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Jackson as Complicated in Death as Life
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 As news spread on Thursday that Michael Jackson was dead, the Internet lit up with blog posts, Facebook updates and Tweets -- each person trying to make their own poignant statement, witty observation or, sadly, joke.
One of the many comments came from a good friend of mine who asked, "Is it wrong to think that children everywhere just let out a collective sigh?"
It isn't. Just as it isn't wrong to celebrate the profound impact the man had on the culture over several generations in just 50 years of life. And that's the complicated part.
Words like "enigmatic" and "inspiring" and "amazing" and "tragic" have been used in the last several hours to describe the legend. And right along with those have been words like "weird" and "pedophile" and "criminal." And they might all apply.
It isn't easy to categorize our feelings about Jackson today.
Sure, there are some who believe the allegations of child molestation against him in the past few years are unforgiveable. There are others whose image of the "King of Pop" will never change, regardless of the accusations leveled at the star. But most of us are caught somewhere in the middle.
I was 6 years old when "Thriller" took the world by storm. I remember when my dad brought home a record store bag and I pulled out its contents to see the now-iconic image of Michael leaning back in a white suit with an aura of light surrounding him. I went nuts. In the days, weeks, months, even years later, I moonwalked all over the living room. I spun around, squealing, "Hoo-hoo!" and "Hee-hee!" I jumped onto my toes, believing I was holding the pose just like the man himself.
I didn't know then that kids all over the world were doing the same thing, and that's why Thursday's news is so striking.
People a little older than me remember the cute little kid with the big Afro who dazzled with his voice and dance moves and that oh-so-charming smile. And who could forget years later when the sparkling-suited talent captivated the audience at Motown's 25th Anniversary celebration?
He's the one who helped bring together music's biggest stars to record "We Are the World," the cornerstone of the USA for Africa movement that raised upwards of $100 million in relief funds.
Before long, though, his image changed -- literally and figuratively.
The man in the mirror began to look and act differently at each subsequent public appearance and the public's collective question -- "What will he do next?" -- slowly went from being asked in astonishment to disillusionment.
The child molestation accusations can't be understated or cast aside. We also can't forget that he was acquitted. Whether that remains his legacy won't be decided for years to come.
So, what do we do now?
Michael Jackson's death challenges the cliche that everyone's a saint when they die. He was a flawed man, no doubt. But aren't most phenoms? At 50, Jackson was still young, but older than other legendary names who were tragically done too soon. Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain -- each troubled in their own way -- all died at the age of 27. Jackson even outlived John Lennon by 10 years, and Elvis Presley by eight. Did he just have the misfortune of sticking around long enough to disappoint us?
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Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 06-26-2009 05:08 PM
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