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Michael Jackson ahead of his time...

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MJ Suicide Part 2

Sociologist Emile Durkheim wrote about contributing factors to an individual’s suicide in his 1897 work titled, Suicide and Modernity. Durkheim speaks of both internal and external causes that can lead suicidal tendencies. Suicide can result if one’s unique needs are not being met in society (Durkheim 1897:75). If these needs are not fulfilled an individual feels alone in this world because he/she is disconnected. Notable sociologists Max Weber and Karl Marx speak of this same disconnection in a different manner. In Weber’s work titled, The Spirit of Capitalism and the Iron Cage, he speaks of the physical iron cage that capitalism has created around every individual. This capitalist ethic causes individuals to work very hard without experiencing bliss, “the earning of more and more money combined with the strict avoidance of all spontaneous enjoyment in life, is above all completely devoid of any eudomonistic, not to say hedonistic, admixture” (Weber 1905:102). Weber goes on to describe Protestant asceticism and fundamental components in capitalism, however he never speaks of where this disconnection may lead an individual. Also, Weber does not divulge where emotions may lead an individual; for example, if someone is in deep pain they may choose to numb themselves with drugs.

In Karl Marx’s work Estranged Labour he depicts the possibilities of great alienation. Marx describes how this estrangement can occur through labor practices, yet he does not explain the latter effects of this separation. In this work the relations between property owners and workers is portrayed as a greedy one that produces competition. Although Michael Jackson was a wealthy “property owner,” he was still giving his labor to large conglomerates for profit. The loss of reality is also addressed in this piece, “ what is animal becomes human and what is human becomes animal” (Marx 1844:33). The human worker no longer feels comfortable in his own skin due to this alienation produced by labor, according to Marx, however no consequences are addressed for this notion.

MJ Suicide Part 1

Michael Jackson, who has been a staple in American society ever since the early 1970s, passed away suddenly on June 25, 2009. His unexpected death left many with the question why? The fascination with Jackson’s life even followed him in death. People around the globe wanted to know how the King of Pop died. Death under any circumstances can be very hard to process, but Jackson’s death was definitely premature. Ideas and rumors quickly spread on the Internet because the public wanted to know if his death had been a suicide or a homicide.

In the wake of Jackson’s death, the media could not help but speak of his troubled past. The news of Jackson’s death was followed by a reminder of his idiosyncrasies in life. The New York Times referred to Jackson as the “Peter Pan of pop music” (Barnes June 26, 2009). Jackson was portrayed as an eccentric, Peter Pan wanna-be, plastic surgery getting, baby dangling possible child molester. As more was learned about the events surrounding Jackson’s death, his personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray became the focus of attention. Many wanted to know how Jackson could have died so suddenly while under the watchful eye of a physician. Curiosity continued to loom when the Los Angeles County coroner’s office announced that Jackson’s death was a “homicide caused by acute intoxication from the anesthetic propofol” (Blankstein September 16, 2009).

MJ Meets Bollywood

INFLUENTIAL

Beach Talk

I was lying on the beach and was utterly distracted by nearby Michael Jackson conversation. One woman was very vocal, loud and sounded emotional; the other was calm and collected. They were debating if MJ was really a child molester. The loud woman said that she thought MJ was a terrible person because he was "evil" because it's a fact that he molested those kids (even though he was never convicted in a court of law).

The calm woman stated that she didn't think he touched those kids and that the perception of MJ has been shaped by the mass media. The vocal woman began to get irritated, louder and combative. The calm woman stated that regardless he was a very influential person and did a lot of good in this world, including his Guinness World Record for donating to the most charities (read House Resolution 600 HERE).

A man in their group chimed off: "I think Michael Jackson, Kobe and OJ all did it!" Seems strange how he got to this point, but regardless it sounded racist and embarassing to me. OJ: maybe. Kobe: definitely not. Michael Jackson: highly unlikely.

The conversation ended when the calm woman said that the boisterous woman was basically following the mass media, citing the fact that kids sleep in his bed, etc. The calm woman stated that all the facts have not come out through the mass media and that you have to dig deeper. I would encourage all of us to dig deeper. Starting HERE with Aphrodite Jones' book: Michael Jackson Conspiracy.

"They Don't Really Care About Us" (Prison Version) --Michael Jackson

"I'm tired of being the victim of hate"...



From the HIStory album

Michael Jackson Talking About His Christian Values