Mr. WoW…I just wish the Jacksons (and the Kennedys—all of them—elected or not; the Bushs, Clintons, Daleys; Romneys; McCains and any other ‘political dynasty’) along with the reality/entertainment scions of the Jon and Kate plus/minus one or more parental units; the Duggars; the Rollofs (Little People); the Lohans; the Spears; the Kardashians; Octomom—all famous for being famous. Even titans of business like the Hiltons; the Trumps; and all of the other ‘families’ that have been foisted upon the American public at one time or another (for fun and profit) would just realize their 15 minutes of fame are up. 

They need to go away.  Far, far away. I am tired of the parents/brothers/sisters/sons/daughters/significant others/former significant others of some ‘celebrity’ becoming some sort of ‘standard bearer/media darling’ for some association of genetics or fate.

Its Six Degrees on Seperation on a 24/7 celebrity news cycle.

Our culture is being dumbed down to the lowest level by a constant barrage of celebrity hubris—twice removed.  No doubt LaToya will cry while propped up on Oprahs couch about the movie; Papa Joe will make the rounds of BET (like he did hours after Michael’s passing).

We do it benignly with entertainers; and dangerously so with political dynasties.  A public fascination with people who have openned their lives for public consumption.  Where has it brought us?

I’ve always thought of that entire Jackson clan as trailor house trash that surely could sing and dance.  Say what you will, but Michael was a musical genius in more ways than one.  That Thriller album is something else, and he did, after all, buy the Beatles’ songbook with Paul sitting right there, clueless.

Every now and then for a nanosecond or two… okay, maybe three… I think of MJ’s beautiful children.  How are they doing with Gramma?  Are they in school? How’s that working out for them? Do they eat normal foods now? Do Auntie LaToya and Granpa frighten them?  When will their book and movie come out? 

When will I have something more interesting to ponder during my fleeting nanos?

And conversely Victoria, I continue to be astonished by those who never met Michael Jackson who continue to defend him and his actions if one speaks harshly about him. The act of being a fan vs. not being a fan is understandable and simple.

Either you like him or you don’t. None of us were in his alarm rigged bedroom, so either you choose to believe he molested little boys or you don’t. He "whitewashed" his skin, straightened his hair and thinned his lips and nose because of his internal hatred of who he is. He dyed his son’s hair blond for years, why? None of that has anything to do with not wanting to look like his father.

So yes, we all can sit on the outside looking in and speculate on why he did this or did that. But in the final analysis, even those who claim to be close friends of his, can’t truly speak to why he was such an odd, bizarre and disturbed man. Those answers went to the grave with him when he died. What you, me and everyone else who voices opinions on him now is nothing more than speculation.

The plastic surgery reportedly spiraled after the Pepsi Cola fire - I believe that is likely true.  The video of the aftermath on MJ’s scalp and beyond was frightening to watch.  He already suffered from identity issues before the fire - one can only imagine how extensive burn traumas to your head and face would effect someone as hyper-sensitive as MJ.  His relationship to dad was a complex one just as are all such narcissistic parent-child abuse and confusion relationships.  As for anyone saying that MJ was not abused - well MJ said so himself.  Papa Joe is still alive - when he kicks the bucket the kids will finally have permission from themselves to expell all the crap they dealt with.

MJ confused me.  I’d been a big fan of the J5 when I was a goofy little girl buying their 45’s and spinning them on my little red suitcase turntable (in between "rides" my Barbie and Skipper would take on it!).  He was so ‘Pop’ that I just had to turn my back on him in my teens and beyond.  Later I wanted to like him but it all just got so icky … over and over and over.  His behavior and energy walked like a duck and he did nothing to alter that perception and heal his image.  Now I just wish that his kids will eclipse it all and do surprisingly well and it would all just go away and ….  Oy gevalt.  I’d like to watch about 10 minutes of the movie.