An ironic icon

Re “King of Pop is dead at 50,” June 26

For a great many years, people have been making all sorts of snide remarks and nasty jokes about Michael Jackson. But suddenly, now that he’s shockingly dead, he’s become a great icon -- showered with tears and flowers. The turmoil in Iran, and Farrah Fawcett too, have been quickly pushed offstage.

What’s going on here? What would Jackson think if he could look down on all this sentimental commotion that belies the apparent disrespect he received for so long?

Barbara Marinacci

Pacific Palisades

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The world benefited so much from Michael Jackson’s service. He not only uplifted people with his unique musical gifts but, through such songs as “We Are the World,” he helped make service and social awareness an important part of a generation of both fans and performers.

Jeffrey Ainis

Crestline, Calif.

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The only sad thing about Jackson’s death is that it has overtaken the story of Farrah Fawcett’s death -- and she was a far superior human being. Then again, it didn’t take much to be far superior to Jackson.

Paul Jeser

Los Angeles

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The world has multiple crises, our economy is on life-support, California is close to bankruptcy, yet all I get is more and more about Michael Jackson from every person who ever knew him -- more than anyone needs to know.

David Housh

Glendora

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I was puzzled and troubled that in your headlines of two icons, you devoted so much more space in favor of Jackson compared with Farrah Fawcett on the front page.

You could have put her up in equal-opportunity terms as a queen of pop culture. Could there be a tint of sexism or reverse racism?

Edward Ng

South Pasadena