Congresswoman's Ridiculous Resolution To Honor Michael Jackson Referred To House Foreign Affairs Committee

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The Hill reports on its online blog that "the full text of that resolution has been published, and it's…long. The legislation lists Jackson's accomplishments in endless detail, from his #1 hits to the details of his charity work." After concluding the litany of Jackson's accomplishments, and notably making no mention of the less than stellar chapters in his life, the legislation resolves that Congress "(1) recognizes Michael Jackson as a global humanitarian and a noted leader in the fight against worldwide hunger and medical crises; and (2) celebrates Michael Jackson as an accomplished contributor to the worlds of arts and entertainment, scientific advances in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, and global food security." To read the full text of the resolution visit http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.RES.600:. This resolution would be in addition to the moment of silence the House already held for Jackson.

It is amazing that the seat of America's government has given a moment of silence, in essence extolling the virtues, of an undeserving figure. It is the symbolism of the act that is bothersome, and that politicians felt it was necessary. Did the House give a moment of silence when John Wayne died? Bob Hope? Have celebrities that lived lives that did not make them a living circus act get moments of silence as well? If this is a common occurence, then perhaps Jackson getting his would be less troublesome, though not all together excusable. Now a Congresswoman plans to add to the already excessive lionization of this freakish figure with a joke of a resolution.

People need to remember that in the early '90s Jackson paid millions of dollars worth of hush money to keep a family from going to trial on child molestation charges. This did not end the child molestation charges. He was later accused of molesting another child, though this second time he went to trial and was acquitted by the jury. He was disturbed on many levels and in no way deserves the over the top media attention that he is getting, the moment of silence in the House of Representatives, or the proposed House resolution. Even CNN's Howard Kurtz said the coverage of Jackson's death was "out of control" and "embarrassing" to the news business. STEVELACKNER.COM therefore expresses a widely held yet unheard sentiment, the sense of disgust about the unending coverage of the death of this human deformity.

We know for a fact that he thought it was perfectly fine to share his bed with children and that he did so. He dangled a baby from a hotel window. He surgically mutilated himself. He erased any sign of his race. This is a disturbed person, not somebody that should be suddenly lifted up as some role model, as some great American hero, or as someone deserving of this absurd amount of attention.

What does it say about our society and culture that Michael Jackson is attracting this kind of attention? It's actually sad. People should be mourning the death of the media before our eyes, not Jackson. The death of a society with any sense of priority and values, not Jackson.

Clearly Jackson means a great deal to lots of people, but that in and of itself is somewhat disturbing because he is not deserving of that kind of adulation. Even if he does mean a great deal to lots of people, that is no excuse for the nonstop media coverage, especially cable news. If ratings alone determined the news, they should be showing topless women wrestling in jello on the news channels. It is a disgrace to the news business. It is concerning that every other story has taken a back seat to Jackson. When the media as a whole displays a complete lack of responsibility in reporting the news it is the job of good citizens to voice opposition.

The point is that so many, especially the media and politicians, are glorifying this man when he is completely undeserving. This is media malpractice, the unending coverage of Michael Jackson's death, as if nothing else is going on in the world of greater importance. Jackson died on June 25th, and it is now July 7th and all we hear about is Jackson, Jackson, Jackson. And the fact that the House of Representatives gave him a moment of silence is, as Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth from Kentucky said, "close to nauseating" and "outrageous."

I support more men in Washington and elsewhere raising their voices, as Republican Congressman Pete King already has, to condemn the excessive media attention and the glorification by political leaders of Michael Jackson. I don't advocate outside control of the media, but I do condemn the lack of responsibility the media itself has displayed.

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