Vets thoughts about Michael Jackson’s death and the Media

Editors note: As I drafted this numerous emails came in and I have incorporated those thoughts into this blog post:


As I was just watching the news about Michael Jackson I was struck by the hypocrisy of it all.

We all know MJ was a global entertainer who performed for millions of the decades. He made millions, he spent millions. It is said he also did a number of things that inspired and disgusted millions, were you stand on these issues is not the point!

At what point did we as a country get to the state that if one person, one of 7 billion on the planet dies we all go into media paralysis for a week. While I understand the pop culture significance of MJ, just like Elvis I’m still aghast that we devoted so much time on his death. That same week 14 of mine, ours, yours….son’s died in Afghanistan with little mention and only one name photo that I saw on Fox News (Neil Cavuto).

Am I missing something here? We have become numb to the loss of our Heroes that all volunteer to keep us free. These same Heroes that where the target of ridicule from the same Congress that wants a moment of silence for MJ??? The same Heroes that the New York times and MSNBC have trashed countless times but spent millions covering the death of one person with a clouded history.

This is a great comment from a hero now in Iraq: “I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan each and every time we lose Heroes!”

To all the Moms and Dads, spouses and Kids that have lost a hero I want to say thanks and their loss is a far greater blow then any pop culture icon. They (our Heroes) allow individuals to grow up and BECOME pop culture icons!

Vic Luebker,

Chairman and CEO

www.hope4heroes.org