The Pre-Read

Michael Jackson

I'm not sure what it is about the passing of Michael Jackson that has affected me so.

Maybe it was his talent. The way he could sing and dance and literally become one with the music. I would watch him dance and I could SEE the music in him. He seemed so completely intertwined with the music he performed that to watch him move, to watch him defy gravity with his dance was just ... well just so magical.

I will miss that.

But I've missed that for some time really. It's kind of like the Beatles in a way. When they broke up, when they stopped, that was it. All talk of reunion shows were eventually discredited, their legacy was sealed by the music they made for a certain period of time and that was it.

I think the same is true of Jackson. I longed to see him dance again,to float with music being his only tether to the stage.  But that will never happen. And maybe it's better that it won't.

Yes, his legacy will always be accompanied by the turmoil he endured after his years performing. But we'll always have Michael Jackson at his best. We will always see and hear him at the peak of his game.

I am sad today. But I will remember him at his best. And one of his best is featured in the clip below.

Michael Jackson, may he rest in peace.

Goodbye

I had started a post, earlier today about Farrah's passing. 

She was such an iconic figure in the 70's that it was impossible to go anywhere for a time and now be confronted by her famous poster featuring her brilliant smile and fantastic locks.

While I never had the crush on her I would later have on Cybil Shepherd, there was something about Farrah that transcended television.  She was the television equivalent of what a movie star was. 

She may not have been the best actress in the world, though she would wow audiences some years later in her performances on Broadway and television dramas, but there was something about her that proved she had star power.

I was a little sad this morning upon hearing the news. And now, I hear word that Michael Jackson has passed on. Really?  How is that possible?

It's a sad day today. I'm in a funk now, even though I didn't know these people, there is something terribly sad about anyone's passing and their being iconic figures somehow makes it seem personal.

May they both rest in peace and may their families receive comfort and strength.

Defense of Marriage

Okay, I've been mulling over the Governors situation in my last post.

If he wants to deny others the right to marry because he believes that their act of commitment would destroy the institute of marriage, well, I guess he has the right to believe what he wants.

But I have that right as well.

My thought is if he is so concerned about the stability, the very sanctity of marriage and yet is a personal warrior in its destruction, then perhaps it is he who should be denied marriage.

Maybe we should fight our opponents who say we are not deserving of marriage and turn around and destroy their own gift by pressing for their divorce.

Silly? yes, probably, but so is their hypocrisy.

Hypocrite(s)

It's one thing to espouse a certain point of view. It's another to espouse that point of view and not actually believe it.

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford is a vocal opponent of Marriage Equality and an opponent of civil unions.  His belief is that the sanctity of marriage would be destroyed by acceptance of either of the above.

Today he explained why he was missing for a few days over the Father's Day weekend.  He left his family (kids included) to take a mini vacation with his mistress.

What someone does in their private life is their own business.

However, when you make it a cause to deny others the right to marry because you feel by allowing them that right jeopardizes the sanctity of that marriage, all the while committing the gravest of acts against the sanctity of that marriage ... well it's hypocritical at best, and downright mean at worst.

And speaking of hypocrites. Why is it that Fox "News" always seems to emblazon a large (D) for Democrat on the television screen for those Republicans who face any number of scandals, only later "correcting" their mistake when the breaking news has long passed?

For a "news" outlet to claim "fair and balanced" it is just more fuel to the fire that neither is true.

English Only

There is debate, much debate about making sure that only English is used in the United States.

I find it funny, ironic, and maybe it's a little bit of Karma, when those espousing English only seemed not to have mastered the very language for which they champion.