Michael Jackson died last week. Bet that’s not news to anyone. It’s been on tv and radio non-stop since. Now a tribute is already planned where people will practically kill themselves to see, or be seen, at this tribute. People are talking non-stop about him being some type demi-god. However, what’s starting to happen a little here and there is some people are getting a little fed up with the sudden wash-over of his image.  Denis Hamill is one:

I was reminded of a skin-crawling 2003 interview by British journalistMartin Bashir, in which Jackson admitted he often invited kids to his Neverland lair, feeding them cookies and milk before sleeping in the same bed with them.

The whole Peter Pan theme of Neverland – petting zoo, amusement park, video game arcade, soda fountains – was like a pedophile’s paradise.

Sometimes, they ( kids )look up to bad grownups. Dangerous grownups. Grownups that sexually exploit them. I believe that Michael Jackson was one of those bad grownups.

And, one that caught me by surprise is Peter King:

Of course, there was quick and ruthless retribution for uttering such heresay:
So to hear Congressman King’s hateful tirade one has to wonder what was his motivation? He like so many others wants to attach themselves to Michael Jackson. This guy while known as a conservative Republican in New York was not a household name, but now he is. He is the man that called the late superstar a pervert and tried to say he felt we should be honoring the men and woman that serve our country and not Jackson. It galls me when someone utters hateful words and then tries to cloak them in patriotism. King achieved his goal we all are talking about him and he is now another pathetic person just trying to get a little of the Jackson spotlight.

The fact that King is suggesting there should be no spotlight kinda makes the author of this blog seem rather reactionary. And, for what it’s worth, King wasn’t all that obscure before his statement, and I doubt he’s any more well known for his statement. But, according to her, he’s pathetic for being rather put-up with all the spotlight being on what Jackson did 20 years ago, and none on what he’s done since then.

Real quick on Denis Hamill’s post were both immediate reactions:

Finally someone who has the guts to say this! Denis, I agree with you 100%. Since his death, children around the world are a little bit safer.

and:

So Dennis, you are trying to cash in on Michael Jackson fame too with this sensationalism??? Get off of other people’s coattails Dennis!

Now, since I’m not in the mood to laud Jackson, I’ll be accused of the latter I’m sure. Now, the one comment on Denis’s comment I think summed up how a lot of people feel:

I agree 100% with your opinion. About time someone had the guts to write the truth!

Well, the ” truth” to me is both sides. Michael was great for many years, and pathetic for many. However, to gloss over his most recent history at this point just looks very shallow to me. These people laudign him weren’t saying a peep when he was in trouble. The bigger the scandal, the quicker they trashed him. Some people didn’t do that. Me being one. I realized, as with a lot of other stars, Michael was good and bad. He was brilliant on-stage, and a blithering idiot off. And, since no one single person can fully exist on-stage, it’s probably best we not gloss over the part of life everyone does have to deal with. He can be an example to kids of what you can be if you stay off drugs, any drugs. And, he can be an example of you can be if you let drugs, any drug, if you allow drugs to consume your life. That should be his legacy since that was his life.

And, for what it’s worth, Michael was an icon for me when I was kid. I saw him in 1972. I sang “Mama’s Pearl” the day he died before I knew he was dead. However, the super-energetic and pleasant to look at and listen to Michael Jackson I knew then had already died a long time ago.