Something has been grating on Long Island congressman Peter King recently, and yesterday, he got it off his chest. Why, King asks, are people celebrating that “lowlife” Michael Jackson while firemen, soldiers, and teachers are being practically shunned by society? “This guy was a pervert, he was a child molester, he was a pedophile,” King says, standing before the Wantagh American Legion a place Michel Jackson never even set foot. “There’s nothing good about this guy,” he continues, before immediately contradicting himself. “Maybe he was a good singer, did some dancing.” (Indeed, the jury is still out whether Michael Jackson was a good singer, and sometimes danced.) “Bottom line is, would you let your child or grandchild be in the same room as Michael Jackson?” King asks. Let our kid hang out with a dead body? Probably not. Look, undoubtedly, certain aspects of the Michael Jackson coverage have been excessive though pretty much what you’d expect after the surprise death of one of the most famous people who has ever lived. But the mourning hasn’t glorified the shady (and unproven) sexual allegations that surrounded Jackson, they’ve honored the aforementioned talents, and influence, of a musical legend. This is how society works we don’t trample on the graves of the dead, so that, hopefully, when we die one day, people will say nice things about us.
