Michael Jackson: A Final Remembrance

More has been written and said about the life and death of Michael Jackson in the past two weeks than about the passing of any famous person in the past 25 years, including Princess Diana and President Ronald Reagan. And those two names represented the ultimate level of fame and power.

We have seen tributes to Michael Jackson from the people of countries all over the world in a manner that even heads of State don't receive. And earlier this week, Robert McNamara died, and his death received a few obligatory notices and a commentary or two -- and then "back to coverage of Michael Jackson." Of course, one problem for Robert McNamara was that he lived so long that he was almost two generations removed from the time when he was arguably the most important man in the world. Certainly, any man who was Secretary of Defense during the most controversial war in American history (Iraq's place is not yet set) and then goes on to become President of the World Bank surely would have received far more coverage if his death was closer in time to the generation of his peers -- and if there was no Michael Jackson death to cover at the same time.

And while many have criticized the extensive coverage of Michael Jackson, and I didn't watch very much of it except for the memorial service on Tuesday, I do understand the coverage because the interest and extent of the worldwide tributes paid to him justifiably drove the coverage. If an Anna Nicole Smith can receive the level of coverage her death received when most people really didn't even know who she was, and with virtually no interest in her at all outside of the US, then certainly the coverage of someone who is being labeled without much argument as the "greatest entertainer to ever live worldwide" is not only understandable but in fact probably necessary.

But since the coverage has been so extensive, and since virtually everyone and anyone who can claim to be either a "Jackson family advisor" or a Michael Jackson hater was given plenty of air time to express their opinions, there is no need for me to weigh in on all of the issues that found their way into the daily discourse on the life and times of Michael Jackson. However, I will take one liberty to use this opportunity to share that my favorite Jackson recording ever is one that has not been mentioned once in all of the coverage -- "That's What You Get for Being Polite," from the Destiny Album.

But as I tried to tie in all of the various perspectives of what has been said and written about Jackson during these past two weeks, I was struck by four observations from watching Tuesday's memorial service which I will share with you just as thoughts for your measured reflection and hopefully calm deliberation.

1. At one point in the memorial service, NBC showed a montage of various sites around the world where people from London to Spain to China to South Africa to Times Square to the Phillipines to Germany and Russia were all standing and crying and dancing and paying tribute to Michael Jackson. The thought occurred to me that no one can get that kind of tribute paid to them all over the world and be as bad a person as Congressman Peter King of New York, Sean Hannity, Marc Levin, and Rush Limbaugh say he is. A really bad person just couldn't dupe the entire world so completely simply because they had talent. You could look into the eyes of the mourners worldwide -- and I would ask Michael's harshest critics to ponder who among them and us will leave this world affecting so many lives and making so many people remember fondly that we were here.

2. The line spoken by Al Sharpton actually went so far beyond the audience assembled at the service and touched a cord I have been stressing for some time -- that America still has not had the conversation on "Race" that it needs, and that statement is true today regardless of who is in the White House. Sharpton said directly to Jackson's children that "Your Daddy wasn't strange -- what was strange was what he had to deal with around him." And that statement brought the house down and the people up almost as a defiant gesture of angry response to all the Michael critics I named above and to members of the general mainstream society that many African-Americans felt just don't understand.

And later that day, CNN's contributor Jeffrey Toobin replied to Sharpton's statement by saying, "Give me a break." And it struck me that the Sharpton statement with the audience response (the most boisterous and prolonged of any response at the service), juxtaposed with the Toobin response serving almost as a "reach out" to mainstream White America to let them know that someone was prepared to go after this saintly image of Michael Jackson being constructed, clearly demonstrated the racial divide that still exists in this country and that President Obama had better find some time to try to address while he still has such high personal approval ratings and political capital in the bank, or we are all in for some big political and social shocks next time around.

3. Another personal observation I made was that in watching the three Jackson kids throughout the ceremony and of course at the end with the emotion of daughter Paris's comments and the interaction they had with each other and with the other Jackson family members, I am quite certain that whatever environment got them to this point is the environment they need to remain in -- together. And to me, that's Katherine Jackson and Grace, the nanny, and Michael deserves credit for nurturing that.

4. Watching the genuine comments from Brooke Shields and listening to Jermaine Jackson sing Charlie Chapman's "Smile," I couldn't help but ponder what the worldwide celebration of Michael Jackson's life would have been like had he not had the controversy in his personal life that has been so widely documented. Without that controversy, the celebration of his passing would have likely been a national holiday, and instead of a letter being read from the President, the President would have been there personally to express the sadness of the nation -- and again, regardless of who was in the White House. And instead of being the "King of Pop," he would have been simply "The King."

One thought stands out most impressively. Universally, there was praise for the tone of the service, the planning of the service, the content of the service, and the overall presentation of the memorial service. And all of this was accomplished with virtually no time to plan or rehearse and with a cloud of sadness covering everyone's mood. Yet, it was as impressive and as moving as one could possibly imagine. If the same people involved with planning and staging the memorial service for Michael Jackson were also involved with planning the now canceled upcoming "This is It" concert tour that would have commenced next month, then clearly, Michael Jackson was back. And now, for many for the good, and for some for the bad, he's never leaving again.

Carl Jeffers is a Log Angeles- and Seattle-based columnist, TV political analyst, radio talk show host and commentator, and a national lecturer. E-mail: [e-mail].

Comments

[Jliz]

Your writing covered all points with fact and emotion, that gave Michael Jackson the enveloping hold that he so desired in life.

I hope they run your article in all papers around the world.He was a human being with God given talent of 41 years devotion, best singer, dancer, songwriter, producer, director, and last, but not least, humanitarian, that left the world a better place.

Give me weird any day of the week in exchange for his talents shared.. I will remember Michael Jackson in the very BEST light. His music brought joy and awareness, in every decade of my life. I will remember your fine writing at a time, when media is trying to spin it, into something very dark . Michael Jackson was beautiful to watch with his artistic genius, and left the world with his beautiful children, to carry on hopefully, his message...­."We are the World, We are the ones to make a brighter world so let's start giving."

The media coverage does not diminish others that should also get attention, but rather gives homage to a true talent that is lost, with all probability to never again see a star that bright and shining. I plan to give more in life, thanks to Michael Jackson.

Thank you for your talented journalism. It was a pleasure to read.

[Yeji]

I enjoyed your article.

Mant folks were right pissed when he bought the Beatles' music. That fact that this African American could...mu­st have been quite stunning. Then the knives came out.

Rest in Peace dear dear Michael Jackson

[Solja]

I have TWO links, both to RARE video of MJ, Check em out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF03reiMs0Y&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otzrKVThPSc

Now just say Thanks Solja! lol

[Solja]

One of his TIGHTEST live performances!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07v6tB_OLR8

Now just say thanks Solja! lol

[realistnotsocialist]

fabulous! thank you!

[lskloven]

This is a fine article! Many nasty comments have been made and continue to be made about Mr. Jackson. As the congresswoman pointed out at his tribute, in this country, at least, citizens who are found not guilty of charges by extortionists and fanatics are innocent. And in all ways, Mr. Jackson was an innocent.

[pgurlatl]

I absolutely love this article.

And Obama has disappointed me in reference to MJ. I thought he'd record something. Oprah disappointed me as well. I'm sure they said something privately though.

[Solja]

Great article! Thanks!

[Solja]

Nielsen: 31.1 million watched Jackson memorial

Some 31.1 million people in the United States watched the Michael Jackson memorial on television, with millions more catching video streams on their computers.

The Nielsen Media Research estimate on Wednesday provided only a slice of the audience for the Los Angeles event. But it did offer insight on how the memorial compared to other events: President Barack Obama's inauguration in January was seen by 38 million people on TV, and the "American Idol" finale in May had 28.9 million viewers.

[KnowzyRowzy]

I can tell you right now ....Pres Obama IS NOT about to go near anything dealing with race. I hate to say it but he's a coward when it comes to addressing issues affecting AAs. It's easier for him to just look the other way but one day he is going to have his "Katrina" moment.

[yearlin]

obama or at least michelle should have been there to salute him. i thought it was in poor taste that they barely made a statement about this american legend. as the public official, i thought the congresswoman from houston did an excellent job.

[SamKnause]

I agree. I thought is showed disrepect. Michael was a world treasure and he came from the U.S. You would have thought that the President of the United States would have been there to honor him. I guess that would have been to politically incorrect for Obama, or political suicide.

[Irish55]

Obviously, you have not been paying attention. President Obama hand wrote a letter that was delivered to the Jackson family. He has spoken about Michael's passing on at least 2 occasions (and possibly more) that I have heard. Come one. Poor taste? You don't know what he wrote in that letter to the family - it's none of our business.

[blaqntelligence]

I hate to say this but I've been very disappointed in President Obama's reaction to Michael Jackson's death.
He didn't have to participate, but not a word?
For this president to ignore a man of Michael Jackson's stature (I don't care what the naysayers believe) is just disrespectful.
SamKnause's comment was perfect: "Michael was a world treasure and he came from the U.S."

[jmanders2009]

I agree with you. It's too bad that politicians are so wrapped up in worrying about offending someone if they dare say something good about somebody. It's foolish. Ronald Reagan thought a lot of Michael Jackson and even gave him a humanitarian award in the 80's. He wanted to give him a more prestigious award than that but he was told that he couldn't. I think Kobe Bryant said it best that Michael was extremely misunderstood. I've followed him my whole life since 1971 when as a 10 year old boy, I got their first full album (not a CD but the big album) "Maybe Tomorrow." What got me initially interested was a .45 record (you have to be old to remember those) I got off the back of a cereal box that had "ABC" on one side, and "I Want You Back" on the other. I still love those songs. I have a picture of me on my 11th birthday with my grandmother and with my brand new album she had bought me (Jackson Five: Greatest Hits) It was the present I wanted more than anything else in the world.
I've never been able to believe the allegations made against Michael. After I looked at the 1993 allegations and then read the grand jury and subsequent trial transcripts from 2005, I felt vindicated. He may have seemed strange to a lot of people, but I always thought he was for real. And I still do.

[Emerald1943]

The Obama family was in Russia when the memorial took place.

[Shellly]

This is by far the best commentary written yet about Michael!

they tried hard to break him all because he outsmarted those who thought he was a flake, when he pulled one of the biggest coups in music history by purchasing the beatles catalog! First he was flat broke, now his estate is valued at $500 million. They just wanted to put him out there one last time for him to fail or not perform up to standard and then more lawsuits come rolling in... God knew best and his final curtain yesterday was flawless, just like he would have wanted.

[Solja]

Nonsense. "They", as you put it, would be Sony Music, and they had nothing to do with his upcoming tour. His promoter was AIG, the owner of the Staples Center.

And if you don't have cash but have mounting debt, in this country, that is called broke, or bankrupt. Now that he has passed, his "estate" is worth millions because of its' contents, and that includes his household items, clothing, vehicles, awards, etc., and his catalogs. He paid $47 million for the Beatles catalog and sold a part of it to Sony for a reported $150 million. Now that his music is selling off the charts, his estate may end up being worth well over $500 million in the future, and that's not even counting the hundreds of unrecorded songs he supposedly left behind. Someone will publish those songs and we will have MJ music, probably for the rest of our lifetimes.

[ericajeanine]

Actually, it is AEG Live, the owner of the Staples Center and the O2 Arena in London. AEG was also paying the rent on the home where he died, paying Dr. COnrad Murray (at Michael's request) and arranged to have the circus delay their start so the Staples Center could be used. The city of Los Angles is asking AEG to pay the for amount the memeorial cost the city, no repsponse if they are gogin to do that. I felt the memorial was appropiate and beautiful. i don't know how the Jackson family has been over the years, but they seem to have come together when it counts, to love and support Michael's children and to give a fitting send off.

[AnaisKarim]

You hit the nail on the head! The rumors about and character assassination of MJ started in 1985 when he bought that music catalog.

[blaqntelligence]

"God knew best and his final curtain yesterday was flawless, just like he would have wanted."

With your permission I'd like to use this.....a­bsolutely beautiful. Thank you.

[Kerry007]

It's Charlie Chaplin, not Chapman. And the reason why he is getting so much press, is because he was (is) the biggest superstar ever know to this universe.

RIP Michael, we love you!!!

[zagyzebra]

I loved this analysis and your opinion. It is sooooo tiring hearing all these people tear apart the soul of an artist who gave so much to this world.