Embracing The Mortality of Men: Why America So Mourns Michael Jackson

In this day and era of technology and the media, it is easy for our constant exposure to mortal beings, that is the entertainers/athletes, that we almost seem to worship like God, to make us lose focus. In the same, it is the popularity and exposure that is a part of the business of selling images to promote the product of the artist that even makes "stars" believe or act like they are above man, above their humanity, or even sometimes above God. Death always brings the mortality of man back to focus. And the larger the image of the man, the harder his/her fall or death hits the consumer- the fan.
I question the hype over Jacksons death...at the stage/point in which he died, he, as a man, was less than embraced by many-criticized for one reason or another by most. It was his music that moved us, the music that will never die. It was his image that moved us, an image that will never die. We (consumers) did not know him-never even got close to him, and I venture to say that even those closest to him, including his own father, did not know him. We did not understand him...viewing him as a pervert rather than an innocent child trapped inside of a man's body, or a Black man trying to be white, as opposed to a man who was caught in the middle of the self hate that white supremacy causes unconscious Black people, and mainstream/industry expectations of beauty, a man who was neither male or female but caught in the middle...we incriminated him rather than viewing him as a man who was obviously trying to escape the decades of emotional pain and his disenchantment with the world, by keeping himself somewhere in between conscious and unconscious- by whatever means necessary. We sucked him dry in life and continue to suck him dry in death...
As one who loves Jacksons music, I am thankful for his presence because without it there would be no ABC, PYT, Thriller or Billie Jean...but I did not know the man....I only saw and felt his pain in every interview, in every walk with the mass entourage, in every year that he missed his ability to just be "normal" because he was too busy entertaining us, in every joke told about him...I will never forget him because his music lives. That's what he gave me...But, his life was always sad. So, I am happy that his spirit is now released from his ailing and almost decomposing body, but more importantly released from the pain that every greedy man, woman, and child caused him, and released from the confines of the limitation of human greed, narcissism, and value assignment. You see to me, Michael wanted to be loved (not adored). He wanted to be able to establish the connections and relationships that would make him whole. He wanted to be protected and provided for in the way that children expect from parents. He never got that. But, he couldn't because he was isolated from real human connection. So he sought that in his role as an entertainer, trying to make meaningful the "love" of fans, which was really just a superficial love of his image not of the man...trying to make his body guards and doctors and lawyers his protectors, because his family failed to do that for him. Trying to find someone he could relate to by seeking those "on his status level." But, as an entertainer, the connection is only as strong as the product he puts out...not you. The same entity, media that makes you, can destroy you because "fans" are only connected through that cord. It is not personal...just like the loss for "fans" is not a personal one. So why do "we" mourn?
Jackson can now reclaim the childhood that he lost trying to make his father proud. He can now have sleep overs, go to see the animals, hold hands with other children without being called a pervert, and if people believe, be embraced by God and the Angels who are the TRUE and unconditional, lovers, nurturers, protectors, and providers.
And what about the rest of the stars who believe they are immortal because the media industry creates an exposure that "other" people are not privy to in their various roles and all who worship them...They are not God...They create music (great or not), play roles, play basketball or football or soccer or tennis. The media makes them accessible to you and I so that they can make money from them doing so. They bleed and die just as all humans do. So a note to them: If your purpose is self aggrandizement...get your power from the masses now, because you can not take that adulation when you leave. Michael will be buried alone. If your purpose is material wealth, enjoy it now because you can not take that chain, those Louboutins, that Gucci with you when you leave. You may be buried in them, but they will fade in your casket and will not accompany your soul when it is released. And if that is it for you and how you want to live, great...you live your purpose here and take nothing and be nothing in the spirit space that awaits us all.
When we all realize that stars are men and not Gods and we begin to appreciate them instead of worshipping them, we can begin to refocus our energy and adulation...If we worshipped God in the way that we worship mortals, we would all go to Heaven. Take them "stars" men and women as they are...men and women--strangers that "do something that we like" and then we can do a better job defining our own selves and our own mortality-by creating and living purposeful lives that our souls will carry when we leave our bodies and this earth.