Topic: Congress
Michael Jackson - Taking the "Human" Out of Humanitarian
Congress should honor the 40th anniversary of those individuals who have ACTUALLY walked on the moon, not just moon-walked across a stage.
by Raven West, J.D.
(libertarian)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's speech at the Memorial for Michael Jackson was political posturing at its worst. She used a very solemn occasion to make a political statement, first as a veiled attack on Congressman Peter King, then to talk about her own political achievements. One House staffer sent out a mass e-mail alert stating, "Sheila Jackson Lee is now speaking at Michael Jackson's memorial...on CNN and virtually every channel." In case other House staffers weren't interested in the public memorial, the e-mail would alert them to tune in and watch the congresswomen on live television.

Congresswoman Lee then displayed the framed text of House Resolution 600 - "Honoring an American legend and musical icon" which was then referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. If the members of this Committee have any respect at all for the dignity of their appointments, they would kill it on the first ballot.

Throwing millions of dollars at various groups does not make you any more a "humanitarian" then helping put out a brush fire makes you a "firefighter".

To be honored as a true Humanitarian, one should, at the very least, not use their fame and vast financial contributions as a P.R. stunt, but instead get into the trenches as an individual without the need for paparazzi and public admiration as motivation.

One such individual is Jon Bon Jovi, who has helped build 26 homes with Habitat For Humanity and helped build a health clinic for the poor in New Jersey, or Bono of U2, who is constantly in direct contact with world leaders and policy makers in his quest to make the world a better place. And there are many others whose public careers have allowed them to personally contribute to humanitarian causes, but I'll bet not one member of Congress will introduce a similar bill for any one of them.

Jackson met with a few world leaders, but never once testified before Congress on any legislation. It was his aura of fame which created some interest, but nothing of substantial value, especially in any actual hands-on work towards his goal of "healing the world."

Yes, Michael Jackson was a great entertainer, on stage and off. Yes, he contributed some of his fortune, a small pittance in relation to the millions he spent on himself, to a few charities and individuals in need, but he never once got his gloved hand dirty in the process. He wrote great songs with heartfelt lyrics which will live on long after the musician's last breath. For all of that, he should be remembered, as any creative artist should.

But not as a "King", not as an American Humanitarian and certainly not by the members of the United States Congress.



©2009 Raven West, J.D., all rights reserved. You must have written permission from the author in order to republish this work.
Published: Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Last modified: Wednesday, July 8, 2009

The views expressed in this article are those of Raven West, J.D. only and do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Raven West, J.D. is solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.

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Reader Comments:

Posted By: Sher
Date: 2009-07-09 10:15:34

Good article!!

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Posted By: Blair
Date: 2009-07-09 22:03:40

I completely disagree with this article. You mention the names of other celebrities in this article but they haven't done half of what Jackson has done. You also went on to say that he was doing it for publicity, that must be a joke. He has been helping the poor and homeless for years, way before there was any bad publicity about him. He has raised money for Africa, donated to multiple charities. He has went to third world countries and stood along side those who have nothing. He visited our wounded Iraq war veterens in the hospital to show his thanks for what they have done. He has been a true saving grace for so many people that had nothing. For you to down grade the efforts of anyone that has helped another says alot about the person you are. You should be ashamed.

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Posted By: Shaizo
Date: 2009-07-13 15:39:04

Michael was a men that not only give money (the most in the world) to humanitarian projects or causes, he also open many ways for the afroamerican people (specially musicians) in USA and was one of the most creative artist that give a message to the world aganist war, enviromental destroy of the planet and the racist and violent security systems of the world.

The US governement must to recognize this labour, the fame is a great responsability for an artist with the world and MJ take it on his hands, clean hands... to make many things for help,  you surely are a conservative Peter King follower...

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Posted By: Roger Jon Hyman, TheUnemployMENTOR.com
Date: 2009-07-23 17:18:53

Hey Raven--Awesome Article!  Here\'s my take on it...

Don\'t Wanna Be Startin\' Somethin\', but...go ahead, call me Bad.  Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough. Feel better already? Good; I’m glad you got it out of your system, ‘cause I’m getting it out of mine…

I’m truly sorry and deeply saddened over the passing of, yeah…HIM. But observing and talking amongst colleagues, most of them unemployed, it’s simply Human Nature to think about the Money being spent on all of--whatever you want to call it--since HIStory terrestrial departure. I’m Working Day And Night trying to make ends meet and establishing full-time employment. I live in Southern California and have noticed several crucial issues…

The State of California is a whisper away from bankruptcy having already disbursed countless IOU’s at 3 ½ percent payable to those banks that cash them come mid-Fall. The City of Los Angeles’ Mayor has been documented on umpteen occasion’s jet-setting to Washington D.C. on taxpayers’ dollars looking for handouts.  When the Lakers won the NBA Title, days were put into figuring out who was going to foot that bill before a penny was spent--and any overage to the budget would be guaranteed prior to one blueprint being drafted. On that one point, they did it right. Now some infamous, Gone Too Soon, icon departs this life and the City is all over it and calls in their Troops instantaneously without so much as a blink of an eye. No questions as to who will pay or anything. I seriously don’t want to come off as being Off The Wall, but Another Part Of Me said I Can’t Help It. A note to the City of Los Angeles: The Way You Make Me Feel is We’ve Had Enough of your crap! I am royally sick and tired of your shenanigans. I’m unemployed, I have a family to feed and bills to pay--look at the poor, living helpless on your streets; look at the destitution in what used to be World Class medical institutions in your purview. People are left to die, alone and without any thought of dignity or righteousness. From all reports, the bill for this Event will cost in excess of four million dollars; most likely surpassing the recent Lakers Victory Celebration and, quite possibly, that of the 1984 Olympics. They Don’t Care About Us; the politicians running this Government to ruin are ruthless and completely out of touch with reality. It’s not like the family is poor and can’t afford it--it’s who they are. Well, I’m somebody too!  What would happen if I bit the dust writing this? Could my family make a call to our Councilperson and have a flotilla of whomever and whatever and whenever at their beckon call?

No.

Flipping through channels trying to put all of this into perspective, if that’s even possible, I stumbled upon the coverage of my ex-employer. At that exact moment, precisely, the anchor retracted an earlier error during their coverage of the proceedings. During the brief--like less than a minute--comments Paris made of her Father, his only daughter of eleven years, a Promo appeared…on the air, eclipsing what probably was the sound-bite and video clip of this decade. The station blew it big time; whomever caused that to happen should Get On The Floor now and pray their job is safe. But, no! I’M the one without a job. Do you think for a split-second those nincompoops might have wondered where all those people they laid off  just last week went? Forget about me for the moment, what transpired over the air of that station is nothing short of shooting themselves in the foot and then having the audacity to say during live television, these things happen?  Under normal circumstances this is true, but these times we’re faced with today are the farthest from normal; suffice it to say that if the television station kept just a handful more employees, the embarrassment they face now and the negative press that will be generated as a result of it would not have occurred.

But no; they had to do it their way--they all must do it their way.  Screw us, screw everybody. If it’s good for the few, the selfish, the abusive power mongers…it’s good for all, right?  Well folks, they are not the world--We Are The World.

Leave Me Alone.  Beat It.

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