True American Icons

Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays and now Steve McNair. What do these famous people have in common? Prior to the past month, nothing really. I find it absolutely amazing the amount of media attention that has been focused on the events of these deaths. Well, not all of these deaths, I for one am certainly tired of hearing Michael Jackson songs. The fact is you cannot turn on a TV, radio, or the internet and see or hear a reminder that the “King of Pop” is dead.

Look, I get it. I know the impact that Michael Jackson had on American pop culture in the 80’s. But the past decade he has been nearly irrelevant, other than the occasional tabloid story concerning his eccentricities. And the sexual abuse allegations, have we forgotten about that? For all that Michael Jackson did for American pop culture in the 80’s, he more than made up for by acting like a total loon in the 90’s. We will probably never have answers to what happened with those children, however, the fact that he admitted to having “sleepovers with the boy” put him in a situation that he could never recover from, except apparently by his death.

Enough of that. As I stated I am tired of hearing these stories and I wish they would go away, which brings me to my next point. The airwaves have been filled with stories about Michael Jackson, however on the same day, another American Icon also died. Farrah Fawcett, who lived as scandal free as anyone in Hollywood possibly could unfortunately died the same day as Michael Jackson. Farrah Fawcett is the type of icon that we should have celebrated upon her death. Instead, the celebration of her life was trampled by the death of Michael Jackson. The spotlight that should have shown on her life was instead fixed on the life of Michael Jackson, with only a slight mention of all the scandal and absurd behavior. Tragic.

And while we are at it, did you know that Ed McMahon was a decorated World War II fighter pilot in the Marine Corps? Me either! Luckily for me there is Wikipedia! I understand that scandal sells, (Michael Jackson, Steve McNair) but why does it seem that outstanding American Icons, (Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett) with amazing real life stories to be told just fade off of our screen while the headlines for the eccentric, scandalous criminals are crammed down our throats? Sure, sex sells, but when was the last time you heard a “good” story from Hollywood? Perhaps we should try reporting on the few positive roll models in Sports and Hollywood and take the spotlight away from the scandal and debauchery. Maybe then the overpaid dirtbags will fade from our screens to be replaced by those that deserve the attention.