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We are inundated with coverage of Michael Jackson, as being a 'music icon' and 'king of pop', etc....it seems that no other world news is as newsworthy...

Michael Jackson was obviously a very troubled soul and what a shame that in our secular world which holds entertainment personalities and their often immoral or bizarre or elaborate lifestyles above that of saints and others who contribute positively to society, we don't spend this time in prayer for his soul rather than hashing and rehashing his worldly career and success.

All the secular adulation, lamenting, analyzing, memorializing, of a person on newspages, newspapers, newsites, news stations, will do nothing to help them in the eternal life which they have passed into. What a sad commentary on our world...because these troubled 'celebrities' (Anna Nicole Smith, Michael Jackson, etc.) really need a great deal of prayer, not media fascination.

This fascination in and of itself is also a bad thing. It creates secular emotionalism in many viewers which brings them to the point of almost worshipping this person. The very word we use to describe certain celebrities as 'icons' is almost a sign of the heresy of this celebrity worship.

Anyway, sorry for the rant....

May our Lord have mercy on the soul of Michael Jackson. Amen.

Alice

Alice ... I'm in total agreement with you.
May God grant mercy on his soul.
abby
<*)))><

All the attention seems to serve the ego and encourage narcissism. I worry for child "stars", like Miley Cyrus, who are bombarded with attention and expectations before they are grounded as 'individuals' (not sure how to put that). It seems that the admiration and attention can replace a healthy ego so that when popularity fades, it will be like a death.

Michael Jackson was talented, but it was such a shame he was thrown in the limelight when he was so young. A child needs a childhood.

All the media attention to jackson death will be his final performance. The media news outlets will get big ratings, tee shirts will be sold as well as other Jackson memorabilia much like Elvis and Marlyn Monroe.

I do think he was talented, Fred Astaire thought very highly of his dancing skills. I pray he gets the peace now that he didn't have in life.

Now, time to move on!

I understand the rant,I do,and yet some of you guys are just this side of cold heartedness. The difference in tone between these commentaries and those for McMahon and Fawcett astound me. Nary a mention made of his passing on this forum,though,mention is usually made on Town Hall of every public person's death that occurs. The first and only mention of Michael Jackson is mainly negative, and deals predominantly with the troubled aspects of his life.Oh yeah, except for the passing nod to Sinatra's assessment of him.

God gave us talents to use in the world and he did just that,regardless of his troubles. There's no getting around how exceptionally talented he was in so many different areas,and it should be celebrated. Why? Because they're ultimately God's.

He also brought great joy and hope to many.Obviously not to you sourpusses,and that's okay,but there's nothing wrong with people showing gratitude for how his presence positively affected their lives.That's true for many artists,etc.that are in the public eye.Many of them,including Jackson, care deeply for their audiences,and are humble enough to know that if it weren't for us,they'd be singing in cornfields or the shower instead. Just because he wasn't a spiritual force doesn't mean he was insignificant. He sure isn't in God's eyes,just as we aren't.

Separate the media from the person and find something positive to say about the dead.

"Separate the media from the person and find something positive to say about the dead."

Eternal Memory!

Dear sister, Indigo....

Please note that I posted a prayer on the Prayer Forum IMMEDIATELY when I heard of his death--even before any news source on the internet had announced it!!

He was a brilliant singer, dancer and entertainer, and I had the added joy of being around in the first years of the Jackson 5, and coming of age to all their hits in the 1970's...

Again, however, it was the same media fascination which I am condemning which relentlessly focused on his increasing eccentricities and which now will be something we will, unfortunately, remember him for as much as, or maybe more than, for his talent. I won't be dishonest in saying that it was very sad to see Michael, who grew up to be not only a very good looking young man, but infact, the *best* looking of all his brothers, surgically continue to change his good looks to the point of being actually difficult to look at.

My comments were not about him; I maintain the same news media obsession and sensationalism with all celebrities, living and dead. Remember Anna Nicole Smith's death? She was neither talented like Michael Jackson nor really great in any way.

I am all for MTV showing his music, television showing his movies, and other types of entertainment memorials and testaments to his God given talents.

As Eastern Christians, the point is, that we believe very seriously in praying for the dead. This is the single most important thing we can do when we hear of one's passing, and that is exactly what I did. Eternity is a serious thing, and if we truly love someone, whether a friend, relative or an entertainer whom we admire, we should pray and pray and pray to give aid to their soul in the great unknown mystery of death, because all the talking about it on television news in the world will not do what one humble prayer will.

So, please, let's not read bias into every thing!!
"There is no Jew or Greek, slave or freeman, man or woman in Christ Jesus"!

May the Lord grant rest and mercy to the soul of His servant Michael, and grant comfort to those who are grieving him. Amen.

Be well,
--Alice the 'sourpuss' !!

P.S. From President Obama:

"A White House spokesman said US President Barack Obama considered Jackson a spectacular performer, but said he felt parts of his life were "sad and tragic".

My comments reflect the same sentiment about the Media Whether alive or dead the entertainment industry will make its money on Jackson and the next big entertainer that dies!

The biggest impact Michael made on my life was my one-time attempt at a moonwalk when I was nine.

I think the media machine going into overdrive when a celebrity dies, is really a comment on our culture. We tend to value fluff, and give little notice to the things that are really important. How likely is it that the death of a teacher who influenced numerous young lives for the good, will get much media coverage? Yet, every celebrity whose life was a bad example to the young, will get non-stop media coverage. There is definitely something wrong here.

I can't agree with you more, byzantn.

Why so many people live through the lives of others is beyond me.

Yes, my biggest reaction was horror as I realized the feeding frenzy over two celebrities dying would cause . . .

I have absolutely no interest in celebrities--save as a possible source of emergency protein during famine .

I don't care what they name their kids, or what kind of vehicle they drive, or who they think I should vote fore. Nor do I care where they went to dinner, or what they weren't wearing. Either they did something newsworthy (cured cancer, built a hospital wing for the poor, whatever), or they shouldn't be wasting electrons and time.

hawk

That makes two of us.

Edmac