On Nancy Pelosi and Michael Jackson

I'd like to thank Nancy Pelosi for nixing the resolution to honor Michael Jackson. It's not like Congress doesn't have anything to do. (Health care, anyone?) But it was a spectacularly bad idea from the start. And now with revelations about the late singer's drug problems, the coroner's office subpoenaing Jackson's medical records, and questions about Jackson being the biological father of his children, what if this had been brought to a vote? Can you imagine the nastiness that would have ensued?

Hopefully this means we'll be seeing less of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, the Texas Democrat who introduced the resolution. Jackson Lee attended the memorial at the Staples Center. And for reasons that are unclear, she chose the occasion not only to give a stump speech but to push her resolution. Classy!

For the millions of people around the world who wished they'd been in Los Angeles for the event, count yourself lucky. Traffic in the Valley and near Dodger Stadium was a mess. I had to leave early for work because the freeway was closed for Jackson's motorcade. Even our normally media-happy Mayor left town to vacation in South Africa.

I hope he's back because now we've got to pay the bill. Jackson's memorial cost L.A. $3 million, and some of us (okay, me) aren't happy about it. This includes more than $40,000 that was spent on police lunches from a deli 80 miles away. What's wrong with our local taco trucks? I enjoy eating in new neighborhoods, too, but I try not to on the taxpayer's dime.

Talk about priorities. This year summer school was canceled because city officials deemed it a great way to close LA's $26-billion budget gap. The last time I checked the high-school dropout rate in LAUSD was almost 50 percent. So now we have thousands of students sitting at home watching The Hills or roaming the streets. Terrifying.

Councilwoman Jan Perry told CBS she'd "love it" if the Jackson family helped pay for their loved one's memorial. But so far, Joe Jackson has been mum. He did, however, pull aside a reporter the day his dead son lay in a gold casket to talk about a record deal.

Maybe Kobe and Magic, who praised Jackson during the Staples celebration for helping them be better at basketball, can chip in?

Don't get me wrong. I loved Jackson's music. I'm actually old enough to remember when the Jackson Five appeared on Ed Sullivan. In my 20s, during a brief and unremarkable stint as a jazz dancer, I performed "Beat It" at a gospel church in Oakland. (Thank god for no YouTube then!) The other night my husband dug my old Thriller album out of the closet and we danced to it in the living room.

Michael Jackson was undeniably gifted. But he was also undeniably tragic. And contrary to that gratuitous remark Al Sharpton made to Jackson's children at the memorial, I think most of us can agree on this: the singer was a little "strange."

How many grown men wish they were Peter Pan? And then build a multimillion-dollar fantasy world called Neverland with zoo animals and carnival rides? Or name their child "Blanket"?

Jackson's friends have been appearing endlessly on the talk shows burnishing his legacy. That's not surprising. What is is how they profess to have been so close to him yet apparently didn't notice his devastating drug problem. The Hulk was training the emaciated singer for his "This Is It" tour. Yet when asked about Jackson's health by Larry King, it was all good!

Well, it's all coming out now. Just this morning, a senior law enforcement officer told ABC News that Jackson was "heavily addicted" to OxyContin and taking daily doses of the painkiller Demerol.

During the memorial CNN.com paired with Facebook so that fans could express their grief. For a while I watched the comments scrolling down the screen. Many of them simply said "MJ: RIP."

One can only hope.

Follow Mona Gable on Twitter: www.twitter.com/monalg

Comments

[Ed438]

To those of Michael's fans who are still in mourning, my sympathies are with you. I expect that he will have an "afterlife", at least fame-wise, greater than any other celebrity and that includes Elvis and others like him. Like Elvis, this will be because of his strangeness and not despite it.

I predict that Neverland will pull in more pilgrims than Graceland in the future.

But, please, he's had his funeral and burial, can we forget about him for a while and concentrate on more important matters like healthcare and Iran? The incessant photos and film clips of MJ are driving me, for one, from ever wanting to turn on the television again.

Enough is enough.

[katedog]

You missed Sarah Palin that much?

[Ed438]

I've written enough on Sarah. But I want to correct my error: I'm not sure Michael has found his final burial place even now.

[citizensrus]

Well, it was a fan who wrote this blog.Perha­ps you should direct your complaints to his detractors who can't seem to resist twisting the knife and writing blogs like this one.

[citizensrus]

Correction: It WAS NOT a fan who wrote this blog.

[Ed438]

Except for mentioning MJ's being strange which I find unarguable, I avoided negative comments on his music or life or, as you put it, "twisting the knife". My field is "classical" music so I was certainly not a fan but I thought he was very talented in his own field.

I think you should rejoice in his current and future celebrity and try not to be so sensitive to any perceived slights. He was neither a god nor devil but a human being.

[Drop Science]

Just a thought...­The Patriot Act was 342 pages long and was passed in 5 minutes. How much trouble would it have been to pass this resolution (what is it a few pages?). So, I don't buy that this would have somehow prevented legislators from achieving other tasks (they seem to have plenty of time for their "affairs").

MJ was never convicted of any crime and if you criticize him for being a pill popper, that would pretty much describe a typical American these days. Who doesn't know somebody who isn't popping Ambiens, Adderols, or some type of pain meds? We shouldn't throw stones if we are living in glass pharmacies. So, in the end we have somebody who has passed away that so happens to have united races through his music, was a generous Humanitarian, and a cultural icon on a world scale. Don't diminish these FACTS with tabloid speculation (have you noticed most stories are cited with "Sources say...").

Also, if LA has a problem with the 3-4 Million, maybe they should charge the expert that claimed there would be over a hundred thousand people in the streets. Epic fail.

[Maanu]

Forget about the molestation, cause it wasn't proven. On paper, there's no difference from Elvis that would preclude MJ getting a stamp too, other than because he was black.
Trust that he will be honored across the world this way, and most likely before it happens in this puritanical, hypocritical country.
There's nothing anyone can tell me that will make me less appreciative of Michael Jackson's contribution of collective joy, inspiration and excitement for nearly all mankind.
Whereas you can pretty safely assume what an average Elvis, Beatles or Sinatra fan would look like, tell me what the average Michael Jackson fan looks like and I'll say you're lying.
Need I say more?

[jemeagirl]

Mona,

So much venom in your post. I do not think MJ deserves this rant you went on. Go back read that post again and take a deep breath.

I understand you are upset because you had to alter your getting to work last Tuesday because of his memorial. But your post is so strong and harsh. I am not going to go as far as accusing you of being racist because that is not how I operate.

You name your child whatever you want. After all that is your child. MJ had the right to name his child whatever he wanted. And if Blanket does not like that name, he can feel free to change it. By the way his legal name is Prince Michael Jackson, II.

California was already broke before MJ died and it will be broke after he is gone. Summer school was already canceled before he died. It is not his fault.

I live in California and I know the state of the affairs here. I understand your frustration, but I do not think that MJ cause all of this and that you should take it up on him.

Give it some time. The cost of his memorial will be paid off. Not by Jo Jackson, but it will be paid off.

MJ was someone who really loved people. It is undeniable, he had a serious drug problem. However, I do not think that should be his only legacy as your post suggests.

Calm down.

[ajbfree]

Venom? Interesting, because from all reports, Mr. Jackson was defensive and vindictive to anyone who criticized him; his family tried to help with his drug addicitons, and were banned from Neverland. To present MJ as anything other than a saint isn't nasty or cruel. Yes, he was a gifted performer with an indelible impact on pop music. He was also a real sick ticket, who insulated himself from any adult responsibilities. Did you see his interview with Bashir, insisting there's nothing wrong with sharing his bed with young boys? Creeped me out.
Maureen Orth wrote a series of very revealing articles about Jackson, how he manipulated the media, skated through molestation charges; read them online at Vanity Fair. You just have to look at his systematic self-mutilation thru cosmetic surgery to see that Sharpton protests too much; MJ was a strange and twisted soul who died from the excess and insulation that pervaded his life. Praise the music, but MJ doesn't deserve accolades for his humanitarianism, that's a real smack in the face to those not living in a gilt-edged bubble who really work to make this world a better place. Jackson worked to make his world a true never-never land; ask yourself if you would've trusted him to be alone with your little boy, and tell me he deserves to be lauded.

[octopi]

You and Mona Gable know Michael Jackson really well, don't you? If the tabloids print it, then it must be true!

[katedog]

No accolades for humanitarianism? You're kidding right? Off the top of my head, I can come up with We are the World in which proceeds went to feed starving citizens in Africa. And if you Google it, and I think Mike holds some kind of Guinness World Record on being the most charitable celeb.

Who else inspired Farm Aid, Live Aid, Comic Relief and other celeb collaborations which raise money? MJ., that's who/

[awomaninthemirror]

Check out ALL the videotape footage that Michael, HIMSELF, took simultaneously with Bashir's cameras rolling. Maury Povich put together a rebuttal to PROVE that Martin Bashir purposely, maliciously and with aforethought edited his "documentary" to HURT AND DISCREDIT the gentle soul of Michael Jackson. It's on YouTube in 8 parts or so, entitled,"Living With Michael Jackson: Take 2 " . You will see ALL of Michael's answers UNEDITED into malicious tripe.

[mark oconnor]

I don't have a problem with "peter pan" personalities.

What is off in the Micheal story is how accusations are remembered as facts.

This is not the first time unproven accusations have been used against a black man to diminish his social status.

And yes, that is an operative dynamic in what is called racism.

[Tanyars5]

so true

FACT MJ was found not guilty of child molestation by an almost white jury.

[rektruax]

You're right. Of course, that's never happened to a white man before.

[Glenn1441]

Exactly... I am astonished that even the most reasoned takes on Jackson's death and the ensuing media blitz are met with comments squashed by tunnel vision.

[citizensrus]

What?

[citizensrus]

So many white sheets the glare is blinding me.

[PCL07]

Could someone please tell me what the prerequisite is for being a caring and giving human being who gave their time and money to bettering social services? Oh, wait, they have to make it known through the media all the wonderful things they've done, as well as have someone make a documentary about them. Then maybe have some ties to corporations or politicians. That seems to be the route in America.

So be it. When folks can't handle the truth, they make up their own. That's what this charade of a country is these days.

I hope I see you on the streets in L.A. Mona, maybe we can meet at a taco truck and I can give you the 411 on how us black folks really do help other people all the time.

[Glenn1441]

Black folks? What does this post have to do with race?

You also write:

"So be it. When folks can't handle the truth, they make up their own. That's what this charade of a country is these days."

It's clear that you can't handle the truth that Mona has a specific point-of-view on Jackson, his life and his death, just as you do. And equally clear, you just made up your own.

[Brickster]

Seriously, I'm a taxpayer..­.where's my deli sandwich? Tragic on many sides.

[Maerwynn]

I believe Elvis was honored with his likeness on a US postage stamp despite his drug use and strangeness.

But I guess a US postage stamp isn't the same as a Congressional resolution.

[rektruax]

The whole Elvis stamp thing was 15 years after Presley's death. I'm sure MJ will have a stamp sooner.

[anick]

Ms. Gable, sounds like you have a case of selfishnes­s...Michae­l Jackson was a loving Human Being who cared about the welfare of others all over the World.

He holds the World record of "Giving to others freely" (MILLIONS) in charity to helping others who could not help themselves can't see anything strange about that.

What I think is strange really Ms. Gable, is that, most of the so called normal looking and maybe normal acting people do absolutely nothing to help another Human Being, they won't give of their time, money , or heart.

Yet some how these are the ones who who call themselves normal. It takes a very special person to give of them self freely let's say Millions of times freely . Only Love can Heal us Ms. Gable and Michael Jackson loved people more than anything else. That's why he will live on forever in the hearts of so many... He dared to do what many can not or will not do. One last thing I think that LA can afford to give back to someone who gave so much...plu­s he was a California Taxpayer!!!!!!

[Skeptiqone]

Thank you Mona,,,good post. It is troubling to me that any criticism of Michael can be seen as hate or racism. He was a great talent and a flawed man. To ignore his eccentricities is false. One does not have to blame him for his unusual life, nor does one have to find him blameless. His self transformation was troubling, as was his drug use, and his questionable behavior with children. Daddy was strange. I really hope for the best for the kids, they are innocents.

[LindaFS]

"His self transformation was troubling.­.." so true. For a guy who could reinvent himself to such great impact as an entertainer, the plastic surgery overload was like hitting a note off key...as it is when anyone pursues that route. I think I must not be able to fully appreciate the pressures of fame that drive people to things like that. I think the resolution is irrelevant. No one can take away the incredible contributions and legacy of Jackson. When really contemplated, a resolution doesn't seem adequate. Go for the stamp, people.

[citizensrus]

This blog was drenched. You can call it an "objective" criticism. Your perception isn't going to change mine.
How does someone who says "I really hope the best for the kids" square that sentiment with a blog attacking their dead daddy.