Mawkish displays

So Michael Jackson, the 'King of Pop', is dead. Doubtless this is a tragedy for his family and close friends, but I fail to understand why seemingly millions of otherwise normal folk are now overcome with grief for someone they had never met, indeed, someone who (to be frank) was a damn weirdo.

Yes, he was a first rate dancer, and made some undeniably superlative recordings some decades back (admittedly with the help of Quincy Jones, a consummate artist), but quite honestly, Jackson hadn't produced any great musical offerings for many years.

What I find unacceptable is the manner in which the British 'stiff upper lip' seems to have vanished into thin air. Instead, we have letters to newspapers and messages on the Internet, all expressing their writers' devastation and grief. Sentimentality is rife! These mawkish, public displays of over-emotion may have their place in the USA, or possibly amongst Spaniards. But I find it an utterly perplexing carry-on for the British to be behaving in this way.

No doubt the streets outside the 02 Arena will now be deluged with flowers and teddy bears.