At the risk of paving my own "fast-lane" to hell, denigrating the deceased, and particularly ignoring all the humanitarian causes to which Michael Jackson gave his time and money, I offer this column.
While avoiding accidents along the 110 Freeway, one can see the giant, electric sign outside Staples Center advertising car wrecks within: "Oasis," "Britney Spears," "The Clippers," and of course, "The Kings."
But at least these performers had a pulse.
Less than one month after our cash-starved city paid for the Lakers parade, we're footing the bill for a Staples Center memorial service for a pop star who did as much to feed the world's children as he did to feed the world's impression that Los Angeles is the universal capital of narcissism, ego-mania and idiocy (better luck next year "misplaced priorities.")
Even more peculiar than Jackson himself is the dual role of AEG as the promoter of the 2009 Jackson tour that wasn't (spelling tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars in losses), and as the owner of Staples Center, which will collect payment from the city and fans for today's service. So, the Forum, Hollywood Bowl, Coliseum, etc, weren't available today? Or how about a nice, private service with mournful fans paying an entrance fee to Neverland? Could have off-set some of MJ's debts, or better: raised money for some of those children's causes Jackson seemed to care so much about. I see the clear line connecting Jackson and AEG - they already had a relationship; the contacts were already in place to make this memorial service happen quickly, but what involvement did the city have in closing this deal - and at what cost to its residents?
Never mind that aside from his years as the prodigious Jackson Five front-tot, Jackson's artistic work has been, to me, mediocre, and his human-as-living-catastrophe performance art piece of a life, well, just that. If boring, pointless, absurdities like "Billie Jean," "Bad," and "Beat It" (Q: "Who's bad?" A: Uh, not you, dude.) didn't take Michael Jackson off my pop art radar, then certainly, deciding not to be black, or a man, or even human anymore took him off my reality-scope (any singer, especially one who has had such immense success as Jackson, would be insane to reconstruct the acoustics of his or her instrument, a key component of which, would be his or her nasal passages. It would be like Elton John saying, "On my next record and tour, no singing, and I'll only play the bag pipes." It just wouldn't be his billion-dollar sound anymore. A bold choice, but not necessarily the one that gives the people - or ticket sellers what they want).
And let's not even talk about the accusations. That dimension of the Jackson lunacy (legacy? Lunacy.) is just not anything I have time or energy to include in my life.
The bottom line is simply this: while teachers are being laid off, and city programs suffering mortal cutbacks, the City of Los Angeles can not, and should not afford to cover today's events.
I'm not saying that those who enjoyed Jackson's work should not be allowed to spend money on paying tribute to him. Hell, buy all the "King of Pop" souvenir soda bottles and sequined gloves as you can carry -- keep the wheels of commerce churning. But don't force me (just in case it's not yet clear: I was not a fan) or the children of Los Angeles to suffer the financial burden of this latest collision of life, art and absurdity along the 110 Freeway.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Have a FABULOUS 4th!
Look! I haven't piped up for a couple of months now - but I feel the need to speak out on this day for this reason - so it must be important, huh?
The topic: Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
One good reason to do it is that it's just plain stupid. And when stupid policies reign, only the truly moronic may participate in their execution (this explains much of the Bush cabinet). But let me try to give another (although not better) reason than this.
Today is the day we commemorate the American victory in her against-all-odds fight for independence against a much better-armed, trained and more numerous British military. It was a true victory for the will of the people -- all people -- to be free. Farmers and fishermen, teachers and preachers, the well heeled and the shoeless took up arms and stood shoulder to shoulder to defend their right to self-determination. There was no time to ask the fellow beside you whether he practiced the same sexual habits at home as you did - a well-fed, dressed and organized battalion of Red Coats was less than 100 yards away with brand-new, reliable Brown Bess muskets aimed at you.
It was on this day that John Hancock signed Jefferson's document declaring that "all men are created equal." Blacks, who were originally banned from revolutionary forces, were ultimately accepted by General George Washington, when he realized winning an American future was more important that preserving past prejudice.
Despite hatred that persists in this country even today, blacks and whites live, fight, worship and celebrate alongside one another in pedestrian fashion.
It is long-past time for us to make these same strides in recognizing the contributions of gay Americans to our heritage, our social fabric and our future.
Like black Americans who fought for freedom under the stars and stripes, so too, do gay Americans put their lives on the line to protect not just gay-freedom, but freedom - yours and mine.
Anyone not willing to stand along-side any other American and defend our liberty in the face of oppression, is not fit to enjoy that liberty won.
Join with me in celebrating today our liberty, our self-determination, our autonomy - our freedom to be Americans, gay, straight, black, white, Asian, Latino, indigenous - and in commemorating the bravery and selflessness of those to whom we owe our gratitude. They are all stars in our great history, be they of any stripe.
Happy Fourth of July
The topic: Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
One good reason to do it is that it's just plain stupid. And when stupid policies reign, only the truly moronic may participate in their execution (this explains much of the Bush cabinet). But let me try to give another (although not better) reason than this.
Today is the day we commemorate the American victory in her against-all-odds fight for independence against a much better-armed, trained and more numerous British military. It was a true victory for the will of the people -- all people -- to be free. Farmers and fishermen, teachers and preachers, the well heeled and the shoeless took up arms and stood shoulder to shoulder to defend their right to self-determination. There was no time to ask the fellow beside you whether he practiced the same sexual habits at home as you did - a well-fed, dressed and organized battalion of Red Coats was less than 100 yards away with brand-new, reliable Brown Bess muskets aimed at you.
It was on this day that John Hancock signed Jefferson's document declaring that "all men are created equal." Blacks, who were originally banned from revolutionary forces, were ultimately accepted by General George Washington, when he realized winning an American future was more important that preserving past prejudice.
Despite hatred that persists in this country even today, blacks and whites live, fight, worship and celebrate alongside one another in pedestrian fashion.
It is long-past time for us to make these same strides in recognizing the contributions of gay Americans to our heritage, our social fabric and our future.
Like black Americans who fought for freedom under the stars and stripes, so too, do gay Americans put their lives on the line to protect not just gay-freedom, but freedom - yours and mine.
Anyone not willing to stand along-side any other American and defend our liberty in the face of oppression, is not fit to enjoy that liberty won.
Join with me in celebrating today our liberty, our self-determination, our autonomy - our freedom to be Americans, gay, straight, black, white, Asian, Latino, indigenous - and in commemorating the bravery and selflessness of those to whom we owe our gratitude. They are all stars in our great history, be they of any stripe.
Happy Fourth of July
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