This past week was a big one for two Super Powers who recently left this world after helping to shaped our culture. This past Saturday there was not only a funeral for the late Senator Edward (Teddy) Kennedy ...
there was a flashmob of people dancing in the steet to celebrate Michael Jackson's Birthday. He would have been 51, had he not been killed
But the thing that strikes me the most about these events is not the dancing or the ritual rich (and politically well attended) memorial service. But the fact that even though both of these men committed heinous crimes in their lifetime, they are celebrated in death.
Kennedy's Crime:
On 19 July 1969, Kennedy killed a woman named Mary Jo Kopechne on Chappaquiddick Island in Massachusetts. Leaving with her from a party, he drove the car off the bridge into Poucha Pond and then swam to shore leaving her dead (or dying) in the submerged car. He walked back to the party, took 2 friends to the accident site...did nothing, then went to his hotel and called his lawyer (NOT the Police or an Ambulance). In fact, by the time he finally called the police (the next morning), the accident had already been discovered. No autopsy was ever preformed on Miss Kopechne but her family did received a payout from the Kennedy's insurance. Teddy Kennedy pled guilty to the charge of "leaving the scene of an accident after causing injury." Is that what they call killing someone...causing injury? At any rate, he sentence of 2 month in jail was suspended.
Saturday Kennedy was buried a hero, hailed as the "Liberal Lion" of the U.S. Senate on which he served as the Massachusetts Representative for nearly half a century. Nobody mentioned "Chappaquiddick" at the service. In this great county you can get away with murder, change political policy and be a champion in death.
Michael Jackson's Crime:
Well, you know...little boys. He was initially accused in of sexual abuse in 1993. No charges were brought against him, but the family received settlement funds from Mr. Jackson to the tune of $15.3 million. In April 2004, he faced a long list of similar charges: conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion, three counts of committing lewd acts upon a child, attempted lewd acts upon a child, and four counts of administering intoxicating agents to assist in the commission of a felony. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of these charges. But, let's face it, he's was a man that shouldn't have been around children.
Eventually, Michael will be laid to rest. Initially scheduled to be buried on his birthday, the family pushed the service to Tuesday September 3rd. Probably they didn't want to share the spotlight - or the airtime - with another American Icon. Micheal will be remembered, for being the "King of Pop." Because in this great country, you can fiddle with little boys, completely change your look while you're sing falsetto, and still die the King. And his music plays on and on and on... sales of his songs are at a record high since his death.
Anyway, God Bless America. The land of Brave where the criminals run Free. And so it goes. The story of who we are in life is how we're seen in death. And these two stars shine brightly as they leave this world loved and adored.
So don't worry, no matter what you do... you'll look good when you're dead.







