Death of the Icons
I’m always looking for some kind of divine sign when huge shifts or events in popular culture unfold. I don’t think it is a stretch to point out the “iconic” nature of 4 recent deaths – particularly for those of us who lived through the excesses of the 70s-80s. (Sorry & R.I.P., Billy Mays. You were well known as the dyed beard guy who yelled a l
ot to pimp a product, but your stature wasn’t quite as iconic as those I’ll mention below.)
George Tiller personified the culmination of the 60’s and early 70’s: Women’s rights, abortion rights, sexuality without responsibility. He performed tens of thousands of abortions – many on late-term and likely viable preborn babies. Abortion-rights advocates called him a hero. Pro-lifers called him a mass murderer. I am so thankful that virtually EVERY known anti-abortion group denounced the murder of Tiller. And I will resist the urge to expand on the biblical axiom of live by the sword > die by the sword.
Ed McMahon represented – for many – the illusion of the cheap American dream: “I don’t have to exercise any financial wisdom. One day my ship will come in. I’ll win a lottery or Ed McMahon will bring one of those oversize checks to my door.” He was the long time sidekick/straight man for Johnny Carson. But, at least for a generation, his name became synonymous with Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes award. And many still live as if money will miraculously walk up to our door.
Farrah Fawcett epitomized poster-girl beauty. What guy from that era DIDN’T have that poster? Today, all the glam-hotties are just a few computer keystrokes away. And (pun intended) they are way too overexposed. But in Farrah’s prime, you had to wait a whole week just to see her on another episode of Charlie’s Angels. For 1000’s of men, their spiritual peak was praying that the week’s script would require her to wear a swimsuit.
Michael Jackson was, of course, the King of Pop. His influence on music and entertainment is nearly impossible to overexaggerate. Thriller probably made MTV a staple for music lovers. Jacko captured 
everything that materialists hold dear: talent, fame, riches, and the most influential friends on the planet. Last week’s most popular story in Time Magazine was Michael Jackson: The Death of Peter Pan. Tragically, he will also be remembered as the freak who paid $20,000,000 to buy his way out of conviction for child molestation.
Now all are gone.
Worthwhile question: Is God trying to tell us anything through the loss of these 4 cultural icons? Is there a message somewhere about the relative worthlessness and temporary illusion of promiscuity, money, wealth, beauty, influence, worldly talent?
Life is not about having everything you want. Life is about making God everything you want.
Don’t forget about Billy Mays
Billy Mays was more of a role model than any of the other three and saddens me more than the others. I will agree that the four people you mentioned HAVE significantly impacted pop culture even though I never had a farrah poster. I did watch the premiere of thriller and I have found myself waiting/wanting Ed McMahon to knock at my door. George Tiller… I only heard about him when he was killed.
It’s interesting the doors that these tragic deaths have opened and the conversations that have been spawned because of it, I must admit that it has shocked me closer to the reality that life is short and making it count is more important than ANY other thing this side of heaven.
Motyl, I think Tiller was known to those who really paid attention to the pro-life/pro-choice debate. At least, that’s my understanding.
Billy Mays was the man, though.
Take somebody like me, young. I barely remember Carson, and I only really know that Ed was his sidekick from the internet and documentaries and old people telling me. I know him more for knocking on people’s doors with big checks (and it would have been sooooo cool to have that happen to me).
Farrah, I… know OF Charlie’s Angels. I’ve seen an episode here and there, but couldn’t tell you if she was in it. I just learned she was married to Lee Majors once. And I used to watch The Six Million Dollar Man on some channel, SciFi I think showed it years ago.
Michael… my mom tells me I used to dance to Thriller. The video scares me to this day, zombies. I have an odd fear of zombies. I don’t really want my brain eaten, go figure. I find peace in that zombies can’t move fast, and I ignore the fast moving zombies I’ve heard about in the movie 28 Days Later. I know his music, like some of it, not really a fan though.
Billy Mays though… I have no use for a Hercules Hook, nails work just fine. Mighty Putty, Mighty Mendit, Big City Slider, Awesome Auger (I want that just for the free drill that comes with it), Kaboom!, OxiClean; he can convince me that I need each of these products. And I don’t need them, but I want some of them. My life was fine without me making mini sliders, but now I want to make mini sliders.
And his partner, although not as good as Billy, makes me want to buy his carpet sweeper. I don’t have carpeting though.
They’re ridiculous products, but he pitched them with such enthusiasm that it was enjoyable to watch, and funny at the same time. It was great.
Now who do I watch, Ron? I’ve seen the rotissirie, I don’t know the family he’s feeding, but it could probably fit a cornish hen. The flavor injector is probably the only useful thing, and I got that elsewhere.
There is the Magic Bullet couple that are so fake it’s funny. Have them and their friends start pitching ridiculous products, it may work.
There’s always that lady with the weird fork/spatula/wisk thing. I don’t need all three in one device though.
I just thought of the man that could possibly do the job, Bob from In The Kitchen With Bob (QVC). Not loud or poisterous, but has the down-to-home personality.
And I just heard Bob left QVC, months ago. I’m mad that I just found out. Sad that it happened.
McMahon actually worked for American Family Publishers, archrival of Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes.
-Yr Gadfly
Oops. You’re right Alan … thanks. Apparently I’m not quite old enough to remember the commercials.