In an article featured in today’s Showbiz411.com, Roger Friedman announced that as of this weekend This is It has officially grossed $240 million dollars.

http://showbiz411.blogs.thr.com/michael-jackson-this-is-it-hits-240-mil-worldwide/

His article goes on to discuss what he calls the cruel irony of Jackson’s death allowing him to finally have the successful movie career he had always wanted.  Well, that’s all great news but that’s not what really brought this article to my attention. Rather, it was this statement right here:

“…The footage from all those rehearsals has become a bonanza. And this column told you first that AEGLive had 100 hours of it.  That was back on June 29th, four days after Michael was killed.”

That statement (my bolface) was the thing that drew my attention. The fact is, we have all known ever since the coroner’s official ruling, released August 24th, that Michael Jackson’s death was a homicide. For the record, that doesn’t necessarily mean “murder,” at least not until or unless the investigation declares such to be the case. But what it does mean, for sure, is that Michael Jackson died at the hands of another. It wasn’t as if he died from natural causes. Nor was this a typical, tragic case of a pop star overdosing himself.

Michael Jacson was killed, pure and simple. As to determining whether that be a case for manslaughter or murder is simply a matter of determing the amount of premeditation or malice involved. But either way, the word “homicide” speaks loud and clear. It is what it is.

But reading Friedman’s article today, it really struck me how hesitant the media has been in this matter, and how they have all neatly skirted the issue, whether intentionally or not. The media will make references to “Jackson’s death” or “the pop star’s demise” or whatever other nifty euphemisms they wish to use. It seems that on the media’s part there has been this ongoing conspiracy, even after the official coroner ruling, to somehow lay all the blame for Jackson’s death squarely at his own feet. Well, it may be true that some of his own choices led him into that very vulnerable position that he was in on the morning of June 25th. I won’t deny that. But I think they are continuing to ignore the bigger picture, which is that Michael died as a result of being injected with a deadly combination of sedatives, which was then compounded by the administering of a dangerous anesthetic (something no self-respecting doctor would ever dare give outside of a hospital setting), which was then compounded by the fact that he was left alone and unmonitored for who-knows-how-long while Murray chatted with his girlfriend on the phone. Now, add to that the mysterious hour that elapsed before 911 was ever called, while Murray proceeded forth with some of the most bungling, inept and incompetent attempts at CPR I’ve ever heard.

Yes, Michael Jackson was killed. But weirdly enough, I didn’t realize until today that I had never heard so much as one reference to it as such in the media. I think, as of today, I am taking a cue from Friedman, and I encourage everyone to do the same. From now on, I will no longer refer simply to “Michael Jackson’s death.” I will refuse to say, “Michael Jackson died.”  I will say instead, “Michael Jackson was killed.” And from now on, all the references I make  will be not to “his death” but to “his murder.”

And just maybe, if enough of us pick up the cue, the rest of the media will follow suit. There can be no justice for Michael as long as the media and the public continue to ignore the fact that this was a homicide. Keep in mind: Michael Jackson is dead, and his killer is alive and working in Houston. He is being allowed to treat patients. He is being allowed to administer propofol, as if nothing ever happened. Yes, the investigation is ongoing, and I realize they have to dot all their i’s and cross their t’s before making an arrest. I realize we are innocent until proven guilty, at least in an ideal world. I “get” that. However, that doesn’t mean that in the meantime, we should let it be forgotten that Michael’s death was a homicide-whoever is responsible, and for whatever reasons.

If you need motivation, watch Live at Bucharest. Or go see This Is It. Remember that Michael Jackson is dead, and Conrad Murray is back at work like nothing ever happened.  Think of all we’ve lost. Then remember this:

Michael Jackson was killed.

Dr. Murray, Back at Work: Would You Let This Man Operate on You?

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