Michael the Meal

By Mumia Abu-Jamal, Prison Radio, Written July 2; Recorded July 5, 2009

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Michael Jackson was many things in his 50 years of life; child star, wunderkind, stirring tenor, dancer extraordinaire, entertainer, even oddity.

But, he was more. In death as in life, he has become a meal for the media.

Ad the media is ever hungry, and never full.

I confess to sheer fascination, and thus, perhaps I am feeding the very beast that I declaim, for fascination is but fuel for the flame.

Michael Jackson's entire life has been a source of fascination and has sparked the sales of newspapers, magazines and assorted media outlets.

CNN, the nation's premier cable news network, saw an increase of over 900% -- 900% -- in viewer ship since Michael's passing.

Don't you think the ever-growing profit motive has had something to do with this?

For a brief, naive moment, I thought that the mad frenzy of the media for Jackson would dissipate with his passing. I could not be more wrong.

We will hear, read and see much more of Michael before this latest mania passes over.

Driven by the lust for profits, the story will go on and on -- until nothing is left to eat.

--(c) '09 maj

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The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia!

URGENT Need for Petition Signatures at: http://www.iacenter.org/mumiapetition/

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Mumia Abu-Jamal's new book -- JAILHOUSE LAWYERS: PRISONERS DEFENDING PRISONERS V. THE USA, featuring an introduction by Angela Y. Davis -- has been released! It is available from City Lights Books: http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100448090

If you are planning to organize an event or would like to order in bulk, you can also receive a 45% discount on any bulk orders of 20 copies or more. The book retails for $16.95, for orders of 20 copies or more the discounted price would be $9.32 per book, plus shipping and handling. Prepayment would be required and books are nonreturnable. If you or your organization would like to place a bulk order, please contact Stacey Lewis at 415.362.1901 or stacey@citylights.com

Let's use the opportunity of the publication of this brilliant, moving, vintage Mumia book to build the momentum for his case, to raise the money we desperately need in these challenging economic times, to get the word out – to produce literature, flyers, posters, videos, DVD's; to send organizers out to help build new chapters and strengthen old ones, TO GET THE PEOPLE OUT IN THE STREETS … all the work that we must do in order to FREE MUMIA as he faces LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE OR EXECUTION!

Please make a contribution to help free Mumia. Donations to the grassroots work will go to both INTERNATIONAL CONCERNED FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL and the FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL COALITION (NYC).

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