Scrutinize This
It's been a while since I've been able to just sit and catch up with the rest of the world. I made a grilled chicken salad (which was delicious, BURP) and started perusing the www. I happened across some old interviews with Michael Jackson, then some news editorials about his death, and eventually Lisa Marie Presley's recent myspace blog post about Michael's passing.
Sometimes it takes a very long time to see how our society has transformed. We've become so non trusting and cynical that I believe we've lost touch with reality altogether. Why couldn't Michael Jackson have had a legitimate relationship with woman, whether it was the ideal norm or not? Did we drive Michael into what we we wanted him to be all along-flawed and strange so we could pick apart his life and his childhood?
I'm not saying that Michael did NOTHING wrong in his life. He's an example of what we do to people who have good intentions, become famous for it, and then fail miserably after the scrutiny of their 'fans'.
We live in a world that is craving the next big idol. Especially after so many deaths recently-Ted Kennedy, Farrah Fawcet, MJ, and others. Look at the Obama campaign-all about hope. Something to look to.
Part of the problem is there are too many people making it into the public eye. American Idol and COUNTLESS reality shows are bringing a truckload of new celebrities in by the hour. Its overwhelming. So the minute one of them stands out farther than the rest, the media globs onto it like a fly on shit and it becomes a frenzy of book deals, cologne lines, talk shows, clothing lines, more reality shows, etc....and it all happens within one year. And within that one year if that one person so much as says the wrong thing, flinches over a relationship, or votes for the wrong candidate DING DING DING! We've got someone to scrutinize! Yaay!
Sure, obviously, these people who are trying to reach such a level of fame should be prepared for it all. And most of those people never strike me personally as too interesting. But when a Michael Jackson comes along, its once in a lifetime. And it would be nice to keep them around to do some more good in the world.
When Michael reached his lower points-the Neverland scandal, the baby incident, the drugs-sure I can sit here and write 'that was really messed up.' But I can't help but also sit here and ask society to start taking some responsibility. When we start scrutinizing, its time to find our own way to make a difference instead.
Sometimes it takes a very long time to see how our society has transformed. We've become so non trusting and cynical that I believe we've lost touch with reality altogether. Why couldn't Michael Jackson have had a legitimate relationship with woman, whether it was the ideal norm or not? Did we drive Michael into what we we wanted him to be all along-flawed and strange so we could pick apart his life and his childhood?
I'm not saying that Michael did NOTHING wrong in his life. He's an example of what we do to people who have good intentions, become famous for it, and then fail miserably after the scrutiny of their 'fans'.
We live in a world that is craving the next big idol. Especially after so many deaths recently-Ted Kennedy, Farrah Fawcet, MJ, and others. Look at the Obama campaign-all about hope. Something to look to.
Part of the problem is there are too many people making it into the public eye. American Idol and COUNTLESS reality shows are bringing a truckload of new celebrities in by the hour. Its overwhelming. So the minute one of them stands out farther than the rest, the media globs onto it like a fly on shit and it becomes a frenzy of book deals, cologne lines, talk shows, clothing lines, more reality shows, etc....and it all happens within one year. And within that one year if that one person so much as says the wrong thing, flinches over a relationship, or votes for the wrong candidate DING DING DING! We've got someone to scrutinize! Yaay!
Sure, obviously, these people who are trying to reach such a level of fame should be prepared for it all. And most of those people never strike me personally as too interesting. But when a Michael Jackson comes along, its once in a lifetime. And it would be nice to keep them around to do some more good in the world.
When Michael reached his lower points-the Neverland scandal, the baby incident, the drugs-sure I can sit here and write 'that was really messed up.' But I can't help but also sit here and ask society to start taking some responsibility. When we start scrutinizing, its time to find our own way to make a difference instead.
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