Ted Kennedy Vs. Michael Jackson

Written by Ryan AnthonycloseAuthor: Ryan Anthony Name: Ryan Anthony
Email: mica1884@gmail.com
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About: 25 year old Tennessee resident and small government conservative. I first discovered my love of writing while working for a high school newspaper; that was eight years ago. Now I'm studying for an Associate's Degree in journalism. My favorite topics to cover for Parcbench include contact sports and television.See Authors Posts (34) on August 31, 2009

After reflection on Senator Kennedy’s recent passing to brain cancer and the resulting media coverage, I’ve come to a few conclusions about the places we reserve for public personalities in our hearts. What I truly believe is, celebrity can often come in ways we don’t understand. I don’t wish to beat a dead horse, but I think both Ted Kennedy and Michael Jackson – two people getting a lot of public attention for what I call the last reason – share a lot of characteristics; some for the good, some for the bad. I won’t lie about them: Kennedy’s dreams and views are not mine, my CD player is not filled with MJ hits. This is not an article in which the sole purpose is to shower praise on them.

But, I’m convinced that by looking at what they shared, we can look at what made them human.

Both had their wealth, although Kennedy’s came from his family, Michael’s was self-made. Jackson had Neverland, Kennedy had the compound. Both fell under the withering gaze of the law: depending on who you ask, both got off easy. People have been using the deaths of both in horrible ways to push their own agendas.

We could quibble back and forth all day over which made more of a difference in the world. Jackson’s music surely reached more people, courtesy of marketing and radio stations. Both Jackson and Kennedy left a lasting impression on our country for decades.  Michael was every bit the humanitarian that Ted fancied himself, and had more money to throw around. Helping people was in his self-interest – it made him happy. Both made contributions to the world, and they did because they thought it was right.

Most importantly, there is an intangible custom surrounding their final farewells.

I’ve observed we have a practice in Western culture which is sometimes jokingly referred to as “Deifying the Dead.” It doesn’t mean they’ve literally ascended to the status of godhood; rather, it’s like a celebration of the deceased’s life magnified to an insane level. Preferably, when someone passes on, we can leave all acrimony behind temporarily and focus on what good actually existed.  But, in these cases, we deliberately misrepresent the dead to make it seem as though they were saints.

And, although this may be taking it to an extreme, it sometimes feels like a murderer could be treated in this way and no one would blink.

Why are polarizing people idolized in this manner? They weren’t perfect; nor was “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott of metal band Pantera or spaced-out Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. Truly, who was deified among the ranks of musicians if not Elvis, the cocaine-addicted “King” of rock and roll? Elvis never walked on water and wasn’t crucified. But, what other sentiment in relation to these three better conjures up flashes of divinity than the saying “ELVIS LIVES?”

Perhaps it is our willingness to forgive, our truly American characteristics: those that sprung from the faith integral to this country’s foundation.  James Baker Institute fellow, history professor Doug Brinkley, recognized the role religion played in Kennedy’s life; he expressed it thusly during the CNN coverage of Kennedy’s farewell motorcade:

“For starters, Kennedy was Catholic and a big part of Catholicism is forgiveness, it’s the confession. He’s asked to be forgiven by people, he did a load of redemptive work throughout his whole career . . . He would fall off the wagon but constantly get up and say ‘I can do better.’”

Whether or not he succeeded is a mire I’m not going to wade into. We are all far from perfect.  As Jackson could surely substantiate himself if he were able, life is a bunch of tumbles from that old wagon.

You try to live by your principles, but being human you fail. I’ve heard there were things conservatives could learn via Kennedy’s death, but I won’t rehash them. I’ll instead interject something the left can learn: It’s okay to hold up an ideal that we must strive for, and falling short does not mean either that the ideal is flawed or that you can beat us over the head with the hypocrisy brick for the millionth time. It just means we’re flesh and blood creatures.

We live our lives the best we can, and then answer for our deeds and misdeeds. Provided we’ve done good, everlasting peace follows. But our final moments spent above the ground don’t always portend peace for those above . . . Jackson did not deserve his funeral being made into a three ring circus, and Senator Kennedy does not deserve his funeral being commemorated with insults. No matter what your personal leanings, class should always come first.

Compassion and forgiveness are neither Democrat nor Republican traits.  Let’s make an effort to use them more often, as the true King bade us.