ACL2002

Michael Jackson was great musician. He had a great career and was adored by many around the world. When I heard the news of his death, it didn't phase me. The only sadness I felt was the sadness for his children. Call me cruel or uncaring but I had no feelings bad or good for him. I have pondered this for the last few days, trying to figure out why all these people around me are so sad but I am not. I can only come to one conclusion.

I grew up listening to Michael Jackson. I still have a lot of his older music. I was  big fan of his. I guess I feel Michael should have been resigned to be a fond childhood memory of mine. I really get turned off when celebrities seem to cling to the spotlight instead of just being satisfied with their lifetime accomplishments. Everybody has their time to shine and some tend to try to hold onto it too long.  In my opinion it is these people who end up looking stupid. A lot of celebrities tend to do this. You see older actresses trying to look forever young with any kind of surgical procedure they can find. It is as if in their minds that they were just a pretty face. Michael was the same to me. He had a great career with a few bumps from the lawsuits of years past. It tainted him. In my opinion, he should have relished in his greatest accomplishment, his children. Those kids were the greatest thing he ever did and the most important. He should have been trying to be a father instead of trying to resurrect and old career. He had a new job and I think he lost sight of it. I don't think Michael was a bad father, not at all. I just think he was so caught up in getting back his old glory that he didn't see the true opportunity he had. He could have stayed out of the spotlight, I know it was almost impossible for him to go anywhere because of all the fans and reporters who hound all celebrities. He could have just stayed away and focused on his kids.

Now Michael's kids have a long road ahead of them. They will be in the spotlight of the press. They will be part of legal battles between people who truly care for them and the ones who just want what is left of Michael's money. these children are the ones I feel sorrow for. They have lost their father. Now these children will have to listen to the endless speculation of reporters on what their future will be. I just hope and pray that whoever is caring for them now will keep them safe and away from all this frenzy. I hope there is no long drawn out custody battle that seems to be coming. I just hope they can be shielded from the circus that I presume is about to start. They are the ones I mourn for because they have lost the most from this tragedy.