R.I.P. MJ, on this second anniversary.

So, as today is the second anniversary of the sad, sudden death of the biggest star EVER (I said it), Michael Jackson, I thought I'd take this opportunity to dust off my piece from March 2005 on the man -- it's been a little while. (Update: I've also added this in podcast form at http://soundcloud.com/micahwhite/ripmj.)

This was actually a speech for a public speaking class, and I got an A on it, natch. While it is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, like I do, rest assured I stand by everything in it. For better or for worse!

===

“The Love You Save”. “ABC”. “I Want You Back” … and that’s just the Jackson 5 material! Say what you will, but Michael Jackson has given us hours of great music. I could go on to “Thriller”, “Beat It”, and “Billie Jean”, but I’ve made my point. Michael Jackson is an influential part of American and worldwide pop culture. And that is why this litigation needs to stop.

Frankly, I don’t care if he did all of those … things. When you consider that wealth of musical quality that he has given to the universe, don’t you think we owe him something? Now, don’t get me wrong; the allegations are quite serious. I just don’t think he did it. Hell, if he did, shame on the parents! They all agreed to let their children crawl into bed with “Daddy Michael”. Sure, it’s easy to say, “OK,” when the man is worth millions of dollars, and lives in his own zip code. Ch-ching! C’mon! “Ease On Down the Road”! “Heal the World”! “We Are The World”! Each one, magic. But again, I digress.

And on top of the time, money, blood, sweat, and tears he’s contributed to the entertainment industry, he’s still going strong, even with all the court dates, back pains, and the flu. Just last week I watched the most riveting hour of television since the OJ Bronco chase in June ‘94. Last Thursday morning, Michael failed to show up to court, citing back problems. The judge wasn’t buying it. In fact, he issued a bench warrant, threatening that if Michael did not show up within the hour, he would revoke his $3 million bail, and take him into custody. I was glued for a good hour. Jacko’s lawyer pacing on his cell phone … CNN correspondents saying the same nothingness over and over again … that annoying scroll. Great stuff! And the hour went by with no Michael, opening a whole new chapter; would the judge take him into custody upon his arrival. And when Michael finally did show up, mere minutes past the deadline, he still did not disappoint. The frail guy shows up with unkempt, uncombed hair, and – God help him – blue pajamas! You literally cannot write this stuff.

So thank you, Michael; thank you. I, too, say: Not guilty! And once these awful charges are dropped, I wish you many more decades of entertaining. Now, go have a spin on the Neverland merry-go-round; it’s on me.