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An immediate stamp for Michael Jackson?

The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.

When you get your mail, will a Michael Jackson stamp [BE THERE music]?

The Reverend Al Sharpton says the U-S should issue a stamp for the King of Pop right 
away. Forget about the 5-year waiting period, he and other Jackson stamp supporters 
say. Michael Jackson was too big a part of American culture to delay.

But other major cultural icons, like Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope, had to wait before 
they were honored with a postage stamp. They were as important to their eras as 
Jackson was to his.

I also don't think the Postal Service CAN issue a stamp for Michael Jackson that fast. 
His death at age 50 wasn't expected. It will take time to come up with a design and 
obtain the rights to his name and likeness.

On the other hand, some Internet message boards are full of comments about Jackson's 
personal life and problems. But there are plenty of less-than-perfect people on U-S 
stamps. Eliminate all the people with flaws, and you might just as well stop issuing 
stamps that honor people.

I think, five years or more down the road, the Michael Jackson stamp will be able to 
say, [I'LL BE THERE music].

I'm Lloyd de Vries of The Virtual Stamp Club. For more on stamps and stamp collecting, 
visit virtual-stamp-club-dot-com.

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