What is it about death? Does being dead give people the libety to praise unbashedly and criticize with frequent fervour? I am not saying that it should not be done - but why praise someone when that person is dead? Why not praise people when they are still alive and can feel happy at being appreciated?
Take the case of MJ. Most of us have grown up with his music. Whether it was just another reason to dance or a reason to understand music or the joy of discovering that Indian culture (albeit in a small way then) was put on an international platform (rem the lady who dances in the middle of the road - in the black or white song?)
What makes the event of a celebrities death so - shall we say "special"? SUddenly you find him being discussed in all possible channels, in all possible forums - big or small. Whether it is malicious gossip, dragging skeletons out of his closet with headlines like - "He wore a fake nose!" to "He was bankrupt" to the number of children he has or doesnt have. Recently his charred lock of hair is being turned into diamonds I find. Wonder which crazy fan would buy that?
But the idea is not to talk about his controversial life or the skeletons people are digging out of his closet. He was a legend and the craze with which people take you up, perhaps they exhibit the same madness in bringing you down. Just another way of being able to say - hey look, he doesnt have everything now, does he? Anyway, thats my skeptical opinion about the world.
But I want to perhaps look at the other side of this. Why was the world not able to recognize and appreciate his genius when he was alive. Why was he not considered for knighthood or Nobel Prize, as he is being considered now? Why were fans not able to praise and download or buy his music with the same amount of fervour that they are doing now? Why is it that death makes us go to extremes and perhaps take that extra effort to praise that someone special.
Perhaps more people live in the moment than they realize..:)
