Yesterday, the so-called "King of Pop" was eulogized at a memorial service in downtown Los Angeles. While watching the live feed of the memorial service at work, I could not help but find amusement in what turned out to be a media circus instead of a real memorial. For the record, I admire his artistic genius, the way his music inspired others, and the way he gave attention to social needs around the world.
I find it so ironic that millions of "fans" around the world were crying at the loss of their musical "hero" when just a few years ago, none of them would have gone out in public to defend and support him during his several legal troubles involving child molestation. Where were these so called fans who were seen on television weeping and lamenting when Michael Jackson pulled one of his many strange antics in recent memory?
And then at the memorial service, there were a few things that stood out to me. What right did Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson have in speaking at MJ's service other than the fact that they played basketball in the same city where MJ lived? And what the heck was Magic talking about when he claimed MJ made him a better point guard?
Of course Al Sharpton had another one of his moments when he elevated MJ's contribution to the civil rights movement on par with or surpassing that of Martin Luther King Jr's. And he proceeded to say that "there was nothing wrong with Michael Jackson" and turned a memorial service into a rant about racism.
Then there was the price tag on this entire show: $3.5 million. And who would fit that bill? Why, no other than the near bankrupt City of Los Angeles. Nevermind the city closed down a 6-lane freeway just to transport MJ's hearst. After all, it isn't like LA suffers from the worst traffic congestion in the US...(that was sarcasm if you didn't get it). At a time when LA and the state of California faces one of its worse budget crisis that threatens to shut down the government, at a time when jobs such as police officers and teachers are being shed so quickly, the thoughtful family sends a $3.5 million dollar bill to city officials (again, sarcasm). The argument that such a large public event will produce a net economic gain for the city is misplaced since statistical economic analysis of large sporting events have marginal economic benefits. But that is besides the point.
And then the media coverage has been laughable. Is it really "breaking news" that Paris, MJ's daughter, said he was the best father imaginable? Is that what journalism has come down to? At a time when hundreds are dying in the worst ethnic fighting in recent memory in China, when genocide continues to happen in Darfur, when Iran's political situation is still illegitimate, Paris's remarks is what CNN calls breaking news?
At the end of the day, I'm sick of all these "fans" worshipping MJ as if he were God incarnate, without blemish. It was mortifying hearing Al Sharpton tell a revisionist version of MJ's life, that his kids had nothing to be ashamed of regarding their father. Regardless if MJ wasn't convicted of any of the child molestation charges (note: multiple allegations), you cannot possibly say that he's completely innocent when he reached a $20 million settlement with one of his allegers. If you're innocent, why cut a deal with the accuser? Then there's the baby dangling issue, his multiple facial reconstruction and skin issue, his mismanagement of his finances leading to enormous debt, and the list goes on. Yes kids, you have nothing to be ashamed of...just like every child in this world has a perfect dad (again, sarcasm).
Yes, yesterday was a memorial service, and in memorial services, its important for the family and friends to bring closure to the loss of a loved one. And I respect that. I do not argue that it must have been emotionally difficult for the family, especially the children. But to make a memorial into some political, revisionist, and often inappropriate charade (note the horrible performance by Mariah Carey, who wore a rather overwhelming outfit that exposed just a bit too much of herself) was more humorous than anything else.
The world lost an iconic entertainer for sure. But let's not make him out into a saint in the midst of the mania that has somehow swept across the world.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Separatism and Missions
As the struggle for Iran's political future continues, albeit largely overshadowed by the media's saturated coverage of Michael Jackson's death, there's another struggle that is bursting at the seams of another authoritarian government. In Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the Uyghur minorities are taking to the streets in Urumqi and Kashgar to voice their displeasure against the communist government. Theirs is a long and tense history fueled by racism and brutality from both sides. In order to keep stability at all costs, the Chinese government has pulled all the stops by turning off the internet and social networking tools and clamping down on the riots that have already claimed hundreds of lives according to official count.
Media coverage of this new rebellion is hardly as colorful as the Iranian struggle and even the "saffron revolution" in Burma in 2007. Is it because all Uyghurs have been generally portrayed as separatists and terrorists according to China, the United States, and the European Union? Perhaps. But whatever the reason for the limited media coverage on this issue, this recent spade of violence in Xinjiang saddens me on a personal level.
It was only two summers ago that I walked the very streets where blood has been shed these past few days. In the Uyghur sections of Urumqi and Kashgar, my team and I snapped photos, talked with locals, and even shared the gospel of Jesus Christ. The smell of fresh naan and lamb meat is still freshly vivid as is the signs of decay in the shanties. Children played with plastic bottles in lieu of toys, unemployed men loitered around the local mosques, and women covered from head to toe walked down the streets. The people I talked to voiced their displeasure of Americans and of the Han Chinese. They talked about their grievances--of lack of economic opportunities, of limited freedom to worship, of exploitation, of secondary social status, etc. They talked about George Bush and how his wars have only exacerbated their conditions.
These were the people we lived with for three weeks. These people, most of whom had never heard of Jesus Christ, were the ones that God called a team of eleven college and young adults to preach the good news to. These people, whom we had previously never knew existed, would open our eyes to a new world and teach us how much God so loves his people.
But as the state clamps down on these very people we reached out, I often find myself having a very pessimistic view of the situation. The missionary that we worked with in Urumqi had said that one of the main obstacles for Uyghurs to put their trust in God is that there is no viable indigenous churches in Xinjiang. And to make matters worse, the burgeoning underground church movement in China has largely skipped ethnic minorities, especially in the western part of China due to the long and complicated history between the Han majority and their ethnic minority peers. And if race relations between the Hans and Uyghurs continues to escalate into violence, how will the gospel penetrate into this lost people group?
But at the end of the day, I'm reminded that God is the one in charge, not me. My pessimist view on reality is dwarfed by the way God can work in impossible situations. Even in such a tense climate, I'm challenged to have faith that God is at work even when we cannot see it. It just reminds me that I need to be more dilligent in praying for the people that I met and for a local church to grow and reach the lost.
Media coverage of this new rebellion is hardly as colorful as the Iranian struggle and even the "saffron revolution" in Burma in 2007. Is it because all Uyghurs have been generally portrayed as separatists and terrorists according to China, the United States, and the European Union? Perhaps. But whatever the reason for the limited media coverage on this issue, this recent spade of violence in Xinjiang saddens me on a personal level.
It was only two summers ago that I walked the very streets where blood has been shed these past few days. In the Uyghur sections of Urumqi and Kashgar, my team and I snapped photos, talked with locals, and even shared the gospel of Jesus Christ. The smell of fresh naan and lamb meat is still freshly vivid as is the signs of decay in the shanties. Children played with plastic bottles in lieu of toys, unemployed men loitered around the local mosques, and women covered from head to toe walked down the streets. The people I talked to voiced their displeasure of Americans and of the Han Chinese. They talked about their grievances--of lack of economic opportunities, of limited freedom to worship, of exploitation, of secondary social status, etc. They talked about George Bush and how his wars have only exacerbated their conditions.
These were the people we lived with for three weeks. These people, most of whom had never heard of Jesus Christ, were the ones that God called a team of eleven college and young adults to preach the good news to. These people, whom we had previously never knew existed, would open our eyes to a new world and teach us how much God so loves his people.
But as the state clamps down on these very people we reached out, I often find myself having a very pessimistic view of the situation. The missionary that we worked with in Urumqi had said that one of the main obstacles for Uyghurs to put their trust in God is that there is no viable indigenous churches in Xinjiang. And to make matters worse, the burgeoning underground church movement in China has largely skipped ethnic minorities, especially in the western part of China due to the long and complicated history between the Han majority and their ethnic minority peers. And if race relations between the Hans and Uyghurs continues to escalate into violence, how will the gospel penetrate into this lost people group?
But at the end of the day, I'm reminded that God is the one in charge, not me. My pessimist view on reality is dwarfed by the way God can work in impossible situations. Even in such a tense climate, I'm challenged to have faith that God is at work even when we cannot see it. It just reminds me that I need to be more dilligent in praying for the people that I met and for a local church to grow and reach the lost.
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