Posted by
American Sweetheart on Monday, July 06, 2009 10:58:00 PM
It's been two weeks, and Michael Jackson is still dead.
That is the gist of headlines at this point to me.
Why are we devoting all of this time and energy to honoring a man that was accused on multiple occassions of pedophilia? He was married multiple times. He destroyed his own body. He allowed children that were not HIS to sleep with him in his bed. He disgusted most of America on the MTV Video Music Awards when he made out with his short lived wife (short lived being the marriage) Lisa Marie Presley. He hung his infant child (which we are now learning that possibly NONE of the children were actually his) over a balcony.
A real family man, huh?
What has Michael Jackson ever done for YOU? What has he done that made your life better other than put out some catchy tunes a over 20 years ago? I admitt it. I love "Beat It." It's a great song. But it didn't change my life. It didn't make me a better person. The only thing that song inspired was some fun singing in the car.
This past weekend, we celebrated our nation's freedom for the 233rd time. People came out in record numbers in the same fashion that they did to form our country over two centuries ago. It was all glazed over with frivilous talk of Michael Jackson's estate and custody battles and other nonsense that will never affect our lives directly.
I'd like to introduce you to some people that you have never known and will never have the opportunity to know. These people did something that DID change your life. They did something that affected the lives of others.
But you will never have the opportunity to thank them.
And we should all be ashamed.
This is Specialist Ross McGinnis. Ross died on December 4, 2006 in Iraq at age 19. Ross gave his life when he dove onto a grenade to save the lives of the people around him. Ross was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in June of 2008.
It has been almost 3 years since Ross died, and the hurt from his death that his family and friends feel is still there. It is visible. This is from Ross's Myspace. His page was never taken down. Note the dates of these messages to him and who they are from:
The picture in the comment from the person named Ian, is a photo of him with Ross McGinnis' ashes at his funeral. The comment was made only a few weeks ago.
This man gave his life selflessly. He died a brave and noble death. We do him a disservice when we cry over a man that did nothing to directly better our lives and did nothing to serve us and to help preserve our freedom and create freedom for the oppressed.
Today (July 7, 2009), 7 US Soldiers lost their lives in
Afghanistan. In addition, the Taliban is still claiming to hold the US Soldier that went missing the week of Michael Jackson's death...but MJ's death overshadowed this story.
It over shadowed the fact that US Troops are leaving Iraqi cities and turning power back over to the people. They are leaving them with cities in which violence is down. Children can attend new schools. Citizens can do business. They can vote.
But no need to thank them.
When was the last time you thanked a soldier that you didn't even know for his service?
I can tell you when I did. June 26, 2009 at a community fireworks celebration. The recruiters from the US Airforce recruiting station that my brother went through were walking around talking with civilians and handing out key chains. I introduced them to my son and told him how they are like his Uncle and thanked them for everything they do.
Get on Google. Talk to members of your community. There are families and friends everywhere in this country that lost loved ones to war. It might have been Operation Iraqi Freedom. It may have been Vietnam or Korea. It may have been while helping people in the Sudan.
These men may have died, but take the time to get to know them. If anyone deserves posthumous recognition and honor it is these couragous men and women.
They are the ones that have made your life better. Not a dead pop star.
**ETA** The real tragedy of Michael Jackson's death is that 3 children who only ever knew him as their father have lost him. I am not so cynical that I do not recognize that fact. The world will continue to see celebrities come and go, just as we will see members of our own families come and go. The point is that we need to prioritize what is important.
Did this man REALLY TRUELY deserve non stop news coverage for two weeks after his death when North Korea was firing off scud missles and soldiers were dying in the desert to protect us and to secure a better life for the people of the Middle East?
Just consider that.