Some thoughts on the demise of Michael Jackson and the subsequent hypocitical popularity explosion

If one were to comment upon the relatively recent emergence of a notoriety obsessed, credit driven, "get rich and famous quick!" mindset infecting vast swathes of the population right across the western world; with fulfilment being measured in the accumulation of wealth and "fame;" and the subliminally imposed, narcissistic aspirations of countless of misled millions resting upon "that one big break" to catapult them to "stardom." Then the overwhelming sense of grief and loss displayed by huge numbers of Michael Jackson "fans" serves to act as an example of how morally blinded and ethically selective people have become in their quest to identify with the cult of celebrity.

If Jackson had been an ordinary Joe Bloggs he would most undoubtedly have become a social pariah and more than likely have served time for certain offences. At the least he most probably would have been placed on some sort of register or surveillance order. But no, he was an above standard international multi-millionaire "star" who's foibles have always been passed off as a combination of eccentricity and the result of a difficult, abusive upbringing which left him vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous parties both inside and 'outside' the Jackson family. Reasons given, I might add, by thousands of prisoners and sex-offenders in their defence as to why they committed their crimes.

During his more controversial years Jackson was subject to a barrage of character assaults which cost most of his fortune and completely battered his reputation and moral standing. Even Jon Snow (Channel 4 News) admits in one of his blogs that, "the even stranger, even sinister, delight in the menagerie of young children with whom he consorted in his home, undermined my total appreciation of what he achieved." A sensation and opinion which once-upon-a-time reverberated throughout a number of people in Jackson's broad fan base, as it was whipped into a frenzy by almost the entire membership of global media networks.

Jon was most definitely not alone in his uncomfortably felt concerns regarding Jacko's interests. I for one can relate to Jon when he alludes to "strange" and "sinister" apprehensions, which automatically overshadowed any regards, respect or appreciation of Jackson's undoubted talent and gift for entertaining.

What concerns me however, is the observation that now Jacko is dead, people around the world are once more lauding his praises, selectively remembering his "best" bits and jumping on the band wagon to promote his kudos born of "fame."

The only way in which this switch of judgement and morals has been allowed to occur, is through blind public acceptance of an insidious form of ideology which promotes "celebrities" to a "higher order" among "average" human beings. A form of Demi-God status which places them above and outside the regular rules and terms which govern the realms of Terra firma.

Of course there have been numerous "stars" whose careers have ended due to a misdemeanour or two, but only a very small handful who have dodged the moral bullets and returned to their original Stella magnitude. Unfortunately I think Jackson was poised to become one of those 'forgiven' through misplaced concepts of 'truth.'.

According to existentialist theory,

"There is no meaning to be found in the world beyond what meaning we give to it. People actually make decisions based on what has meaning to them rather than what is rational. That there are no values to be found in the world in-itself doesn't mean that there are no values: Each of us usually already has his values before a consideration of their validity is carried through, and it is, after all, upon these values we act. Making "choices" without allowing one's values to confer differing values to the alternatives, is, in fact, choosing not to make a choice - to "flip a coin," as it were, and to leave everything to chance. This is considered to be a refusal to live in the consequence of one's freedom, meaning it quickly becomes a sort of 'bad faith.'"

We encounter experiences every day which support this notion, as people are constantly making judgements based on how they "feel" about something. Their values are frequently challenged and each time they are required to make a decision, they will apply; emotion; personal historical experience; and their appropriated, circumstantially acceptable social morals, ethics, beliefs and values. It is the third of these foundations of decision making which holds most influence over the way people 'choose' to think and behave.

Hypocrisy is borne upon the dark wings of "Bad Faith," in the thousands of freshly inspired "Jacko jokes" doing the rounds; in the way people are so easily programmable and infinitely malleable, and so ready to follow the herd in their complicit acceptance and 'forgiveness' of wrongful deeds; And via the means of the masses to sell out on their values and judgement before the alter of Idolatry delights.