Michael Jackson was redefined in death. Many facts about him are largely un-debateable. He was an enormously talented entertainer who greatly influenced pop music as it exists today. He was a humanitarian who gave of himself and his wealth in attempts to diminish world suffering. But entertainment wise, he was basically irrelevant for the past two decades. Socially he was isolated. He exhibited bizarre behavior, including mutilating his face, essentially buying three children and showing the maturity level of a 10 year old. He was accused twice of molesting kids. In one case he was acquitted, in the other he bought the alleged victims' silence for a reported $20,000,000. But regardless of his guilt or innocence, by societies standards he lacked boundaries with children. By all accounts he was a voracious consumer of illicitly obtained drugs. And since the early 1990's, the media, and many in the entertainment industry, have painted him as a freak show. This past week the same media and industry insiders did everything they could to canonize him. The only things he needed to do to elicit that dramatic reversal and achieve public redemption was to be talented and rich. He also needed to die.

Several years ago, Rush Limbaugh, the conservative radio host, acknowledged illegally obtaining and using enough narcotics to intoxicate the majority of people in Washington. Today he is seen as a leader, and spokesperson, for the Republican Party. His path to redemption; a large audience, an unwavering committment to conservative ideals and the outspoken willingness to mix it up with Democrats.

The list goes on; Bill Clinton, Marion Barry, Robert Downey Jr., Newt Gingrich, Eddie Van Halen. All are people who publically embarrassed themselves, but because of popularity, talent or political idealogy, were able to reclaim, and in some cases surpass, their previous success, credibility and status.

In contrast, those without money, status or identified talent are faced with more obstacles to redemption than at any time in recent history. With the advent of the internet we have come a long way toward a place where anyone can find out anything about anyone else. And those who have made the mistake of breaking a law and being caught, regardless of their attempts to become law abiding and productive, are faced with a multitude of formal and informal collateral consequences that make reintegration a truly upward battle. Legislatively we have enacted prohibitions for hundreds of jobs for those with criminal records. A felon cannot even be hired to shovel manure at Canterbury Downs, much less for many more substantive jobs. Many are prohibited from accessing housing and student loans. Background checks, often incomplete or outdated, are completed for employment at McDonalds and Target, and irrespective of legislative prohibition, most employers won't take the risk, particularly when they have a record number of unemployed to choose from.

A felon who has paid her/dues, upgraded their skills and committed to being law abiding pursuant to our expectations of them, who then cannot get a job or a place to live, is left with few options. Add to that the fact that many of them are poor, and from communities of color, and our current response may just have institutionalized the continuation of poverty and poor decision making for entire communities.

Life's far from fair, but you shouldn't need to be Michael Jackson or Rush Limbaugh, or need to die, to catch a break.

As a society, it isn't our responsibility to rehabilitate people, or images. But it is our responsibility to provide a path to that end. and the path should be there for all.