Michael Jackson and the End of All Plans
by Jean Purcell(15)OpineBooks.com
The news of Michael Jackson's death yesterday reminded many of us of a young boy long ago, with a winning soprano voice who sang with his older brothers. When he drew more attention, people responded enthusiastically to his solo recordings and appearances.
As he grew older, he moved into ground-breaking choreography, performing a "moon walk" series of moves that even the most professional of dancers, older than he, found difficult to imitate perfectly.
Later, puzzling performances, aimed at kids, and scandals and rumors haunted him. Now, his family has been cast into the middle of a sudden death, a son and brother aged 50, preparing a big European entertainment tour. It was said to be a "hope to revive his career." On the day he died, I had read in a psalm that morning about death ending all plans.
After President Kennedy's death ended his plans for his presidency and cast his family into many public changes, Mrs. Kennedy remarried and aimed to get her footing in New York City with her children, even before her second husband died. She accepted an editing job at a big New York publishing house.
Known for her love of classic art, many expected Mrs. Kennedy-Onassis' first "big get" in publishing to be about classical art, theater, or design. However, an icon of pop art and entertainment caught her attention and she earned a big book coup in contracting Michael Jackson for the first book about him. He was at the peak of his career and the object of fan delirium.
Last night, watching film of him dancing in the most popular performances, I turned the sound off the television. From that perspective, without hearing the lyrics or the music, I saw a famous face displaying the roles of anger, brash appeal, and determination. His physical moves showed talent and insensitivity in quick contrasts, at times so embarassing that one would turn away.
This is another passing that will fade from attention eventually. Yet the industry, and perhaps the family, helped turn a talented little boy into an entertainment icon. The young boy became a childlike man, attracting the attention and imitation of many children. Many youngsters that were allowed to watch his performances yearned to imitate gestures they did not understand; yet, parents said nothing.
Not only famous young entertainers like Michael Jackson are denied a childhood. Childhood is disappearing in wider circles today. Yet, many children, once grown, do not want to be grownups. They only want the same privileges they had when allowed adult privileges as children.
To me, Michael Jackson's death reminds of the significance of how many popular figures in America decided to ignore his bizarre ways, until scandal worked against his popularity.
Many today, I believe, mourn the death of a man the media refer to as a "young man," although he was 50 years old, only five years from AARP eligibility. He once had been almost like a typical little boy, yet some said he felt that childhood had been denied him. Working and entertaining had been first. Perhaps that warped his view, for he seemed to mimic adult behavior while feeling uncomfortable as a grown up.
The public saw Michael Jackson's talent warp into something emotionally and spiritually dark. Yet many close to him seemed only to watch and serve. It is a shame that no one cared enough, close to him, although some may have tried. It would have made all the difference if he could have been pointed away from the spotlight and toward the Light of God's redeeming grace and life.
Life is so precious, more than entertainment or flashing lights and screaming fans. For every famous person, death will surely come.
It makes one wish that no parent will be allowed to let a child become famous as a worker or "big talent." It makes one honor even more the real possibilities of the kind of childhood and normalcy that every child deserves, where no book about that child, growing into manhood, would be a "big get" in the publishing world.
Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them--
the LORD, who remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
Psalm 146:3-7
-The New International Version of the Bible
Article submitted Friday, June 26, 2009 & read 218 times.
Leave Your Comments:
» left by Joel Hendon(756)(257 days 23 hours ago.)
Hi Jane,
I don't know, but this may be one of the finest articles I have ever read. Beautifully written and wonderfully accurate in evaluation of the circumstances, I think. I commend and thank you for writing it and honoring Webgazine with it.
Joel
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» left by Jane Bullard (257 days 21 hours ago.)
Hello, Joel, and thank you for the very generous and kind words. I want to write more for Webgazine. I am working to try to expand the reach of whatever I write, and the rest is out of my hands. I'm sure you know what I mean. I very much like the ease of editing on Webgazine, too! God bless you for your writing and what you do managing Webgazine.
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