Like many other people on this pathetic planet, I was compelled to sit through Michael Jackson's memorial event. It was a bit of a circus - but this was an American production was it not? I didn't really mind because after all, despite the poor guys flaws, he was an enormous talent, and as many had attested was probably the most influential and talented performer in our lifetime, and possibly ever, .... especially since MTV.What was really bizarre though was when his daughter Paris actually came forward to speak, and when she cried.
Now, please don't flame me for what I want to point out. I just ask you to be objective about this.
The first thing that struck me, and did so with the force of a hurricane was that she made all the appropriate noises and sounds like she was crying, but I didn't really see her cry. Now, I am not saying this to take away or belittle the grief of the little girl, but it was so blatantly obvious that there was not a single tear drop. And neither were her eyes red. Was there any snot? No.
Essentially, I didn't see Paris Jackson cry.
Here's the funny thing. Everyone was primed to cry. Everyone was primed to see people cry. And when she spoke, the tears were already welling up. It didn't really take very much for Paris Jackson to move everyone to cry in sympathy.
But in honesty I didn't really see her cry.
Again, I ask you to be objective. Go and watch the video again and again. Do you actually see her cry? Now, again I am not suggesting she was insincere or exploitative, or was being manipulated etc....she may have had a gazillion valid reasons, and she was entitled to all those reasons..... but fact of the matter is I don't think she was crying.
And I wasn't the only one to notice this. See here.
The 19C Italian poet, Antonio Porchia wrote: "More grievous than tears is the sight of them."
Perhaps, in this case, even more so, when you don't see them.
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