It never ceases to amaze me how we humans can get so wrapped up in an event.

Most of us “older” people can recall where we were and what we were doing the day President Kennedy died. I was 6 years old. I remember my family and I, sitting around a radio, listening to events as they unfolded.

And then there were the deaths of Elvis Presley, Dale Earnhart, and Princess Diana. Most of us can’t forget our reactions to the Oklahoma bombings and 9-11.

Here we are in 2009 and we’re faced with the media circus surrounding Michael Jackson’s death.

I was never a big fan of his but always admired his genius. What a talented man. Disturbed, probably. Sick, absolutely. Most geniuses fall into one of those categories.

We are saddened by his death but golly, do we have to know the contents of his stomach and the color of his underwear when he died?

Information is important. Heck, this newspaper is in the information business, but there is a limit as to what is truly newsworthy and what is too much.

I have to admit that I was glued to the television the night of his death — watching his videos and interviews. We go through a certain time of disbelief when someone dies but we need to put this in perspective.

Would we give this much attention to other people who probably have a more profound effect on our world than Michael Jackson?

I’m not sure.

— susan berg