Michael Jackson: House Pauses To Remember Dead Singer

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives paused for a moment of silence Friday to mark entertainer Michael Jackson's death.

Lawmakers briefly interrupted a debate on a global warming bill to stand in silence and honor the "King of Pop."

Rep. Diane Watson of California rose during the debate to suggest the House "pay tribute to the culture that he has left behind, his legacy."

Watson said the lawmakers send their condolences to Jackson's family, friends and his fans worldwide.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois said the singer changed the world and he wants to "thank God for letting all of us live in his generation and in his era."

The 50-year-old musical superstar died Thursday after being stricken at his rented home in Los Angeles.

Comments

[Balzac]

Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois said the singer changed the world and he wants to "thank God for letting all of us live in his generation and in his era."

Jesse Jackson Jr. definitely went over the top. If I were going to thank God for something, it would be for letting me be me instead of someone else. But I have myself to thank for who I am. And I'm an atheist.

[AKWrongWinger]

Say BYE to America's favorite Pedophile!

[jbs902]

hateful, judgementa­l...

[guignol]

I am not much into hero worship. Never was an never will be. I do however believe in giving credit where credit is due. When congress paused for a moment to honor Michael Jackson That was an example of credit due. Regardless of what you think of M.J.'s life and how he chose to live it, his contribution to the world is undeniable. M.J. did more than any government in the world (including ours) to bring joy, a sense of wonder, and the fact that regardless of race, age, gender, or culture we are all one. And that love is the most important thing in the world. By using his talent and his genius He put a spot light on problems and causes around the world. And then he did the unthinkable, He dared to dream that he and we could make a difference together. Yes congress should have paused for him, Just like the rest of the world did.

[allincompassing]

PART 2

For all the Naysayer's, I simply wish you this. Stop and think for a moment, for every negative their is a positive. In Michael's case for every negative, their are 299,000,000 positives. All of us should be so lucky, this man changed the way the world communicates with one another.

He's as popular in China, Russia, India, Phillipines, Africa, Europe and Australia, as he has been in the United States. Quick, name another star of whom you can say this? None, not even Mandela or Ali can duplicate this man's celebrity. Michael Jackson, spoke a language that is universally recognized and embraced around the world. Up until his entrance onto the world stage, no one spoke this language, he alone managed to breech this void. There is not one country in the world, that the music and symbiology that is Michael Jackson has not been openly accepted.

Should Congress have stopped to recognize a moment of silence, for someone who is known by the simple mentioning of his name around the entire world? Pay attention people, it doesn't matter if Congress stopped, or not, the World stopped, the internet bogged down, time stood still until we knew it was true. Few events in history will ever truly be remembered, but on that day we all stopped. Today we speak of the most well known figure in modern history.

Michael Joseph Jackson. May his eternal soul REST IN PEACE.

[allincompassing]

Rarely does the person come along, that both captivates our attention, and simultaneously boggle our mind. Michael was that type of person. Even if you disliked his music, the inate ability this man possessed, still managed to captivate your attention, harkening you to wonder, how he was able to do the things he did.

Today we take for granted the innovations in graphic interface, digitilization and sound synthesizing he personally introduced to the viewing public which today are common place. The man was simply put, a trailblazer, until his arrival, in some ways our imaginations hadn't fully grown-up.

Out of nowhere, came this Kid, who was so talented, so unassuming. That no matter how cynical you were, you couldn't help but admire this child star for the gifts he possessed. Every kid wanted to be Michael, every adult wanted to be his friend. We all knew greatness was clearly within his grasp. In an innocent yet personal way, Michael spoke for us all to the world as a whole. He invoked excitement, love, innovation, creativeness for those of us who might have been less fortunate, but still wanted to see the world change. Michael changed the world in ways, that only Lincoln, King, Ghandi, Mandela and Mother Teresa could truly understand.

END OF PART 1

[FloridaDem318]

I could'nt agree more with RobertBoot­h......wor­lds greatest..­..period.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

For those wondering why they paused to mark Michael Jackson's death, it's because he was Michael Jackson.

The biggest star in the world since he was 10



That's why they did it.

[harriscrl3]

Michael Jackson is bigger than what Elvis was and the way some of you are acting like he he was a nobody is pretty pathetic if you ask me. If you dont like his music or dont like him for other reasons thats fine but give me a break with shock that people would pause for him.

Quite frankly this concern for the people of Iran reeks of fakeness if you ask me. Iran was NOT covered in the news to the extent that some of you are making it out to be yet you are concern that they are not getting coverage.

Weren't you concern before MJ's death or is this something that just pop up.

Give me a break the House represent the people many of those people were fans of Michael Jackson he died suddenly and they pause for a second.

Why would they pause for Iran do they represent the people Iran.

You all are just being RIDICULOUS.

[sueno]

R.I.P. Michael-

[Okieborn]

This is beginning to turn into a circus !!
If Congress wants to give a minute to pause why not the citizens of Iran and the ones who gave their life for a great cause ??
Why might I ask why Farrah Fawcett did not receive the on- going news cycle that Jackson is receiving ??
My God this man paid off families to protect his name and now the news stations are making a hero out of him !!!
Just Can't agree on this one !!!

[sweetwhine]

Listen, it's so obvious you are not a fan and that's ok. But people all over the world loved him and he should be celebrated and it should not take away from anyone or anything else. The difference between Michael Jackson and Farrah's impact is huge. You can't compare the two. Trying to do so makes you look ridiculous. In fact YOU ARE! So please calm down.

[dteg]

He kind of opened himself up when he was talking about all the children he was helping and that visited Neverland. Then all these bloodsucking leeches saw an opening to extort money and that prosecutor saw an opportunity to make a career for himself. Warning to everyone be careful who you help if you are lucky enough to have enormous resources. It will be a sad world when no one is willing to help anyone because they fear a court case.

[harriscrl3]

Because FArah Fawcett compare to MJ is an unknown. Furthermore there was no shock of her death we knew she was battling cancer and was losing the battle. She did a documentary on her battle.

Why dont some of you admit that you are bothered because of MJ race.

Were you bothered by the wall to wall coverage of Prince Diana. Were you bothered by Heath Ledger an UNKNOWN not quite as famous as Farah who got a half a day's coverage in the newscycle were you bothered by this.

Michael Jackson was bigger than Elvis Presley and you all are behaving as if he was just some run of the mill musician. Its quite sad really

Farah Got what actors typically get a two minute mention when they pass. Acting does not weave into much aspect of our culture the way music does. In some ways you can say acting is for the actor and music is for the fans.

[KnowzyRowzy]

Beautifully said and yes it is about race! AAs didn't complain about Elvis, Lennon or Ledger's coverage. there's definitely a double standard in this country.

[DDBabyDiva]

I really don't think it's because he's black. I think it's because of the way he deteriorated over the years and all of the legal problems, including the child molestation allegations. While there was no real proof he did anything, many people believed that the allegations were true.

Micheal is one artist that was able to transcend race in ways that no one else has been able to do. These people who are upset over the coverage are clearly in the minority. I had to endure weeks and weeks of Anna Nicole Smith and that circus that resulted after her death. And what did she do other than marry an old man?

Michael had a tragic life, and as someone else said... He gave up his childhood to entertain ours. I'll go further to say that he gave up his LIFE to entertain ours and he's left some amazing music behind.

[AfricanusI]

How will u foolishly dare compare Farrah Fawcet to the King of Pops? Go away!

[jk4]

I agree with you Okieborn. They have refused to print my comments even though I did not swear.
I guess to be politically correct you have to say you love him.

[Kiajw]

It's so funny how people like to say not the time nor place, and all of that jazz....bu­t who are you? As I get older, and the nail in the coffin of star search, and michael jackson is a telling sign, i realize it all comes down to who cares what you think? if you don't like it, don't honor him, but don't come on news blogs saying how stupid it is for people who genuinely loved him to. if congress wants to take a minute, let them. Do you know how many people MJ touched? Music is so important in this world, and MJ's music was a common ground. I have never known a life without him in it, as I'm an 80s baby. i knew nothing of johnny cash, but there were some serious hurt people out there, even tina bid ike farewell. if you took all of the crazy out of our artist we wouldn't have any. it is what it is, and go throw thriller on the turntable for mike...it'­ll make you feel better.

[deweshk]

Hail the King !!! RIP MJ. We will miss you dearly.

[suzc]

Oh for pity's sake!!!!! Congress has so much in common with Nero!!!! No, not Nero Wolfe! Nero the Emperor, who fiddled while Rome burned. IRAN is burning. The WORLD is burning. And this country STOPS for the death of an aging rock star (never mind whatever else he may have been)! FOCUS, PEOPLE!

(Nero was also wayyyyy too extravagant and tyrannical -- LOTS in common with Congress!)

No wonder the world is burning and the country is crumbling (for all but Congress and the other SuperRiche)!

[slipthalo]

Yep, that 'moment' probably sent the fiasco in Iran over the edge - as if we could do anything about it anyway.

[harriscrl3]

Your comment is why arrogance is the worse thing facing this country right now. Congresss DOES NOT represent the people of Iran. They represent the people of AMerica.

STOP with your arrogance that somehow America is the world. That we must put the world ahead of what's going on here thats BS.

Some of you are outrage and dont even think through logically what you are outrage about. Iran is NOT AMerica in fact America should be more concern about the violence in Iraq because we had a hand in that violence.

[AfricanusI]

So what will you expect congress to do about a country's internal matter? What did Iran do about America's election wrangle in Florida between Al Gore and George Bush? America stop being proud and humble thy self because you are not the world's police man. If indeed you are the world's police please deal with the gargantuan inequalities plaguing you first and then after wards use that as a moral apptitude to lecture the rest of the world, otherwise vanish and shut the f u.

[blues101]

Aging rock star...... let's see, i think the poor world came apart at the seams for the poor old aging rock star named Elvis.

[Banghouse]

You know, the more I read the comments on this board and other boards on the internet, the more I believe that people, no matter how educated or uneducated are simply simpletons. I must be an alien!

R.I.P. MJ!

[sweetwhine]

I'm definitely an alien then LOL!

But you know what it is? People are miserable and so you see it in their words and actions.

[person309]

I like that they showed the respect. Music and the arts in general are vital to a society. His music made a lot of people happy and was part of the american culture. I wish there was more appreciation out there for what artists contribute to the greater good.