7/4/09: Dear President Obama,
July 4, 2009 by admin
Filed under Dear President Obama,, Michael Jackson
I’m sure by this time you’ve heard that Michael Jackson passed away. At this writing, he left this world exactly 9 days ago and I must tell you, Mr. President, your silence has been deafening.
If you thought it was adequate to have Press Secretary Robert Gibbs throw out a little aside on your behalf 24 hours after Michael’s death, you were wrong. And yes, it’s nice that you sent the Jackson family a personal note of condolence. I’m sure it’s a memento they’ll treasure forever.
But here’s the deal, Bud: Michael Jackson was a National Treasure. He was the greatest entertainer of his time, perhaps of all time. He had fans in every corner of this planet: more, I daresay, than even you have. As president of the country he called “home”, you were duty-bound to issue a public statement. He deserved that much, and his fans deserved it, too. This wasn’t some home-grown good ol’ boy singing at a county fair whose name might escape you, though God bless all of them, too; this was Michael Jackson. Child prodigy. Multi-record-breaking Mega-superstar, beloved the world over. Cultural icon. Loving father, devoted son, and a deeply troubled man who took a look at the man in the mirror and believed that together we could heal the world.
Michael Jackson’s talent transcended the racial divide, and for many he was the bridge toward embracing diversity. Every step in the journey toward one race, the Human race, is important, but some people leave bigger footprints in the sand than others. Michael Jackson was one. You will be another. But ask yourself this, Mr. President: who was crossing that bridge when you were still deciding what college to attend? Michael Jackson. He was “only an entertainer”, yes, and you are the President of the United States. The first black president. The phenomenon that was Michael Jackson began blurring those distracting ethnic and racial lines long before anybody knew your name. I’d say he helped pave the path you walk today, Barack Obama, whether you realize that or not.
You should have issued a public statement. I am deeply disappointed.
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Karma,
You said it better than I did. I, too, was astonished at the way President Obama handled Michael’s death in the public.
Obama & Jackson – It wasn’t a Black thing http://calimjfan.blogspot.com/2009/07/obama-jackson-it-wasnt-black-thing.html
Obama & Cronkite… and Jackson http://calimjfan.blogspot.com/2009/07/obama-cronkite.html
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I could not agree more. Being Canadian, we watched while the networks saturated the airwaves with the images/memories of this man and his deeds. Although his life was troubled and the end bizarre, the deeds between were unbelievable. I myself supported Obama getting into office believing he would be different. What I found throughout the weeks after the death was not only silence but when he finally did speak it was measured and calculated…that of a politician. He acknowledge his accomplishments but carefully weighed them with disclaimers. Was that really necessary as all knew the history. It was for a politician wanting to distance himself. Yes, Obama you may not have been where you are today except for some acceptance made possible by those before you. Michael rose above colour and sexuality lines, shame on you.
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I think it was the “political silence” that bothered me more than anything. I wanted to believe that Obama was not only beyond that type of conduct, but that he was comfortable enough in himself and his leadership to confidently step forward and do the right thing even when the sure-to-follow storm of controversy and criticism was guaranteed to ensue. THAT was the change I was counting on when I spent hours manning the phones during his campaign, and THAT was the change I cast my vote for on November 3rd.
I have no doubt that there was some serious debate in the Oval Office over whether or not to acknowledge the passing of one of the most controversial and enigmatic figures in HIStory. That was to be expected, despite the fact that Michael was acquitted of the very things that made him controversial. There was nothing controversial about his talent or the gifts he brought to the world, though, and that is all that should have mattered post-acquittal.
It’s never easy to “be the change you want to see in the world”, but I didn’t vote for easy. I voted for change. I didn’t vote for “I don’t want to upset anybody so I’ll just keep quiet on this one”. I got enough of that from the previous administration.
Disappointing. At best.
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i was so disappointed with obamas silence too. he wasnt sure which way the public wanted him to react.
or maybe he didnt really believe in the constitution. not guilty=not guilty.
or he was affected by mj’s plastic surgeries……whateva he was doing…..it did not strike a good chord.
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Very good comment. I hope he gets to read it.
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