Yes, it is sad.

Yes, both he and his music meant the world to many.

Yes, he was and will forever be ‘The King of Pop.’

But, the media frenzy surrounding his death, his drugs, his upcoming tour, his children, and his ‘doctor’ got me thinking about the significance of death. His life and death are receiving all the coverage because of his difference and his influence in the world of music. His popularity, his famous face have essentially cause the world of media to stop dead in its tracks and cover nothing but Michael Jackson round the clock.

And, it saddens me.

Thousands of people died the same day as Michael Jackson. And, thousands of people have died every day since. These people were not famous. They were not wealthy. Nor did they have a huge influence in the world of music. But, they were still important.

The thousands of nameless, faceless people that pass everyday are easily just as important and influential to the people in their lives as Michael Jackson was to the people in his. Their passing certainly means the world to the widow left behind or the mother aching to hold her child one last time. They might get a couple inches of space in the local hometown newspaper, but you’ll never see them mentioned on every news program available. They might be mentioned in church for their wonderful service or toasted at the local tavern. And, in those moments they are stars. But, when the day ends and the widow or mother goes to bed, it’s only a small number of people working to keep a memory alive.

And, that is sad because those thousands of people that have passed certainly meant the world to someone, no matter how small that world may be.

So, maybe between watching the nonstop coverage or running out to buy the latest tribute album or magazine, you could take a moment and remember that many others have passed, too.

And someone sure misses them as well.