The Man in the Mirror

I am not a big Michael Jackson fan. However, I do agree with Kristine McKenna in her article “The Moonwalker’s Strange Quest for Perfection” (Calendar, Nov. 6) that he is an “immensely gifted performer.”

Today, with all of the gigantic political issues and tense situations of everyday life, I can’t help but envy someone who is “30 going on 12.” I wish it were me.

I’m sure Michael Jackson receives plenty of joy from his life. Otherwise, do you think he’d still be living it the way he does? I’m sure he’s wealthy enough to obtain a false death certificate, have his face remodeled again and pose as a bum somewhere in downtown L.A. if he wanted. Kristine, why don’t you stay at home and listen to Graham Parker’s “Don’t Break Down”? Pay particular attention to the second verse: “Some people are in charge of pens / That shouldn’t be in charge of brooms / They have the nerve to rip up a man’s life / In a paragraph or two.”

I say to you, Kristine McKenna, although I don’t know if you could handle it, maybe you should be pushing a broom.

JERRY ABRAHAM

Placentia