Evolution and the Rock Star – Michael Jackson’d Death and the Psychology of Hero Worship
When Michael Jackson died, there wasn’t a television or radio station that didn’t pay homage to the man. Day after day for well over a week, we watched and relieved every lurid detail of his life; his childhood and the strict regime he was forced to follow; the beatings by his father and how they affected his adulthood; his morphism from an African-American man into a character who could not quite be defined and his glorified eulogy, honoring the man for his compassion and love of children.
Most of us are drawn to celebrity stories such as Michael Jackson because we can’t get past the fame and glory. If only we could be as talented, wealthy and loved by so many. The fact that he faced financial ruin and labeled a child molester also brought on sympathetic emotions from many of us, because after all, aren’t we all victims in some way? Don’t we all wish for some drama is our lives to make it more exciting? Michael Jackson’s life fulfilled our need for drama, and we watched his story unfold to the point of nausea.
It’s time to take a hard look at why we continue to worship celebrities like Michael Jackson, and why unconsciously or consciously try to be them. It’s almost as though celebrities have become a religion in and of themselves, and we must follow. We seek ways to make us feel better through drugs and we go to plastic surgeons to make us look younger, and although most of us will never reach a wealthy status, we spend money on anything that will make us look and feel good. Those that have achieved wealth often time discard all codes of ethics supporting a need to amass more wealth in any way possible forsaking their friends and their families all for the might dollar and the status that comes with it.
It’s time to back-track and relearn what role models we should be emulating. Certainly their are historical and other figures that can give young people in this country a clear sense of what human kindness and a healthy lifestyle is all about. Instead of identifying with the tragic life of a rock-star whose demise was written in the stars, it time to find our own identities and teach our children what real values are all about.
