Michael Jackson vs JFK - seriously????

Okay so we’ve all heard by now the semi-tragic news of Michael Jackson’s passing. Granted, it is a sad day for his children, family and whatever friends he may have had. In addition to Mr. Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon have passed away this week as well. Again, all sad.

However, let’s try to keep things in some perspective here. Some people have commented that the news was similar in nature to receiving news that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. ARE YOU PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR MINDS?!?!?!?

John F. Kennedy was one of the most beloved, popular leaders of the 20th century and his accomplishments helped shape future generations of Americans and the world at large. Let’s take a look at some of what the president accomplished:

First, we need to keep in mind that he barely served as President for one half of one term.

Arguably, his biggest accomplishment could be his initiative to put man on the moon before the end of the 1960’s. We went from not being able to break the speed of sound to setting foot on the moon in less than nine years. Our space program has yielded incalculable returns in the form of knowledge and technology.

He initiated the The Peace Corp. Michael Jackson had donated over $300 million to various charities.

President Kennedy entered into a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty with Britain and the USSR.

He created the Alliance for Progress aid program for struggling Latin American nations.

President Kennedy got the Soviet Union to dismantle and remove nuclear missile bases from Cuba without going to war.

And while people tried to block his wishes for civil rights legislation being passed, he used his office and presidential executive orders to support the movement, and that leadership was considered instrumental in building the movement that led to the legislation being passed under President Jyndon B. Johnson.

In Michael Jackson’s defense, he had the best selling album of all time. Now make no mistake, when Thriller came out I loved most of the songs as well. However it’s just an album. Just a song or two or four. Hell, the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Aeromsmith and Elvis all wrote songs that moved people.

There are a couple other things to help keep this in perspective. JFK had ties to the mob through his father. Michael Jackson had been accused of molesting children on more than one occasion. Granted he paid off one accuser and was acquitted in court for another but those are very serious charges and if I remember correctly OJ was acquitted too.

All in all, John Kennedy was one of the most influential people of modern times. Michael Jackson wrote songs. Good ones to be sure, but songs none the less. Let’s all grieve for Michael Jackson’s children and family but to compare him to John F. Kennedy is unfair and in my opinion not a comparison at all on any level.