Who Am I To Judge A Weirdo?

The internet has been abuzz ever since the news that Michael Jackson died hit public ears.  A guy at work told me that hours after it was announced that Mr. Jackson had died, Google went down from all the internet traffic.  Supposedly, shortly after that Wikipedia crashed from its own internet siege from the global community.  My associate said it was unfathomable that a single death would have generated such interest other than maybe the assassination of America’s first black President, heaven forbid.

I had to agree with him.  I told him that the death of Princess Diana comes closest but is probably a distant runner up.  No leader of the black community would draw such concern.  Not the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. or Malcolm X.  Not even the death of the man known as Jesus Christ would garner the world’s attention.  At the time of his death, Jesus was a criminal and most people had the attitude good riddance.  So along with his record breaking album Thriller, it might just as well be a long time before anyone topples the King of Pop for most internet traffic.

To say that the global community feels the loss of Mr. Jackson is a woeful understatement.  So many people are pouring their hearts out in tribute and respect to Michael.  Ninety nine percent of the things being said and written are filled with such positivity and love, it’s hard to remember that just last week Mr. Jackson had fallen off of most people’s conscious thoughts.  Most people didn’t give a thought about buying a Michael Jackson album or downloading a Michael Jackson song.  He went from a virtual zero to legendary hero status in the stroke of a heartbeat.

Up until last week, most people would call Michael Jackson a weirdo.  Yes the man had a history of musical greatness and as a boy displayed a talent to sing and dance far, far beyond his years.  But of late, Michael just got weird.  And now people remember him as nothing but a misunderstood saint.

Personally, I have no problem looking at Michael Jackson through the same lens of understanding today as I had last week.  I thought dude was strange last week.  I think dude was strange this week.  I have no doubt that I will remember dude as weird next week, next month, and next year.  If somehow I wound up in Michael Jackson’s will, probably penciled in over his father’s name, I would be more than happy to accept what Mike may have left me.  But I’ll accept it with the understanding that my benefactor was indeed a strange cuss.  I believe it would be somewhat hypocritical for me to change my opinion simply because the man is dead.

A handful of times I have asked others whether or not Michael Jackson was weird, a few people avoided the question with the punt, who am I to judge?  And then right after these people duck casting an opinion on that weirdo the King of Pop, they realize that they do have a pair after all and will chastise me for openly expressing my opinion.  Why do people feel that they don’t have the right to judge one person but then turnaround and will have no reservations about casting judgment on another?  What makes Michael Teflon and me Gorilla glue?

I think some people have a hard time coming to terms with criticizing what they love.  We collectively appreciate Michael Jackson so much and mourn his lost that we can’t imagine tolerating any negative thoughts we may have had about him in the past.  Some of us feel like we are ungrateful hypocrites to say anything bad about him.  So instead of stepping forward and calling weird for what it is, many of us would rather duplicate the behavior of the yes-men and other enablers who allowed Mr. Jackson to become the ever exaggerated caricature of his self.

I know if I did some of the weird crap that Michael Jackson did, I would hope people who really cared about me would step forward and say something like, quit being such a weirdo.  That way, maybe I would stop being weird and in fact, I might straighten up and fly right.  Who knows?  If someone had stepped forward and told Michael Jackson that he needed to stop being so weird we might have him around today.

Instead of looking the other way and dodging question with false words of humility like, who am I to judge, we could step to the plate and call things the way we see it.  We all have an opinion.  Most of us have no problem speaking up against the things we don’t like.  If more of us took the time to speak up more often we might be able to stop the train wrecks that are happening around us.  Your favorite celebrity is acting like a nut?  Call them a nut.  They might stop if more of us did it.  It shouldn’t be considered judging.  It should be considered a form of constructive criticism given with love and appreciation.

It’s too late for Michael Jackson.  Yes it’s true that some people may have called him out, but not nearly enough.  He died a weirdo.  Even in death some people have problems coming to terms with his weirdness.  Not me.  He was a weirdo then, he was a weirdo now.  Judge me all you want for being unfair to Mr. Jackson.  But weird is weird and I’m not afraid to say it.

Quick Notes 200907

Friday, July 31, 2009
Corazon Aquiono

Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino dies of colon cancer.

Thursday, July 30, 2009
Dr. Conrad Murray

Things look pretty bleak for Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson’s personal physician at the time Mr. Jackson’s death. It looks like dude may have been very instrumental in Mr. Jackson’s accidental death.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Lake Travis Is Drying Up

This is an image of Lake Travis outside of Austin, Texas. The lake is drying up as a drought takes hold of a major portion of southeast Texas.

Monday, July 27, 2009
Michael Vick Reinstated

Former Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick was conditionally reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and could play in regular season games as early as October.

Sunday, July 26, 2009
Citizen Pain

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin resigns today. Today we meet citizen Sarah Palin.

Friday, July 24, 2009
James Crowley

Cambridge Police Sargent James Crowley says he did nothing wrong and won’t back down for arresting Harvard Professor Henry Gates, Jr. The funny thing is that Mr. Gates didn’t do anything wrong and refused to back down as well. He got arrested by Mr. Crowley.

Thursday, July 23, 2009
Natural Born Red Sox Fan

This boy’s parents must really be proud!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009
F22 Raptor

The world’s mightiest jet fighter, the stealthy F22 Raptor, can evade radar, but it cannot evade the budget ax.

Saturday, July 18, 2009
Walter Cronkite Died!

Walter Cronkite has died! And that’s the way it is!

Friday, July 17, 2009
Red Hot Bank Of America

Bank of America is red hot with quarterly profits soaring past three billion dollars! That bailout plan appears to be helping somebody.

Thursday, July 16, 2009
Obama To Address NAACP

President Barack Obama will address the NAACP on the 100th anniversary of its founding. No doubt we can expect a speech about some element of the black community needs to show more responsibility because we’re just so much more irresponsible than anyone and everyone else.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Endeavour Blasts Off

The sixth time’s a charm for space shuttle Endeavour as it blasts off to the international space station.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sotomayor’s Temperament Called Into Question

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham cites anonymous comments from the Almanac of the Federal Judiciary from lawyers saying Ms. Sotomayor is a hotheaded judge who is temperamental, excitable, and prone to inappropriate outbursts in the courtroom. Next thing you know they’ll say she’s in a cast from when she tried to break her foot off some lawyer’s ass.

Monday, July 13, 2009
Dr. Regina Benjamin

Congratulations to Dr. Regina Benjamin for becoming President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the nation’s Surgeon General!

Sunday, July 12, 2009
Victory At Valley Club

A man demonstrates in front of the Valley Club in response to allegations that the private swimming pool rejected a group of minority summer campers from joining weekly swims at the pool. The club has offered to negotiate some accommodations with the summer campers.  Somebody’s trying to make nice before the state can launch a discrimination investigation.

Saturday, July 11, 2009
That’s Gonna Hurt

Spanish bullfighter Manuel Jesus “El Cid” is gored by a bull at the Plaza de Toros on the fourth day of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona. Needless to say that’s gonna hurt!

Friday, July 10, 2009
GM Emerges From Bankruptcy

General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson addresses the media during a news conference and promises that the new GM will do much better than the old one. Well it’s not like it can do much worse.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Dog Days of Summer

The dog days of summer.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Franken Sworn In

The junior Senator from Minnesota gets sworn in today!

Monday, July 6, 2009
Michael Jackson Lottery

Over 1.6 million Michael Jackson fans competed for less than nine thousand seats at the Michael Jackson memorial to be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The way people act you’d think that the King of Pop was going to get up and perform. Thriller was just a video people!!!

Sunday, July 5, 2009
Marion Berry Arrested Again

Former Washington, DC Mayor Marion Barry was arrested after a woman flagged down an officer and complained that Mr. Barry was stalking her. Is that all it takes? Anybody other drivers who looks at me the wrong way on my way to work tomorrow better watch out!

Saturday, July 4, 2009
Palin Resigns

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin resigns on the eve of Independence Day. What gives?

Friday, July 3, 2009
Debbie Rowe

Did anybody think Debbie Rowe wouldn’t show up after Michael Jackson’s death?

Wednesday, July 1, 2009
California Issues IOUs

Citing the state legislature’s failure to pass a budget plan, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announces that he is declaring a fiscal emergency to address California’s deficit. The state will be issuing IOUs to its creditors. I wonder how likely would the state be to accept an IOUs from people paying taxes or paying for licenses and such.