Michael Jackson: The Saga Sadly Continues

The memorial service that the family put on for Michael was, to my surprise, very tastefully done.  There was a sense of it being an actual memorial, not the side show I had anticipated it to be.  With the flare that Michael and the Jackson’s are renowned for, I would not have been surprised if they had done any of a number of things.  Thankfully they did not, probably due to the ‘handlers’ input on the event.

I do have one or two beefs with the memorial service though.  It was merely hours earlier that the Gov. of California had made a statement to the press that went something like this, “We are broke.”  The estimated cost for the taxpayer on this event is huge, something along the lines of $2 million.  With Michael being entombed in a $25,000 solid bronze, gold plated casket, I would find this a tough bill to swallow were I a resident of LA.  Surely the Jackson estate could, and should, have been able to pay for this mega funeral.

Secondly, the guest speakers and performers were very poignant and reverent, with a couple of noted exceptions.  I think one individual will sum this point up though: Al Sharpton.  Why would he turn this memorial into a speech on race the way he did?  His comments were so very out of place in this venue.  But as always it seems, Mr. Sharpton has to make all of his appearances about him and the cause he is interested in.  The place and time were not about Al Sharpton and he was, I think, out of line. 

I have to say that the speech from Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee also left me feeling less than tingly.  I had this very strange impression from her that she was worshipping Michael Jackson, not eulogizing him.  The biblical references she made seemed terribly out of context, saying that Jackson was the Good Samaritan, among other things.  And I know I am not alone on this feeling.  Pastor Mark Driscoll, of Mars Hill Church, tweeted, “The cult-like status of MJs death is unreal. If someone transported in from ancient Israel they would have swore he was a god like Pharaoh.”

The most touching part of the service had to be when Paris, Michael’s daughter, took the stage.  Her tearful goodbye was heartbreaking to watch.  And yet it was also a surprise, too.  Of course we hear how Jackson loved his kids and treated them so wonderfully.  But I had doubts about this.  Those doubts are now dispelled.