American Idols

Yes, I think you've hit the core of it yet what to do about it is hard to think of. We do not live in small communities anymore and our presence is of only minor importance to most people. We count only when we spend money or follow the right trends. Idols are just that, idols. We need to understand that and I think you've explained it well.

Well said, though the "Young Voices" thorough deconstruction and destruction of Roman Catholicism leaves us short of places to recover meaning. Here's a question for you Jamie: if the Church is wanting, why would I be interested in any substitute you propose?

You are right on with your observation that celebrities are the "cultural golden calves." Strangely, although, I was a pre-teen when the Jackson Five came on the music scene I have no emotion for his death. We were allowed radios at recess in 5th grade and I would especially hear their music, then. The high pitched sound did not appeal to me. Especially, when the song about Ben the rat was produced, they lost me. Only when Thriller was produced did I enjoy the music because it was "thrilling" to dance to at the dance clubs in the 1980's.

Maybe because his life and circumstances surrounding his death are seeming to become typical, and my spirituality which looks forward to eternal life inspires me to pray for him it is hard to be sad, when that is probably not what he would want, nor would be it productive for his soul.

God takes our prayers for a soul that are made before His throne for a person even after they die and apply those prayers back to the actual moment when the person passed away. I am sure Michael Jackson had many people praying for his soul and Christ's Mercy is infinite, so may he rest in peace. We must continue to pray for him. God will hear them.

Which begs the question did you have to write this so the public would read it and you would satisfy your own desire to be heard? When CNN and FOX calls will you be there to offer your opinion, I'm guessing yes. The fact of the matter is that you are obviously a very charitable person I'm sure. But you are a part of that "pathos of our culture" with your "starving for prescence". The very fact that you wrote this and desire an audience yourself proves it. Next time perhaps you could write it in your diary. I guess I wrote this cause I need to be heard as well, lol. Humans are social by nature and like to express how they feel and do like it when people listen. You are not any different than any one of us. I adored Michael Jackson as a kid growing up, he entertained me. He distracted me from the stresses of this world. As an adult, I appreciate the fact that the man had a strong desire to help people and I truly believe he was a good person deep in his soul.

Some ardent cults of Catholic saints may have been similar to this celebrity cult phenomena. When an anthology of saints is read, like the Oxford Dictionary of 1001 Saints, there are many fantastic stories of the saints. Much detail of their lives and histories are so incredulous and bizarre, they certainly challenge authenticity or reality for some of them. Yet for centuries many believed these fanciful tales of saints and the more strange, perhaps the more they amazed people and held fascination for them. We as a church have since eliminated some of these saints with the more fanciful histories, like George killing the dragon or Christopher, as our knowledge of science and history, archeology, paleantology has improved.

The church relic trade has also been a very shady, and lengthy phenomena too as well as a huge money maker and full of unscrupulous behaviors. It is known that the so-called fragments of the cross of Jesus (crucifixion cross) have so many relic pieces the cross would have to have been a mile high, for example of just one relic. There were many other dubious relics of the past, of the "celibrity" saints of their day and time period.

Although he lived a very irregular life-not in conformance with all of the commandments and at times during his life comporting himself in a way inconsistent with the good life as well as American criminal law. I think that although we can judge many of his actions to being objectively evil acts, in the final analysis, we ought not to judge his final destination, be it heaven or hell for that is up to the Lord Jesus-God come in the flesh. Notwithstanding his awesome song and dance man talents, he should not be held up as a "Secular saint" suggesting that the life he lived was worthy of emulation. To be frank, I am repelled by certain famous protestant ministers actions concerning Michael Jackson's life which although, musical was far from the good life, and at times flouted the American criminal law. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace...

good heavens! i find myself pretty much agreeing with ms manson.

i remembered when i saw the notice on drudge pop up that he died i though 'well, we can forget about anything meaningful being done for the next week or so.'

the obsession with celebrity worship is this country... im so tired of it.

RIGHT ON!! Jamie:
You have said exactly what I have felt but couldn't put it so eloquently. Michael Jackson had an enormous impact on modern forms of music, but the value of this extraordinary career is still debatable. at least for those of us who were born in the first half of the 20th century. Words such as "idol"
are too often misplaced. The true idols are ordinary people doing extraordinary things with limited talents but a great love for family, friends and country..and may I be so bold as to mention, God?

It is also a comment on the media that has embraced the hysteria with a passion and has flooded the network with images and hyperboles befitting
a god but not a man whose behavior deserves to be questioned and not
memorialized. During this past week what have we learned about those who have sacrificed their lives in distant countries far from home and loved ones?

and all they say he wanted was a good night's rest

before a huge series of concerts which would have reviewed great Americans and prophets for peaceful cooperation like the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. including tapes from speeches.

This was his time to bring back the message, and keep hope alive.

Then he died.

And he's younger than I am.

I better get some rest . . .

reminds me of Jimi's going . . .

Jamie Manson you have hit upon a truth that only a truly spiritual person, imbued by your humanity and religiosity would see and feel the need to articulate. You lived up to it well.

We all metaphorically "look up" whether to some identified hero beyond our capacity to be, who represents values (however flawed) or in vain or in hope of finding one. Sadly, we lack the insight, the courage, yes the faith, to look within ourselves and hence to another of our ilk to see the intrinsic value, beauty, meaning, need that will impell us to awe, to act.

I have just returned from a walk on a beach, engaged by my wife to look for rocks. I looked upon the immensity of the ocean and its intercourse with the sky but, whithout denying its appeal I was brought down to the sand below me. Later, washed and set to dry each of these little rocks and sand glass were inspected for their individual beauty and variation within and among. Wee universes each, each part of both a smaller and larger universe.

Like "Horton" who "hears a who", we are connected in our elemental essences as well as in our various shapes, sizes and natures and, incongrously, because of our individuality (without which "connection" means nothing). If the universe and its creator is reflected in each bit of sand and rock, what must we each be in reflecting the creator. Don't expect to see it easily in all cases, but to pause and seek is the essence of quest and the beginning of hope's expansion, of love's taking hold.

While I do agree that celebrity worship has gotten out of hand (I'd say in the past 10 years, especially), I think attention needs to be paid to the fact that the outpouring of grief in this case is not just any celebrity dying. We need o ask ourselves why there is such a commotion over his death. Was it just because he was famous? No. Michael was a person who affected the ENTIRE WORLD (and not in an American Idol way) with his music. He ignited talent among those who were fans; and that doesn't even begin to describe what he did for the good in terms of race in America.

So while yes, I'm sure people are tired of every news channel using up every minute to talk about him, I wouldn't be so quick to mix him in with other celebrities (many who are famous just for being famous) whom people use as an escape mechanism from their lives.

I disagree.

Michael Jackson was one of the most important Americans. He was a superb dancer and singer as well as a genius performance artist. Go back and look at those music videos and view some of the live performances on youtube. Those were HIS concepts. He was stunning and unique. He was possibly the most important artist of the late 20th Century. Race and globalization were some of the topics.

I would like to add that I feel his message was always consistent with Christianity. (He had received religious instruction from his devout Jehovah's Witness mother.)

Those who perhaps have visited and/or lived in West Africa have perhaps come into contact with the "griot" caste. The "griots" are historians of the tribe and of families, as well as being public amusers and entertainers. But no self-respecting African would even dream of socialising, eating with, or marrying one of this caste, which is in reality a "pariah" one. However, notwithstanding their lowly status in society, they are worthy of public respect and acclaim for their many talents. But the highly exaggerated celebrity cult stemming from movies, singers, and public entertainers in today's society gives one the impression that the tide has turned in the States and elsewhere, and that it's the griots who are now calling the shots. Maybe it's their turn now, and so hat's off to MJ and his ilk. Coming from far behind and reaching the very top of their profession, they are to be admired and respected. But there are always those who will make a profit from their presence......

Our celebrity culture is what enabled Obama to be elected President. He's the least experienced, least qualified person ever to hold the highest elective office, but because he's "Mr. Cool" the media and the drones voted for him and support him. That will all change when the Obama Depression hits and with more foreign policy blunders from Mr. Cool. Economic hardships and threats to national security have a tendency to jolt people back to reality and to their senses.

All the little birdies on Jay Bird Street...

Michael Jackson's life was sad/bad/tragic. The TV hysteria did not bother me a speck, because I was too busy to watch any of the TV hysteria.

I did page through a current PEOPLE magazine issue showing photos of him from 1972 on. And Catholic/nonCatholic brothers and sisters, you know what? His eyes looked consistently unfulfilled, haunted actually; tragically sad, glazed, and likely--drugged.

The irony of the whole thing is in 1981, he looked great! If only he could have lived without the relentless need to have any surgeries; or at least any more plastic surgeries, from 1981 on, when he looked positively virile, sensitive, and artistic.

But he probably never felt it. I think he felt wretched. I also think it is hugely likely that he did sexually offend.

Like Elvis Presley, he was greatest physically when most natural.

As to his musical/dance contributions: Some of his dance was good. But like Elvis, some of his dance was over the top on eroticism. They both absolutely fit the norms for being assaulted as boys.

Probably his lyrics, if any were written by him, show the same issues.

So I think God sees the whole tragedy.

My personal question for 2009: If NCR says the new figures show that 1 in every 6 human beings on the planet are starving to death. Is it immoral for Christian men and women, including myself, to spend money on hair dye each month (a MINIMUM of seven dollars a month). Is that a lesson on self-image we can learn from Michael Jackson? Do we actually look best when most natural? And is God asking me to send that seven dollars a month to Darfour?

Hey Catholics: What do you think of this question I am posing?

Yes, and a couple million people went to Rome when JPII died, many of whom were not even Catholic, to honor a world class celebrity just like Jackson and Princess Diana, leading many in the Church to assume and assert that such adulation meant JPII was a saint. Shallow, shallow.

The sad part of celebrity for Michael Jackson and others, is that they can become 'lost' in the mirror while gazing at the artificial, contrived image of themselves. A core component of our humanity is learning "what is me, and what is not me", and what is "real versus unreal" — normally a part of early childhood development. The fans of these celebrities, even the inner circle folks, can get caught up in the mirror-gazing and lose sight of reality. Reality doesn't always feel good... and humans do love to feel good by whatever means available. At the least, we desire to avoid any pain.

Michael admitted a severely troubled childhood that included psychological and physical abuse at the hands of his father... all while being a lead-singer with growing fame. The last two decades of his fifty years of life, revealed a man-child regressing to his Neverland alternate reality... trying desperately to make it become reality even with his Neverland ranch.

We all knew he engaged in self-mutilation via plastic surgery... particularly of his face, which is the place of personal physical recognition. He also suffered from anorexia, which is at its core a disorder of self-image and control. His 5'11" frame carried no more than 110 pounds by the time of his death. He became increasingly reclusive and eccentric, while engaging in behaviors, especially with children "sharing his bed" in slumber party fashion, that are not socially acceptable for adults, regardless of his intentions. He spent money obsessively to purchase "things" that made him happy. He even "purchased his children".

The only place that he felt "real", secure and loved was on stage. It's not surprising that he spent his off-stage time in an increasing narcotic and anxiolytic drug haze that became his "normal" appearance... to escape the pain of his perceived "nothingness". The final irony would be if his death was in fact the result of an illicit anesthesia overdose, — because he "craved the feeling of completely losing all consciousness".

Why do so many get caught up in this post-mortem frenzy? I suspect that it has a lot to do with our own individual and collective dysfunction — our own desire to escape our demons — to not face them alone. We watched him slowly self-destruct in spite of his giftedness. Many seemed, perhaps unconsciously, to have identified with his plight. That says much about our culture. There is also that unreal security of being part of a large group of like-minded "worshipers" when a celebrity dies prematurely. Perhaps if we engage in enough frenetic activity we can escape the reality of our own individual mortality. In the end, death is done alone — not as a team activity.

As Catholic people of faith, we need to pray for ourselves and others, that we not fall into that psycho-social trap of mirror-gazing and false images of life. The real tragedy is that of a life lived without ever seeing his real image as a child of God with innate dignity and worth. Requiescat in pace, Michael.

Jamie, no one has said it better! This article should be read at every Eucharist and youth gathering in the nation at least once a year so people can form their children,and adults can reflect on the cult of celebrity.

As Americans we have no depth; not in politics, not in religion, not in morals. We are superficial and feel the need to go with the flow. As we see these people emote over the passing of Michael Jackson, we can only wonder when was the last time they visited an aging relative; wrote to a friend; helped someone in need.

I cannot believe it, but I actually agree with you for a change. American's cannot seem to get enough of celebrity gossip. It is harmful to the individual watching and well as those being gossiped about (John and Kate + eight). Imagine if we actually used the time we spend in front of the TV and reading the newspaper tabliods for volunteer work with our parishes and spending time with our families. If you spend 2 hours a night watching TV, that's a bunch of work that your parish can benefit from in a week.