King of Pop Michael Jackson has been making headlines trumpeting allegations of a 12-year-old boy accusing him of sexual abuse. Again. Did we not get enough of the media frenzy the first time around 10 years ago with similar allegations?

The media frames this unfolding drama in absurd ways. Does Santa Barbara County district attorney Thomas Sneddon Jr., the same authority who dealt with the allegations 10 years ago, have a personal vendetta against Jackson, determined this time to nail him? Is Jackson a pedophile, living a secret life at his Neverland Ranch as a sexual predator of prepubescent boys? And my favorite: The African-American community is in an uproar, believing it’s an issue of racism, and their hero is suffering persecution.

Jackson’s immediate family has passionately defended him. According to some commentary from a local radio station, most of Jackson’s friends support him as well. Why wouldn’t they? It’s the safe thing to do. And Jackson’s own response has been feigned shock and bewilderment. (Who? me?) I would never do anything to harm children. I love children.

Some of his former staff from Neverland Ranch have gone on record in order to describe in extensive detail an elaborate alarm system Jackson had installed just for his bedroom, and the parade of young boys in and out of his bedroom for regular sleepovers. Depending on who is asked in Santa Barbara County, Jackson is either a wonderful, generous host who is always willing to share his wealth and possessions, or he’s the ogre of Neverland Ranch. Even more bizarre, one of Jackson’s brothers has claimed that Jackson might be the second coming of Christ, and compared Michael’s self-righteous suffering to Jesus.

Some convincing evidence suggesting Jackson could be a pedophile has been revealed. Pedophilia manifests itself in several forms. One of the forms, according to Paul A. Gore, Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, is fixated (or exclusive type) pedophilia. Those with this condition consider themselves trapped in childhood. These people are mainly men who have a primary interest in boys, with whom they develop relationships.

If Jackson was smart, he would have used the first accusation as a publicity stunt (making lemonade out of lemons), kept away from children (except his own) and a low profile. But pedophiles can’t stop their addictive behavior, and the accusations against Jackson are relentless.

We know, to some extent, what Jackson’s own childhood was like. He was never allowed to enjoy being a kid. Once his talent was discovered, his father treated him like a cash cow and never let him rest. Jackson admitted to suffering abuse from his father on the Oprah Winfrey show in 1993. Does this suggest that the “adult” Jackson has become an abuser? Experts say that today’s abused become tomorrow’s abusers.

To add further complications, he has been catered to and spoiled for most of his adult life. I’ll call it “Celebrity Syndrome.” What Michael Jackson wants, Michael Jackson gets, right? He still seems to be living in a fantasy world where he believes he still has fans who adore him. An article in December’s issue of Time magazine put it rather well. “Michael Jackson’s grand illusion is that he is still Michael Jackson — the ‘Billie Jean,’ ‘Beat It,’ and ‘Thriller’ Michael Jackson, the dazzling dancer-singer who in the mid ’80s made record-breaking albums. Self-absorbed as Jackson might be, he may not have noticed that the world’s opinion of him has diminished and soured.”

Only when Jackson displays his many odd eccentricities, such as the infamous dangling of his 8-month-old son off a balcony, keeping his children’s faces covered in public, not to mention his numerous “defacing” surgeries, is the general public mildly interested.

Jackson has transformed himself into a clown who will never again be taken seriously. His grotesque mug shot taken when he turned himself in to the Santa Barbara authorities says it all. His disfigured, red-painted mouth looks hideous against his albino skin. All of his cosmetic surgeries beg the question: Why was he not content with the way he looked naturally? Is having curly hair and a wide nose really that bad?

Does anyone actually care at this point (with the exception of the alleged victim and his family) whether Jackson is innocent or guilty? There are more important things to think about now, like our troops overseas, the upcoming primary elections and the economy. No superstar should be above the law, not even the former King of Pop.

So close the curtains and take a final bow, Michael. Your show is over, say goodbye. And try, for once, to make a graceful exit.