What is, in your view, the correct thing for other people to worship? - Marty

Anthony, I understand how you feel. That's how I felt the first weekend that all stations were on his life 24/7. But somehow I moved into a different dimension as I watch the live tribute today. There's a different meaning and teaching with all of this. MJ is just the vehicle for something deeper. :) - Myrna

Ooh. That came out snarkier than I meant it. Sorry, Anthony. - Marty

@marty: I dunno, how about truth, love, selflessness, beauty, evolvingness, innovation? i mean, nuthin' wrong with "play" (Lila) - and certainly nothing bad about its spawn, "creativeness" - not at all - shit it's probably the meaning of life (as far as I can tell so far, anyway) but this MJ stuff is another glaring symptom of a society that has totally lost its psychoemotional bearings. - Anthony Citrano from BuddyFeed

I've been reading your feed for a little bit now, and I think I'm starting to see how some your societal priorities shake out. I think the thing I want to inject into the conversation is that, while those things (particularly your stance on factory farms) are important, more important than people seem to realize, it's okay to be touched by those things that are less than the top screaming priority. MJ was an artist, and as such, his music touched the lives of millions of people. That his work is arguably less important than the works of Leonardo Da Vinci doesn't change the fact that we require art and creativity in our lives, and he provided some. Um. I'm going to stop rambling now. - Marty

Marty, but its not exactly about MJ that I'm referring to. It's what MJ is bringing out of us all over the globe. It's the love, compassion, non judgment qualities that we are here to learn. He is only a vehicle as are others. Like on 9/11 everyone worked together, shared, cared, loved, etc - Myrna

A guy doesn't have to be a demigod for his passing to be a sad event. - Andrew C (✓)

Myrna, certainly. I'm pretty sure that when a celebrity passes, the public mourning isn't really about the person, but their contribution. And if the mourning brings people together peacefully, for just a few minutes, I think we're better off. That said, while I was referring specifically (and probably poorly) to personal impact, I don't think there's any arguing that MJ didn't have an amazing global impact. (edit: didn't have, may need to be changed to "isn't having") - Marty

It's not about the person or event though. It's what the person and event does to us as humans. They're just the vehicles to get us to be better in someway. MJ gave us a big present beyond his talent. He got us to feel more for a moment in time, maybe it will help in our personal lives, for example, to feel more compassion with others. So in a way, you can say that MJ gave us a jumpstart as 9/11 did, New Orleans, George Bush, etc etc etc Look what's happening in Iran. What a gift to the people that jerk Achmed is...making people take action for the better. I'm done :)) - Myrna

@Marty and Andrew: I never questioned the sensibility of people being "sad" or "touched" or even to commemorate his talent and influence. I'm grousing about the disproportionate cultural response. @Myrna: yes, that was true with 9-11 for about fifteen minutes or so. - Anthony Citrano

Michael Jackson was more than a 'pop icon', for many, he was more of a symbolic figure and in some instances, a God like existence for he gave a lot of people hope. Worship is the wrong word choice, I think. - Mona Nomura

People feeling "touched" by MJ makes me lol, even though it obviously was a spiritual type of connection not physical. I think it was a bit much but at least he has received respect for the first time in years and will be remembered for his success, and not the may-have's. - Jimminy, CoG of FF

I'm gonna back up Mona and Myrna on this one. It didn't matter if it was Michael Jackson or somebody else, it's what the person stood for that mattered, their impact on the world. Far as I know, we haven't seen this kind of coverage since Princess Diana. - mike fabio

"the disproportionate cultural response." If a lot of people are sad, they're going to be sad together. It's not disproportionate except by your standards of what should be important, and, well, that's kind of subjective. - Andrew C (✓)

judgmental ≠ subjective. :) - Mona Nomura

James, yes it was definitely not a reaction that is explainable with our 5 senses. I'm sure its getting people to think about their judgments, at least some, hopefully. - Myrna

mike, or the lesson they came to teach us :)) and yes Princess Di, I remember! - Myrna

Mona - I meant that anyone's idea of what should be important is subjective. But sure, I'd say that Anthony's being judgmental to say "people are caring too much about [x]". (and I'm sure I do this too, Anthony.) - Andrew C (✓)

I just don't understand how this is having our priorities wrong. I don't understand when people say this. Give me an example of a figure that has had such a positive influence on the entire planet. Even if you take away his music, his message is still powerful and resonated through a lot of people. This isn't about some musician or pop icon dying. - Rahsheen the Dream

I think it's entirely subjective and by all means I respect other people's feelings on the matter but I cannot help feeling that our emotions are somehow manipulated by the media. As in Princess Diana's case I feel a bit uneasy about how both of them were first haunted and made fun of for years and later celebrated by the very same people. I do agree with Myrna though that these occasions, although sad, are somehow a platform for something else, I think these days people are desperately looking for something but we don't know where to start to find it. - M F

MF, I just posted this today, seems appropriate here. Allow others to be themselves in all your relationships. Focus on yourself and take responsibility for what’s happening with you. - Myrna

I think that Princess Di and Michael triggered something deeper in ourselves(as MF said) so pointing fingers outside at external is futile. - Myrna

I think MJ is resonating with some kind of God or Archetype. It's unconscious. Shapeshifter. Moonwalker. Androgyn, Black/White, Puer,, It's also a Mass Media distraction/ hype. IMO. - Marg Uerite

I don't really care one way or the other about MJ at this point, but I will say that I find the reaction more comprehensible than the Princess Di thing. - Roger Benningfield from BuddyFeed

He was very meaningful for a lot of people and was particularly instrumental in breaking down race barriers in the popular music industry during his career. I remember it clearly as it had an impact on the kind of work I was able to get in the industry (after Thriller). I don't think anyone considers him a demigod, but he is highly highly respected especially in the African American communities for opening those doors. - Cole Jolley

Let's be real: It's all about the crotch grabbing. - Richard Lawler

@Richard: consider me busted. - Anthony Citrano

I like MJ's music and I liked his videos and all that. I also think that he brought all of the negativity he experienced upon himself. Did he molest kids? I dunno. Was he an excellent entertainer and strong supporter of charities? Yes, I think so. He was a freak, without question. And I don't mean that in a bad way. The dude was trippy upon trippy. And you know what? That's cool with me. Just don't forget that he was just a man. A man that could afford to cover the costs of his memorial gathering.. okbye - Morgan