Michael Jackson: Obsession Of A New Generation

My kids have a little Michael Jackson obsession going on.

How did this all happen? Well, remember the days when MTV actually played videos around the clock and you could sit there and tape those videos onto a VHS tape? My husband was one of those folks that did that. So he has every single Michael Jackson video and lots of footage from award show performances. Long ago when he was working in a media services office, he dubbed all this footage onto one tape. Now he's converted them to DVD and my sons constantly want to watch it.

My three year-old, Toussaint, is concerned about the state of Michael Jackson's bladder. "Michael Jackson doesn't wear pull-ups."

My six year-old, Olinga, is concerned about Michael's skin. "Why can't the doctors fix him and make him black again? He doesn't look so healthy with that white skin. He should go to Dr. Yazdani." Olinga has so much faith in his pediatrician that he doesn't believe me when I tell him that Dr. Yazdani can't fix Michael's skin.

They both have fashion suggestions for Michael. "Michael Jackson needs a Power Ranger shirt to go with his red jacket."

There are also regular reenactments of the dancing/fight scene from the "Beat It" video.

This fun and exciting game usually starts with Olinga saying, "Hey, Toussaint, let's play "Beat It"!"

They debate over who's going to get to be Michael Jackson and who's going to be the bad guy. Then they jump around singing the chorus, which they believe to be, "Beat it! Beat it! No one wants to be the meat hit!"

The latest request? They want me to get some rope. Why do they need rope?

"Hey Mommy, can you tie our hands together like they do in the video?"

Olinga also loves the dancing in the video for Billie Jean. But now when we walk to the park I get asked, "Why doesn't the sidewalk light up for me like it does for Michael Jackson?"

The (thankfully, almost out) Griffith Park fire? According to my youngest, "Michael Jackson started those fires, Mommy."

"Why do you think Michael Jackson started the fire?" I asked, even though I was a little afraid of his answer.

"Because Olinga said so."

Okay. So, of course I had to ask Olinga if he said this. "Olinga, did you tell Toussaint that Michael Jackson started the fire?"

Olinga's mouth fell open and from the look on his face, you would have thought it was the end of the world. He was absolutely horrified! "Michael Jackson started the fires? Oh my God!!!"

He then jumped off the couch and ran to tell my husband, "Daddy! Mommy said Michael Jackson started the fire!"

It took five minutes for me to convince everyone that I didn't say it. Who knows how this got in my youngest son's head. He continued to say that his brother told him this.

At least he didn't tell me, "Michael told me when I was sitting on his lap."