fill all 24 hours with MJ”
Though for a little while there, it felt like they were.
I feel kind of disconnected from the event, even though as a child of the 80s he’s definitely part of my cultural landscape. Maybe it’s that I’m not particularly shocked or surprised? It feels like a case of massive talent, massive ability, massive price paid…
(I swear I wrote this before reading your ABW post.)
What depresses me about the 24-hour news cycles is that they can only fill their 24 hours with one thing at a time.