Poor Americans are dying tragically every day in our inner city slums and impoverished rural regions. They die from violence and lack of health care and general want of life's necessities. Their deaths, like the deaths of innocent Afghanis, are a result of the wealthiest nation in the world's disregard for the lives of the poor.

However, it seems that it is human nature to hero worship, and so I do not fault Michael Jackson's fans for their public outpouring of grief. I fault the media for feeding on this spectacle to the degree it does, but then, our media is usually guilty of overlooking the serious for the frivolous.

Given video footage of a dog on waterskis versus an Afghani village destroyed by a U.S. missile, the dog will win out every time. The dog will even win out over a very serious person warning of the calamity of climate change or peak oil -- until the lights go out. That's when people will really start to complain.

is never having to be wrong. or say you're sorry. ever. you're just right and virtuous all the time. you care about all of the Great Important Shit in the world and look down your nose at everyone who doesn't. especially paltry pop stars and their legions of deluded fans.

what's funny though is that i'm a huge fan of MJ and yet i also care about what's going on in iran, honduras, afghanistan, china, etc. is tom engelhardt throwing a conniption fit when joe sixpack sits down to watch american idol instead of devoting his time to a soup kitchen or refreshing his rss feed on afghanistan? and, seriously, engelhardt is a total piece of shit. he says he doesn't care about MJ, yet he isn't above using his name to bring his little salon piece page views. NO ONE is suddenly going to care about afghanistan because of this piece. the political junkies are just going to read this and use it to bitch about that entertainer/child molester (why do i get the feeling that "entertainer" is about a rung or two above "pedophile" to these people?) who "just danced, what's the big deal?" the big deal, friend, is that music is one of the greatest things this bullshit human race has ever given the universe; something that, unlike politics, *unites* people, irrespective of any barrier you throw at it. whine about how shallow american society is for caring so much about this, but tragically for you, people all over the world care about this.

oh, and "that entertainer" raised $63 million in famine relief w/ "we are the world." he's also in the guiness book of records for being the most charitable entertainer (raised and donated over $300 million) and his will dictates that 20% of his assets be given to various children's charities all over the world. hate him* all you want for his music, his "frivolous" status as a pop star, for the things he was accused of, etc., but to use all of that to dismiss the nuts-and-bolts good things he did is just fucking petty.

*spare me the "i don't hate him, i just don't care" bullshit because obviously you do. or do you need to write 50 more comments at various other sites to drive the point home? perhaps you can contact an editor and pitch them an article about how you don't care about michael jackson. spend a few days writing it, working your angle.

some of us can mourn michael and the innocent lives lost all at the same time.

imagine that.

your beef is with the MSM who have covered Michael Jackson to the exclusion of everything else.

in the Anglo-American legal system it [acquittal] does not mean they are "innocent" merely 'not guilty'.

True. I sat on a jury in a murder trial in D.C. One gangbanger accused of shooting to death another gangbanger. The defendant was a bad kid, long rap sheet, gang association, etc. However, the evidence against him was circumstantial at best, and since the standard is guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, we the jury found him not guilty. I discussed this later with my cop friend and he said the kid probably did it. I agreed. The State, however, failed to make its case.

We'll likely never know the truth about what went on between Michael Jackson and those boys, but to those who say he probably did it, I agree.

if the people around The Glove honestly felt he cared for children they would not use his death to divert attention from conflicts around the world in which children's lives are actually threatened if not ended.

a gold coffin?!? $4 million taxpayer dollars in a bankrupt state?!?

no wonder MJ lost his damn mind- everyone around him was out of theirs.

Sounds like the only one who is really doing anything is Greg Mortenson. Like it or not, every time we kill someone, that family grows to hate and resent us.

Thanks Mr. Engelhardt, i at least understand what you meant. I was not confused by the articles title, and do think it bears pointing out.

rrheard is one of the few who made a sensible comment.

We are most certainly lost right now as a nation. While Mr. Obama talks a very good game, actions always speak louder than words.

Why is it so difficult to understand simple truths, that Muslims, per se are not the enemy, that the enemy is within.

This is an adequate article -- not something I'll be thinking about for years to come, but not stupid. The title, however, is (a) insulting and (b) irrelevant to the article. I know you've got to get page hits to sell advertizing, but presumably the headline should be about the article, not about picking a fight.

Having a heart can mean that you spend your days off tutoring, give generously from your paycheck, write your congresspeople about military budgets and gay marriage, read blogs and papers to keep informed, are angered by greed and national arrogance, are saddened by lives cut short by war, and are moved remembering the joy and delight brought to millions of young people who danced and sang to the music of Michael Jackson.

I watched the memorial and found myself moved many times by the humanity on full display. And I aspire to do everything in the paragraph above, as do so many people I know.

Now what is the problem?