Soldiers response to MJ death

[brnidokiegurl 0]

Okay, I need to rant .

I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael

Jackson . As we all know, Jackson died the other day . He was an

entertainer who performed for decades . He made millions, he spent

millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villian to many

people . I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and

I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point

of my rant .

Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their

minds with grief . When a man dies whose only contribution to the

country was to ENTERTAIN people, the Amercian people find the need to

flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even Congress sees the need to

hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?

Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a

freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What

about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those

Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war,

still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the

United States of America . Where is their moment of silence? Where

are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over

them because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a

Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good riddance," and "thank

God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the

sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off

their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop

Icon?"

I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS

for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every

service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan . They need to PUBLICLY

recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people

can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE,

those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for

them . But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have

been so many willing to make that sacrifice . After all, we will never

make millions of dollars . We will never star in movies, or write hit

songs that the world will listen too . We only shed our blood, sweat

and tears so that people can enjoy what they have .

Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it .

Remember these five words the next time you think of someone

who is serving in the military;

"So that others may live . . . "

Isaac

[HappyNathy 0]

I second that.

Off topic: It has always seemed obscene to me the amount of money celebs, singers & sports 'stars' make in the USA in contrast to the cops, nurses, teachers etc.

Edited July 14, 2009 by HappyNathy

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I didn't shed a tear for that pedophile.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Ditto what everyone above said.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

i really thought there would be more responses, all in all he was still someone dad and son etc so respect that but there was to much hype involved as in most stars

[almaty 19]

i think, it was over done....i have no issues with what the masses find entertaining and interesting ..freedom of choice

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think that letter is a pointless guilt trip over something that most people take as a given anyway. And what's with the "thank God for IED's" stuff, does he really think that people en-masse really think that? What is the point of trumping up such ridiculous arguments?

Famous people court fame, even in death - it was after all the nature of their business in life. Shouldn't be surprising to this guy or anyone else (certainly given that this is not the first time a famous person has died) that famous people steal the limelight (even in death) and that military service (like charity work) is often underappreciated and often thankless.

I guess we should be grateful for this guy's service, but I'm not going to tear my hair and beat my breast over it (I'm not going to do that for Jackson either).

Edited July 14, 2009 by Private Pike

[Nagishkaw 510]

I didn't shed a tear for that pedophile.

WORD.

[Fandango 1,439]

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its amazing how so few people here have a neutral opinion about Jackson - it always amazes me how celebrities generate such polarising views. People seem either love them or hate and revile them.

[tmma 467]

Okay, I need to rant .

............. and even Congress sees the need to

hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?

Really? They did that? Really?????

I don't 'love' or 'hate' MJ at all. My opinion didn't change one jot when he died.And-however 'hyperbole' the OP's piece is...It's obscene to me, also that fallen soldiers bodies were repatriated under darkness after falling in the line of duty-yet this guy gets congress to have a moment of silence....Huge ####### moment.

...( More and more convinced I am living in opposite world...)

[dalegg 143]

Okay, I need to rant .

............. and even Congress sees the need to

hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?

Really? They did that? Really?????

I don't 'love' or 'hate' MJ at all. My opinion didn't change one jot when he died.And-however 'hyperbole' the OP's piece is...It's obscene to me, also that fallen soldiers bodies were repatriated under darkness after falling in the line of duty-yet this guy gets congress to have a moment of silence....Huge ####### moment.

...( More and more convinced I am living in opposite world...)

Yes, that's correct. That is why in my opinion the New York congressman was not really so out of line. Had Congress just let it go, then I'd say he was out of line. But since some in Congress decided to make an issue of him, he had his right to protest.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Michael Jackson died?

[tmma 467]

Michael Jackson died?

Yeah-and now he is some kind of a national hero...

[thetreble 19]

In Canada when people die in combat we give them a national funeral. It is shown on tv live and we make sure every one knows about it.

My husband told me about a year ago, after Ia sked him why I never heard much about soldiers dying except a quick 1 minute blurb on the news, that during the Vietnam war (or gulf war? can't remember) that they stopped giving individual funerals like that where the soldier's body is flown home and publicized on national tv. I can't remember the reasons why, but I do remember us talking about it. So essentially, hasn't America done this to itself? If we aren't made aware that Sargent Smith has passed away in Iraq, how does the public mourn or celebrate his life?

While I agree that soldiers deserve the utmost respect in life and death for their service, they did sign on the dotted line and it's an unfortunate possibility int he line of work they do.

As far as teachers go, please visit our state of New Jersey and ask any one about teachers. They are the largest union in the state and the way we pay respect to them is through their high salaries tax payers pay for. They are taken care of for life. So, when Mrs. Smith dies of old age at 89 years old, I don't really feel like I'm obliged to pay my respects to her.

Was the MJ thing crazy? Yeah, well, what do you expect out of the media? And, again, I said this before in another thread...MJ wasn't the only one to be treated like this! When Anna Nicole Smith died, she was on the tv 24 hours a day for a good 6 months and she was half the celebrity that MJ was so...what can you do?

Edited July 14, 2009 by thetreble