I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson . As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions,and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many people.

I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of my rant.

Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing? Am I missing something here?

ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades?

What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who,knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America. Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice?

Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good riddance," and "thank God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a"Pop Icon?"

I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every servicemember killed in Iraq and Afghanistan . They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them. But wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars, we will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have.

Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it. Feel free to pass this along if you want... Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military;

"So that others may live..."

We love you Michael

We see the magic in your life

MJ is an ICON

I agree Soul. I think people do tend to forget these things. My dad is the reason I remember

I see your point Sojourn but I also think its not a good comparison

of course their lives matter as well!!!!!!!!!! what about the other famous people that died recently as well??? or for the soldiers dying? or anyone else for that matter?

Kinda proves this veterans point..... people don't care about a soldiers death. After all, a soldier pledges his/her life for their freedom to ignore the sacrifice. They're only soldiers, what does it matter.... but a Pop Icon, now there's someone who has value in their lives.....

I do not understand the 'outrage' over the news coverage.

Guess I don't pay as much attention to the news as some of you do?

I saw the mr Jackson had died.

Then I saw a few items bout budget this and budget that and tax this and so forth.

Then I saw some soldiers had been lost.

Mostly I saw that the world (though greatly enriched by his life)was still...

Life continues...

The only difference I saw in the news was the he had died... Everything else was in the same percentage as it has been all year...

Lie this and lie that.

Sojourn is cool and I understand better what he is saying now that I read his statement once again.I dont disagree But the world dont just revolve around one person or one group of people. Some people have touched many lives with something as simple as a poem or a song and not everything comes down to violence and war.

I never said it did. My point is the other stars that died recently...did they get a moment of silence??? what about everyone else?

People do care, but it also comes down to fame. MJ was extremely famous

I know you didnt say that Rose.I meant it towards the sentiment of the OPMJ is a worldwide ICON. Not just here but around the world in every country

so he is more important than Farrah Fawcett, soldiers/cops that risk their lives, etc?

sorry...I'm not a fan of his so I don't see him as much important than someone else

I didn't write this. I do agree with this veteran to a large degree however. There are many whose lives enrich us while never serving in the military, absolutely!

This veterans point was, I believe, that a nation will unite to mourn a passing pop star, but they won't speak out against unjust wars or about the passing of a soldier who has died for their freedom with the same fervor. It's about peoples priorities being all askew, misdirected and dumbed down to the trivial.

it is not the global effect

it is the person involvement

if you were not personally (whether real or invisioned) then you have nearly no attachment

it makes the fan feel like a fannly member (bushism lol)

it is their personal connection whether mj connected or not

so no no ones life is truly more important but it is less connected

as long as they do not make a mj day i can understand it

He isnt more important,just more famous.Like Princess Diana.

I understand people mourning him. But I don't believe that is the point of the OP Robin

MJ is extremely famous. On an planetary level.That is the difference. He isn't more important.

i took it as wanting to know why it was like that

if some one has a personal connection with some one in the military they will show more mourning

there is a veterans day so as long as they do not make an mj day the letter is a lil off base slightly

their are very few that do not mourn the death of a service person or even a civilian

but if they are not involved personally then it is what it is someone died thats to bad i'm sorry most of the time (the more they think they know the person the deeper the mourning)

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or it could be a protest of the abuse of the use of the u s military