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Memorial service bids farewell to Michael Jackson

The sooner he's in the ground, the sooner life can return to normal. Celebrities are not worth the idealization they receive. Are there that many people whose own lives are really that pathetic that they have to worship somebody famous?
Grow up people and live your own life.

I agree that Michael Jackson was a disgrace to humanity and does not deserve all this attention. Yes I agree his life was wasted, and he was crazy to try and make himself into a female and not appreciate what God had given him, his life, his talent, his gender. May he rest in peace now and hopefully be forgiven for all his sins someday. He started out being a cute, talented young man who went way overboard on things. He doesn't deserve to be worshiped the way people are going crazy over him! He looked like a freak and acted like one in my opinion!

Correction. Should have been idolization not idealization. My bad.

It just seems like people on comment pages such as these love to cast stones at others, without reflecting on what they themselves have done.

MJ had amazing talent, and granted, not all his choices were great choices. BUT - he did bring some fantastic music into this world that people will always remember, smile and bop their heads to. At least he tried to use his talents to the best of his ability.

I"m sure the choir of angels is going to have alot of fun doing Thriller in Heaven!

Loved his music. Sad about his life. I feel bad for the people whose parents exploit them at a young age for fame and money and then in the end, it messes them up. Jackson's life is a prime example of how messed up people can get from living that life at a young age--ie. Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, etc... Who could really want that for their children? Even still, Jackson's mom wants his money and his estate.

The negative comments on heretypical Utah freaks. Give the guy a break he had more talent than any of you will ever dream of and no singing in the ward choir doesn't count. The haters in tis stae is amazing. If you hate celebrities so much don't go to movies and turn your TV and radio's off. Ya that will never happen.

I don't think Michael Jackson was trying to make himself into a woman at all. In his strangeness, he thought that he was being a man. I do think he was trying to make himself white. It's clear that his children are not really his biologically and were obviously conceived with a white man. He seemed to want to reject his blackness and the black world. He clearly had serious emotional issues and had one of the worst cases of arrested development possible.

He was a creative genius but shouldn't be a role model for anyone.

We will NEVER see a performer in our time as much of a enigma, or with as much talent as MJ had. Rest in peace Michael!!! Your fans will NEVER forget you! Personally I hope to get a front row seat to one of your concerts on the other side when I get there!

Please hurry and get this memorial over with, so we can start worrying about real news again.

Ok because you say so.

I beleive you, sir, were the first to mention hate. We do not "hate" celebrities. They obviously have their place in this world as entertainers. But to worship and obsess over their every action like our society does is messed up. Enjoy the work they create but remember they aren't deity.

Michael Jackson is one great talent period! .. He is misunderstood by many .. there are too many judgemental people out there who need to look at themselves first.

The funeral was this morning and a "casket" will be at the memorial service - likely just an empty shell.

To RE: Emjay...Anyone with eyes can see that what Emjay said is true. There is no malice in Emjay's blog. It's just an observation of what is completely obvious to anyone who isn't blind or isn't in denial.

Michael Jackson was brilliant but was CLEARLY an extremely troubled and warped individual who bleached his skin, distorted his face and ADMITTED he slept with young boys. He got away with child molestation because he paid the kids' families off to the tune of $20 million. He obviously needed help but refused to get it. He surrounded himself with Sycophants and FIRED anyone who tried to tell him the truth.

I don't blame him for being disturbed he had no childhood and an abusive father. He was mobbed by the public and paparazzi. He had too much money and spent it like a child with no limits. Yes, he was seriously emotionally arrested and living in some sort of sick fantasy land full of perversion and drugs.

It's a sad story..a cautionary tale. I'm personally a big fan of Michael's...the way he used to be before he got so sick.

@It Doesn't Surprise me, Your prejudice is showing. There has been NO hate expressed by anyone on this blog except your bigoted statements toward people in Utah. I don't believe ANYONE said he wasn't talented. THEY SAID HE WAS DISTURBED. That is totally obvious.

Apparently, you think that everyone should just accept the warped and self-destructive behavior of everyone...and if they don't, then they are "freaks." Usually people who defend self-destructive behavior are masking the guilt they feel because they are engaging in some of these behaviors themselves.

There is no question Michael Jackson was an extremely sick person. His own family acknowledges this. He was also a creative genius. It's just so TRAGIC. But, no HATE has been expressed.

No mention of the word hate has to be present, just by your words and others on here there is plenty of hate to go around. Read your own words and see how hateful you sound. If anyone is bigoted it's you, so what have you been doing lately?.

Jackson had $.5 million in debt and he had a golden casket?!?

WHO CARES!! We have bigger problems the to worry about a dude who lived a stressful life with so many problems. He was a great musician for sure but I don't own a cd of his and plan never too!! Let him go and put this pathetic tribute out of his misery.

Obviously you care!.

the ridiculous media circus surrounding Jackson is totally absurd and is a sad commentary about the valueless state of our society. A US soldier is murdered by an American Muslim terrorist a few weeks ago and that terrible and tragic event got virtually NO coverage from the fickle left wing national media. Go figure!