Before getting to tragic news, I want to bring up something very sad, but by the Grace of God, not tragic.
A blogger named I know named Snooper had a mild stroke. He is resting comfortably in the hospital. I have an affection for this man because he was the very first person who ever befriended me in the blogosphere. I was a new blogger, wondering if I would ever write anything that anyone besides me would care about. He asked me if he could link to my column. I had no idea what a link was.
Although we have not spoken that often recently, his kindness in the very beginning will always stay with me. I am thankful he is still with us.
All Hail Snooper!
http://www.snooperreport.com/snooper-report
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/06/thinking-of-snooper-.html
http://dtrtcybercrew.com/journal/2009/6/24/please-pray-for-snooper.html
Sadly enough, a pair of celebrities were not so lucky.
Actress Farrah Fawcett and Singer Michael Jackson have tragically died way before their time.
They left us today, but the legacies they left behind will last forever.
Farrah Fawcett was one of the defining beautiful women of her generation. Yet while many know her as one of “Charlie’s Angels,” many forget that she gave a stunning performance as the abused housewife in the movie “The Burning Bed.”
She was beautiful, but she was more than just a gorgeous face on the walls of teenagers. She was a serious actress.
Even more important than that, she leaves behind the love of her life, and their son.
She was only 62 years old, but cancer ravaged her body and sapped her soul.
She decided after so much time to finally Marry Ryan O’Neal. She tried to will herself to live long enough to reach her wedding day. She tried her very best, but it just did not happen.
Michael Jackson is a more complex situation. Like Farrah Fawcett, he was on the verge of achieving a dream. He was about to make his big comeback. Now he will never have the chance.
There is little dispute that he was one of the most talented performers to ever set foot on a stage. He absolutely deserved the title of “King of Pop.” Every kid in the early 1980s listened to “Beat it,” and “Thriller,” and tried to “Moonwalk.”
Yet allegations regarding his personal life dogged him in his later years. Since he was never found guilty of any crime in a court of law, I feel people should just leave him be. Even those cannot should have the decency to wait. More importantly, even if Michael Jackson did not live up to the ideals he sang about, those ideals were still noble.
For all of his quirks, Michael Jackson brought much good into this world.
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/06/25/remembering-michael-jackson/
On a musical level, he, like Farrah Fawcett in her acting, matured with age. He went from singing breezy pop tunes with good dance beats to serious songs about improving the world.
I will always remember the video for the song “Man in the Mirror.”
“I’m staring at the man in the mirror. I’m asking him to change his ways.”
That video showed the worst elements of society, such as people holding up a sign that read, “We hate race mixing.” That same video also showed the best of this world, such as the image of Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev shaking hands. Michael Jackson truly believed in the idea that world peace was possible. He truly did want to “heal the world.”
A child of a demanding father, Michael Jackson reached out to children all across the globe. Again, his critics can make snide remarks, but there was no disputing his charity and generosity. He put his money where his mouth was…and more importantly where his heart was…with the least powerful among us.
At 50 years old, he was way too young to leave behind three children. Yet despite his work with orphanages, three more orphans have tragically been added to the list.
Singer Billy Joel lamented that “Only the good die young.” Those words seem to ring truer with every piece of tragic news.
So while some will admire posters on the wall, debate the quality of scenes on the small screen or lyrics to the songs, or gossip about possible tragic flaws, I will simply lament the fact that two people with so much good to give this world were robbed from it before their work was done.
May God bless their remaining loved ones, and may Michael Jackson’s dream of healing the world not end with his passing.
Farewell Farrah Fawcett. Goodbye Michael Jackson.
Your work will live forever.
In Heaven, smile as sweetly as the angels, and walk on the moon.
eric
I hope Snooper recovers to the fullest extent possible and continues his blogging. I may think his blog is nuts, but I’m still glad it’s out there. Everyone matters.
I feel bad for Farah. I was never a big fan, and I don’t think she contributed very much to our world, but for many people she was a big part of growing up Americana. She certainly deserved more of a memorial, but something much, much bigger happened…
Michael Jackson died. His story is Mega-Super-Americana to its core. Michael Jackson is more well known than Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, the Bushes and Barack Obama COMBINED. His fame, though diminished here in the US in recent years, only continued to rise worldwide for decades right up through and beyond today. His music, even his early music, was pure commercial pop, but, speaking as a bit of a musician myself, it was truly amazing, deep and technical. He wasn’t the “King of Pop” for nothing, ya’ know. He brought “pop” to its apex. His was panultimate “pop.” He was the Mozart of modern popular music. Sure, it sounded simple, easy, fluid – but it was really complex syncopation, merging bright, popping melodies and riffs with every sort of perfect rhythm and progression. And the passion he put into his writing and performance was pure neon brilliance. Super Human. The man was a genius.
A hundred years from now, people will remember Michael Jackson. They won’t remember the BS about his alleged indiscretions (I never believed any of it) or the unproven assertions that he “did not live up to the ideals he sang about.” All that will be remembered was his music and legend. He was the Mozart of the Twentieth Century.
Farewell, Michael Jackson. I will miss you.
JMJ
Nobody wants to die with one of their last thoughts being that they were a failure. From the way it appears that very well could be the case with Michael. Theres much discussion about his next tour and how it was supposed to clear up a huge chunk of his mounting debt while putting him back in the spotlight. Since obviously none of this will take place now I certainly hope he wasnt too hard on himself in the last few days or right at the moment he realized he might die.
I was a fan in the sense that as a musician I could see and admire the amount of talent and dedication that went into his work. My taste in music is very eclectic, Michael never fit into that mix but that still doesnt take away from being able to recognize what an incredible talent and gift he was to the world.
I believe he was delusional enough in his own world to actually believe that he could surround himself with kids, say and do the weird things he did associated with them and not understand that he was making himslef look very questionable, suspect and freaky at times. He was pretty oblivious to what public opinion was on just as many other matters if you think about it. Since when did he ever give a crap what something looked like ?
I dont know, I pray he never hurt any kids. Theres just as many if not more people that will do some really sick sh*t for money as their are pedophiles.
I remember in 7th grade during the year end school dance, “Rockin Robin” came on and every girl in the school made it out to the dance floor with or without a partner.
Little did we know…
Take care Mike.
Farrah, I still have the poster, its so faded its almost black and white.
In all irony I’ve just found out that I have melanoma in my butt. Funny, I’ve done pretty wild sh*t in my life but dont ever remember my A-hole getting that much sunshine. Its early stage, doc says dont sweat it.
The only reason I’m mentioning this really is because once treatments start along with the tissue they have to remove I’ll probably be MIA for a while. Mmm, sponge baths…
We will miss you Micky. Take good care of yourself and get back asap.
I’m going to plug in my strat and lay down some blues in memory of those we have lost.
Jers, stay healthy and stay close, we are all getting a little long in the tooth.
Toma
First, Micky, let me say, if your listening to me at all these days, do not fear melanoma. My wife has had serious problems with that in recent years. Heck, just two years ago, we barely caught it before it reached bone! That would have been the END. My wife lost a big chunk out of her arm. If I could have switched places with her, I’d have done it without a second thought. That was really scary. I know what you’re going through right now. Hang in there. Like you, her melanoma had nothing to do with sun. It is a genetic predisposition, or so scientists currently believe, for whatever that’s worth. It has something to do with melanin genetics gone awry – or so they believe. But they have to cut the melnoma out and stay on top of it. That’s the only thing that works and it works very well, especially the earlier you catch it. She’s doin’ great now. Just stay on top of it and keep us all apprised. I don’t care how mad you are at me right now, I care about you and wouldn’t want to see anything bad happen to you.
Second, and barely of any importance now, but, you did write a great comment there. Great comment. I couldn’t agree more.
JMJ
Well, it was my family physician who said melanoma. Turns out hes wrong. Its invasive, they didnt really give it a name other than that. Rectal I guess. (Me being an a$$hole jokes coming in 1…2…3…) But ! They say I caught it early.
Thanks guys.
Jersey.
I say some pretty wild stuff myself that more often than not should be taken back. But in the grand scheme of things we all have to start being a little more honest when it comes to relaying facts and stop with the opinions that go to unrealistic extremes.
Your opinion of Bush for example goes to extremes that the man lied, cant do anything right and is a complete idiot nad abject failure.
Thats fine, thats your opinon. But we have to acknowledge the mitigating factors as well, thats the honesty thats needed or we as a country are doomed.
I can tell you all day long that I think Obama is complete idiot and make a pretty good case for it too. Thats only because he does what I would never do, it doesnt mean that hes stupid by any means.
I’ll always be that guy from the street that will tell you to go f%$# yourself in a heartbeat. I’m trying to work away from that, I’ve found that skipping a beat gives time for thought and better discussion