Network Speed At Work Slows To A Trickle … or… “Who Would You Like To Host Your Funeral?”
Some of you might think that I am the worst person out there…. but I did not watch Michael Jackson’s funeral today. I was walking to the coffee pot and saw that many people had it streaming to their computers… with the sound turned up…so that there was no escape. (I wondered why I could not connect to my work Sharepoint site… no bandwidth!) My fellow employees were enthralled by the media extravaganza that was unfolding! What little I saw… did not look like a memorial service at all… it looked like the Grammies or the Oscars… In fact… most of the time Michael’s casket was not in site. When I did see the casket… all I could think of was to wonder if they will cremate or bury his brain with the rest of his body.
While there is no doubt that Michael Jackson was a musical genius, I wonder if his memory was well served by what went on today. There was a vast number of people who were in attendance, some of which were personal friends. I can understand Brooke Shields attending… they were close friends. I can understand Germain singing… it was his brother’s memorial service. I cannot understand what the validity of “The Reverend Al Sharpton” was, unless he was presiding over the service. It seemed to be more like a media event that you had to be at…if you were anybody in Los Angeles. Revs Al and Jesse just seemed like opportunists to me…when they beat feat to the door of Michael’s mom. Was there even a religious flavor to the service at all? I guess the country’s idea of a memorial service and my idea are very different. I think that love ones should be there… and that something in tune with Michael’s beliefs should have been held. I heard last week that Michael had converted to Islam… that is why an Iman came to the Jackson “compound” at the same time the Revs showed up.
I have no problem with the fact that it was televised, although I heard that Fox news did not want to televise it all…but felt pressured…because the public did want to watch. According to MSNBC, 50%more people than watched President Obama’s Inauguration, watched Michael Jackson’s memorial service! OK, they provided a service to those who are in outlying areas that only get Fox…. and they get media ratings. I guess it worked out for them and for their viewers.
I find the whole media circus aspect of the service disturbing. I was walking back to my desk from getting my coffee when it hit me…. I turned to a coworker and said… “Who you gonna get to host your funeral?”. The person looked at me…cocked the old head… then the eyes lit up…. and I heard them chuckle. ”Yeah, it seems more like an award show than a funeral… when i go, nobody will be there mourning my passing.”. I looked at him… and said… “Yeah, I am in the same boat…. but it won’t matter… all that matters is that God (The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) takes me to heaven.” It may not happen… life is hard… but one has to continue trying… right?
Well, just when I thought to myself that at least the Memorial is over… and we can go back to buying up the rest of the newly minted CDs and on-line mixes…. when I saw that they are already planning “Michael Jackson: The Memorial Service”, Part Deux! I guess as long as the media is paying attention, the fans are in tears, and there is money to be made… we might be dealing with this circus for a few more weeks to come. Rest In Peace Michael… I will remember you in my prayers… but not because society tells me that I must…. paying homage to some new Pop Star Messiah… but because something about your loneliness in the midst of accolade and the pain you suffered touches me… and I believe … truly believe that none of us are beyond God’s mercy.
Leave a Reply