Michael Jackson Does Not Deserve a Congressional Resolution
By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog.
Bravo to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for nixing a House vote on a resolution honoring the late singer and performer Michael Jackson. It is, I am sure, a move for which she will take flak from the Congressional Black Caucus. Caucus Chair Barbara Lee, a California Democrat, had no comment on Pelosi's decision, which was made to soften divisions in the House, not harden political differences. From the Los Angeles Times:
Senior lawmakers had feared the resolution would set off an ugly debate that could hurt Congress' image and upset the Jackson family.
They were probably right, given that Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) stormed off the House floor during a moment of silence for Jackson two weeks ago, later telling radio talk show host John Ziegler that he was "almost nauseated" by it.
I was a Michael Jackson fan. His dancing, particularly, was nonpareil. I grew up listening to Motown and the Jackson Five was among my favorite groups.
That said, Michael Jackson was an obviously troubled person and not someone who should be held up as a role model for young Americans. He did some very good things. Most notably, I visited an orphanage in Romania many years ago to produce a story on the unwanted children former President Nicolae Ceausescu's ban on abortion had left behind. The orphanage's playground was built with money Jackson donated and a small plaque was posted in his honor. I was touched by it, as there was no major publicity and hype associated with this donation, as there had been with his projects for children in the United States.
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Reader Comments
Congressional Resolution
Ms Lee is entitled to her opinion about Michael Jackson and if she feels strongly enough to have a resolution drafted then that is her right. Those of you who have negative things to say about Michael Jackson go right ahead and think what you want. I do, however, have two questions for you - Does it make you feel better about yourself when you judge Michael so negatively and harshly? Is there something lacking in your own life that would make you want to be hurtful toward someone you only got to know through the media? While I can't tell you what to think, I can request that you be objective and take into account the facts. Remember Michael was acquitted of all charges in 2005 due a lack of hard evidence and also the lack of credibility of the witnesses. In the chandler case in 1993 it was evident that the motivation was money. Who in their right mind would settle for cash if their child had honestly been abused. Michael wanted to put that matter behind him and carry on with his life and that is why he opted to settle. It is easy to speak ill of someone who prefers not to make public rebuttals to all the falsehoods perpuated by the media. What is hard is for us to be objective and see that despite all the meaness directed at Michael Jackson he still believed that the world could be a better place. So to those who want to continue hitting out at Michael Jackson and his incredible legacy - continue doing so, hope it makes you feel better about yourself. To the people that love Michael - don't let haters detract you from remembering what an extraordinary human being he was. Keep his memory alive and remember him for his wonderful music, memorable performances and generosity of spirit to those less fortunate people across the world.
Michael Jackson
We are supposed to be practicing positive psychology and everything I am reading here is negative. Why do you judge this man? Focus on the good he has done, as ALL OF YOU have done something you would not want people to know. God says judge not unless you want to be judged, and that is exactly what will happen. Keep judging him and watch your own closets fly open and all of your surreptitious sins be exposed. Only God is Just! Therefore, only God should Judge!
Prophecies Confirmed
Jordan C. Fan, Prophet of Environment
I have posted similar remebrance of Michael Jackson elsewhere immediately after his death. There were no rain in the Eastern part of the U. S. My Great Prophecies are more than confirmed
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