This is a matter of grave importance. From USA Today:Anyone who has been to a rural state fair understands the allure of a good butter sculpture. But until now, few people considered the exhibits controversial.
In Iowa, a plan to add Michael Jackson mid-"moonwalk" to the annual butter cow display "has created a lot of, well, 'churn,'" said state fair director and CEO Gary Slater.Sculptor Sarah Pratt said she didn't intend "to honor (Jackson) as a hero" and would also commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission - the original “moonwalk†- with the exhibit.Pratt, who describes herself as a childhood Jackson fan, said she had planned to sculpt just an astronaut but chose to link the tributes with a play on words after Jackson died suddenly.Lori Chappell, a fair organizer, said she realized the addition could be controversial but added that the sculpture was meant "to pay tribute to his contribution to music and dance," not to add to "scrutiny of his life."Now, after hundreds of people reacted strongly to the July 1 decision, officials have decided to let the public decide whether the pop star should be featured at the fair, our sister paper The Des Moines Register reports.To add your voice to the debate, visit the fair website to vote from July 9 to 13.