Comments on: Separating Icons From Heroes

Schieffer Says An Artist's Work And His Life Can Be Held Mutually Exclusive

[marierocks]

BOB SCHIEFFER-PLEASE READ THIS: I can see Bob's point in the article, but he doesn't mention Michael's multiple ailments, nor the hundreds of millions of dollars he gave to charity (children's charities, HIV/AIDS, etc.). He must have also forgotten the doors that MJ opened for other black artists in the industry. He must have forgotten about "We are the World" as well. Yes, we can separate the artist from the person, but when we point to the perceived oddness and eccentric behaviors, let's not forget the extraordinarily humanitarian and philanthropist that Michael Jackson was. For these reasons, he was an easy target for people to take advantage of him.

[cjrlee]

Michael Joseph Jackson was a musical prodigy and an entertainment giant, he dated Tatum O'Neal, Brooke Shields, and married Lisa Marie Presley (you know who her father is right?) and Debbie Rowe who defends him to this day. ALSO, he owned The Beatles music catalog valued at over $1 billion. He was weak for helping poor, dying children. And yes, he was probably ill but not complaining using the television to whine and moan about how he felt. He was ONLY HUMAN with an extraordinary GIFT. Examine your own life, look deep inside, at what makes you SPEAK ILL OF THE DEAD. How angry your family must be at your lack of dignity while you carry a family's name and reputation! Utterly tacky. You too Bob.

By the way, if Michael's legacy of "Heal the World" etc. charitable giving lives on in the WORLD, he will be a HERO! He's in the Guiness Book of World Records as a Great Humanitarian. Are you in there? I aspire to be in that category. There's a lot of GOODWILL that people came out of crevices to speak about. He was POWERFUL.

Good Luck handicapping the next King or Queen of Pop.

[cuellar1183]

I totally agree Mr.Schieffer. If you notice, one person who was not at the memorial was Quincy Jones. Mr. Jones stated that he did not understand Jackson. Quincy stated that Michael had pictures throughtout his home of young kids, blond hair and blue eyes! He was puzzled why Michael had this pictures. Jackson was a troubled soul. Also, there is sheer hypocisy when the black community was angry Madonna was adopting a black child from Africa and Jackson has children who are completely white. I have mixed family members in our household (black & hispanic) and they are not completely one color!

[divavc]

MY FOREVER LOVE FOR MY KING MICHEAL JACKSON

One of my favorite songs is "YOU GIVE ME BUTTERFILIES" Michael that is what you are now a butterfly. I can just see you now smiling, spinning, singing, and just laughing up there in those clouds, now you can spread your pretty wings beautifully, and freely with no hurt, judgment, or pain. Michael soar like Peter Pan with one glove in your hand and our hearts in the other. My heart is so, so heavy with deep sadness that you are "GONE TO SOON".. We will keep your memory alive. People need to look at the "MAN IN THE MIRROR" (themselves) and let you finally have some peace. You are the "BADDEST"... and I always wanted to be your ?LIBERIAN GIRL ooh Micael ?YOU ROCK MY WORLD. I ?REMEMBER THE TIME in 1979 watching you walk across the street in NYC and wishing I had spoken to you and going to your concert saying to myself I GOT TO BE THERE. Your show was ?OFF THE WALL. I went to ?HEARTBREAK HOTEL when you sung about ?BILLIE JEAN and not me. I wanted to SCREAM!!! Michael it?s just ?HUMAN NATURE and ?JUST ANOTHER PART OF ME that wanted to be your ?PRETTY YOUNG THING, but I had to ?KEEP IT IN THE CLOSET?It was not in the stars for our paths to cross. No one could and ever will "ROCK WITH YOU" "YOU ARE NOT ALONE" and you should never have to wonder WHO?S LOVIN YOU? Michael I love THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL low to high "BLACK OR WHITE". It is a "THRILLER" feeling to watch you perform and that will always stay with me. Our love for you Michael will never "STOP BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET ENOUGH" Your life on this earth was done, and you "HEALED THE WORLD" with your songs and for that Michael I JUST CAN?T STOP LOVING YOU... but....This is not it!!!! Your next journey is just beginning and it will be so smooth like a slick "SMOOTH CRIMINAL"that will make you say wow!!! I am finally here....Dear Micheal I NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE and I really"I WANT YOU BACK". But your in heaven now and one day I'll see you again because "'I?LL BE THERE!!!!!

Sleep in heavenly peace!!!!

Be strong Jackson family your king will live on forever, our love, and prayers are forever with you. "R.I.P. MY KING, MY MAN.. MR. MICHEAL JACKSON"

Your forever fan Vera The Diva Cheeks [e-mail]

And to anyone out there who did not love or respect Micheal?s music?.Please give him and his family the common courtesy of keeping your negative comments to yourself, this is what killed him. Did your parents raise a troll?

[skeptical71]

I completely agree with Mr. Schieffer also.
Additionally I would like to say I have worked with lupus patients and have not yet met one who could sustain the energyJackson had nor could any one of them have survived the drug abuse.I question whether he actually had this disease.

[Howard52]

We know Michael's passing was not an international crisis. We should
take time to honor an icon thelikes of which will not be saeen again
ever. I wonder if schiffer appliedd the same rhetoric to the passing of Elvis. Frank or members of the Beatles? Is his racism showing?

[hardavek]

As a loyal watcher of your Face the Nation program, I was stunned by your commentary on Michael Jackson and American values. MJ was a tireless advocate for racial harmony, a two-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, and in the Guinness World Book of Records for the number of charities he has donated to. What could be more "American" than taking the profit earned from honest talent and turning so much of it back to charity?

I am amazed that you would mention Michael Jackson and a known murderer (Caravaggio) in the same breath. Not only do you show lack of knowledge of Michael Jackson's humanitarian contributions, but as a professional journalist, complete lack of respect for the American ideal of being innocent unless proven guilty.

Hardave Kharbanda

[barbaer2]

Thank you, again and again, Bob Schieffer! If only more journalists, politicians, parents, would inject some reality into our daily lives.
Jackson was talented but NOT a hero, and we would all be better off,
honoring his work, his contribution to African American History, but focusing more energy on helping our neighbors.

[gradywpowell]

I have always loved CBS News and Bob Schieffer in particular. This is why I was so hurt when Bob and the producers of Face The Nation would use the occasion of a person's untimely death to make these negative comments about Michael Jackson. Where is the respect for human life? To use phrases such as "weirdness" and "devotion to excess" is so insensitive to his family and to those who may have felt differently than you. When Elvis Presley died, people were hurt not because he served his country in the military, they were hurt because they loved his music and when a person is a musician that does not make them a hero, that makes them a musician. Let people celebrate a person's life without you shooting somebody down with negative comments about them. Michael Jackson isn't even in the ground yet. Can't you let the family grieve without saying bad things about him on a national stage like Face The Nation...people are listening from all over.
You sir are a news man, and you are one of the best in the business. But when you die, I would also say that I think it would be in very poor taste for someone to point out your weaknesses or faults on the occasion of your death. Let me also remind everyone that heroes are people who have faults to. Who among us is perfect?
It will be a long time before I will be able to watch "Face The Nation" again. I may never watch it again. I say that with sadness because I love Bob Schieffer as a news man...and I will always love Michael Jackson as a musician.

[Henri_Rochard]

My local department store is having a Michael Jackson Clothing Sale.

Boys pants are half off.