I watched a lot of MSNBC in the past two days and didn't see what you saw apparently. Mostly last night I saw really admiring and reverent coverage. I do think though, that on that cable network (MSNBC) it really depends upon the program and the host. On Thursday it was all "seat of the pants" stuff and (I thought) just plain old shock.

I'm curious about what coverage you're referring to and whatever it is that you saw that I must not have that was that offensive. I'm sorry it's out there, but it also isn't that surprising is it? It didn't take long for the media in general to slot Michael as "another Elvis" in terms of the commercial world of celebrity-ism and all that. He was, after all, one of those unique people that our culture immediately turns into something they weren't really, almost a caricature of himself. Marilyn Monroe is another in this category and I think Elton John's song Norma Jean got to the heart of that problem. Michael's stature and fame puts him in the same echelon and so he sadly gets treated like that out of our culture's perverse way of expression.

Overall though, I've been kind of amazed that most media has really worn kidd gloves when it comes to the "weird" label and all the trial, facial surgety stuff, etc... My take of most of it has been that it really has been quite sympathetic and reverent... as it should be.

There's lots to be said about the man, but more and more it boils down to one simply truth, at least for me. Yes, he was all the things that have been said about being a genius, a singular talent, the greatest of entertainers, a humanitarian, a decent man, and so on. But when it's all said and done, the remarkable thing is how this single individual touched so many and brought so much joy to the hearts of billions of people the world over. That is, to me, the most monumental and lasting thing about this man during whose time we were all very lucky to be alive.