MJ...it's sad that he died. It's sad when anyone dies. A life is lost and that life was likely valuable to someone else (child, parent, sibling, friend). He had immense talent but he led a very strange life, some (likely most) of it not of his own making. From a very early age his life was not what most would call normal and we've seen that in countless child stars. I imagine that's why Brooke Shields was so broken up...she lived the child star life, so she gets that.

I feel sadness for him because I think his life was very much not his own. As for the "fall," well, we're all human. I don't say that to condone or condemn. It is a fact that something happened, but we're probably never going to know just exactly what it was.

I have no hate for MJ. But I'm a bit alarmed about people wailing in the streets and the woman who was interviewed saying she hadn't stopped crying (this was 6 days later). I think that kind of grief for a public figure one only "knew" through the radio or TV is rather absurd. It also bothers me that the city of LA and it's resources were so heavily burdened in a time when most city governments can't take too many more straws to the camel's back.

Michael Jackson, rest in peace...a peace the world did not give you.

just testing here...i couldn't leave a comment here yesterday...

maybe it has to do with the length of the comment...

so let's see if this goes through when I hit submit

it did! Congrats!

I can't believe these people...

It seems to me, and I could be wrong, that...

- The people "idolizing" him now were probably his biggest fans, and are dealing with death the way any of us would...
- The people overly concerned with MJ being idolized aren't real broken up over his death, but perhaps feel as though they should, so they cast stones at his idolizing fans to remove attention from themselves...
- The people who are "hating" on MJ now are simply distancing themselves from what is nothing less than a very painful event for a lot of people, or are dealing with death differently than most people...
- The people who are lifting MJ up as a good person are probably doing so in response to such vicious accusations...

I just see this cyclical discussion that is totally fruitless.

Yes, he was human, just like us. Ergo, he made some mistakes. Due to his world-wide fame, his mistakes were grossly publicized. Get over it.
Yes, he was a revolutionary, and a legend in the field of music. Due to his death, he will likely be over publicized for a long time to come. Get over it.

I understand your point about fans idolizing him but it was almost like we were forced into this glorification of MJ through the media coverage. It isn't about stone throwing or judging, it is simply stating facts about who he was: good, bad and ugly. He was a world-wide famous person that had a lot of good years but also had a lot of bad years. Does that mean because he died, due to a likely drug overdose, that we turn a blind eye to it? This bothers me and should bother everyone because we end up getting fed half-truths in order to swallow what we sentimentally want to accept. The vicious accusations that are simply reporting truth is ridiculous and in turn people who are speaking truth are being called racist, which is not the case. Just some thoughts from the other side of the spectrum =)

"forced into this glorification of MJ through the media coverage." - I honestly think if anyone in today's age and time is "forced" into any thought about a person, product, idea, event... etc., then it is due to their own lack of efforts.

“It isn't about stone throwing or judging, it is simply stating facts about who he was” – I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen some boulders. And how can you mention the media persuading thoughts and then claim to state facts. Were you there?

“Does that mean because he died, due to a likely drug overdose, that we turn a blind eye to it?” – If you have a drug problem, take this as a sign to go and seek help. If you don’t have a drug problem, turn a blind eye.

“This bothers me and should bother everyone because we end up getting fed half-truths in order to swallow what we sentimentally want to accept.” – I don’t think anyone is unaware that a possibly drug overdose is in question. And it makes me proud to see that certain people aren’t swayed in their feelings of grief because of it. Who am I to judge? Isn’t it a good thing to want to see the GOOD in someone else?

“vicious accusations that are simply reporting truth is ridiculous and in turn people who are speaking truth are being called racist” – What?!?!

I have been enjoying MJ’s eulogy. I am happy to be participating, on some level, during this time in history. It is one of those special moments that the world unites in memory. No matter what views you have, this (on some level) is a bond of humanity.

I could say a lot about the memorial, but much of it has already been said. In the end, I was left reflecting on the last man's prayer: "Even the king of pop must bow his knee to the King of Kings."

Testing. Please ignore.

Justin, this seems to be a typical liberal position. If someone disagrees with your point of view, then you are hating. Because people have strong concern over the glorification of Michael Jackson and simply state that this is being overdone, they are suddenly called haters. Because people are simply pointing out facts that he had done some stuff that was way out of line, they are considered haters. That is ridiculous. We all love each other when we get into like minded groups but hate it when someone points out the other realities that are simply ignored.

That is the main issue, nothing more nothing less. Grace is great but idolizing someone isn't.