Idolatry of False Hero Jackson Upsets Family of True Fallen Hero

Michael Jackson gets non-stop media coverage befitting a national hero, while the true heroes; our fallen men and women in uniform, often return home and are laid to rest with little, if any appreciation or notice.

There is no denying that M.J. could sing, dance and entertain like no-one else but does he really deserve more praise and attention than those brave souls who lay down their lives in defense of this country? At least one family of such a hero are speaking out, saying no...he does not. Lt. Brian Bradshaw, 24, died in Kheyl, Afghanistan on the same day as Jackson's death, as a result of wounds suffered when an I.E.D exploded near his vehicle. Bradshaw was one of at least 13 heroes who have died in the week since Michael Jackson's death. Martha Gillis, his aunt wrote the following to the Washington Post:

"Mr. Jackson received days of wall-to-wall coverage in the media,"......"Where was the coverage of my nephew or the other soldiers who died that week?"

Bradshaw's mother said:

He was a search-and-rescue volunteer, an altar boy, a camp counselor," Gillis' letter continued. "He carried the hopes and dreams of his parents willingly on his shoulders. What more than that did Michael Jackson do or represent that earned him memorial 'shrines,' while this soldier's death goes unheralded?"

It strikes some as odd that Jackson, the crotch grabbing, neverland dweller should be honored and memorialized around the world and especially here at home as such a hero while our military dead are scarcely noticed by anyone other than close family and friends. Referring to the media circus, New York congressman Peter King called for an end to the psychobabble, calling Jacko a pervert, child molester and pedophile undeserving of such worship and praise. A study conducted by the Media Research Center concluded that seven soldiers killed on Monday in Afghanistan, received just 1/20th of the coverage that Jackson's death received.

The seven deaths garnered less than one minute of coverage on ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts combined, including just 13 seconds on CBS, compared to more than 13 minutes of Jackson-related news. That's a 60-to-1 disparity, the analysis found.

“This is a prime example of why network television news audiences are disappearing before our eyes," Media Research Center President Brent Bozell said. "There is no justification for determining that the death of a celebrity over a week ago merits 20 times more news coverage than the tragic deaths of American soldiers in Afghanistan."

Yes, Jackson was a very talented performer and his fans are justified to mourn his passing but let's keep things in perspective. Each and every one of our young men and women in uniform, who make the supreme sacrifice of giving their life for our country, deserve at least as much attention and mourning as does the so called King of Pop.