I've never enjoyed any of Michael Jackson's music, and I certainly don't approve of this bizarre antics of late. However, I don't believe he had ever been convicted of pedophilia (not to say a conviction necessarily correlates to actuality, but one of the tenants behind the American justice system is undoubtedly, "innocent until proven guilty"). Moreover, Jackson has engaged in activities which would be difficult to describe as anything but philanthropic. To the same degree, should we grieve, pay tribute or homage or simply whitewash over the idiosyncrasies of his life (a phenomenon so brilliantly satirized by Andrew Hansen on the popular ABC show, The Chaser's War On Everything ( [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkM9cDiWJ6o[/media] )) to this decidedly controversial cultural icon? Probably not, but to respect someone does not necessarily translate into accepting their flaws, condoning their actions or even liking them, but rather to honestly engage them humanely. It is important to recognize, but easy to forget that for all his surreal bizarreness and the accusations surrounding him that Jackson was just a man. And ignoring this fact in favor of distasteful quips about his persona reflects poorly on the community and yourself rather than Jackson. If I may alter the wise maxim by John McCain: 'This isn't about who he was, but about who we are.'


Furthermore, I don't think we have a thread bashing fallen police officers, but I'm certain a thread honoring service personnel killed amidst service would be welcomed in this community.