Long before the word "blog" had entered our collective vernacular, I was writing. Writing about what pissed me off, made me laugh, roll my eyes, or what anyone paid me to write (meatloaf, anyone?).
Like the Michael Jackson piece I posted yesterday - written back in 2002 - I did several follow-up pieces as more details came to light.
As I stated in the comments, each person is allowed to come to their own conclusion about what they believe / do not believe, think / do not think about Michael Jackson. His talent cannot be denied. And personally, neither do I believe can his humanity.
Read, don't read - your choice. But this is where I was at with MJ back in 2002, and this is still where I am today.
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Jackson vs. Bashir: The Glove Comes Off
In what can only be described as a one-two punch in the ongoing media battle, Michael Jackson knocked British journalist Martin Bashir’s credibility flat on the mat.
In the past weeks since the airing of what has come to be termed Bashir’s “mock”umentary, the tabloids, chatrooms, newspapers and radio airwaves have become a battle ground.
On one side, a mob mentality media whose entire mind set has turned tabloid, on the other a defensive force to be reckoned with: Michael’s friends, family and legendary fan base.
I had stated in an earlier article, written after viewing the Bashir broadcast, that if you were to follow anyone around for eight months with a camera, you could then edit them to look either saint or sinner. (Follow me around for even eight days and you could edit me to look like Mother of the Year or Ozzy Osbourne.) But then add to that some innuendo laden voice overs and it became clear Bashir chose to firmly paint Mr. Jackson into the “sinner” camp.
I am happy to report I was right on the money. And said money is what Bashir was after. A sad commentary on our society, but sensationalism wins out over substance in the ratings game. And by offering up a perverted, bastardized version of the King of Pop, so badly maligned in the past, his “documentary” held much more sizzle for the network bidders.
Who needs journalistic integrity when millions of dollars are in the offing?
The “Footage That You Were Never Meant To See” special on FOX shined a much different light on Michael Jackson and exposed Martin Bashir for what he is: a social climbing, two faced, publicity seeking interviewer whose main skill is ingratiating himself to his victim and talking out of both sides of his mouth. To continue to call him a “journalist” is offensive to those who actually do hold integrity and objectivity to be of paramount importance in covering any story - whether current event or celebrity fluff. Oh, and there is also that pesky little word: TRUTH.
Mr Bashir seems to have a big problem with telling it.
But then, in watching the interview footage taken by Mr. Jackson’s cameraman, what I have always believed was reinforced. The TRUTH is simply not as interesting as the garbage people make up.
Last evening, Michael Jackson was “exposed” for what he is. A soft spoken, eloquent, thoughtful, caring, philanthropic, loving, nurturing man who would simply like to live his life in peace. Hmmmm, you’re right Mr. Bashir, it doesn’t sound as titillating as “perverted, child molesting, danger-to-himself-and-others, neglectful, paranoid, psychotic megalomaniac”.
Did as many people tune in to Michael’s footage as Martin Bashir’s? Sadly, I doubt it. But then given society’s reality TV appetite for greed, sloth, avarice and sex, it makes sense. They would have most certainly come away hungry and people have a long standing history of not wanting to be proved wrong.
There were also no headlines this morning revealing the truth about Martin Bashir’s obvious deal-with-the-devil documentary. That’s ok though. I watched. And I will be happy to be the first journalist to predict that Michael Jackson will go on. He will continue to touch the lives of millions around the world. He will continue to share the creative genius of his music. He will continue to welcome children to his ranch to play. And he will continue to offer compassion and charity to a world that has chosen to do little more than ridicule him for more than a decade.
And as for Mr. Bashir? I predict for him a wonderful career writing stories about three headed aliens, crop circles and talking hamsters as a “highly respected” tabloid reporter.
I do believe in boxing terms that would be called a TKO.
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It’s A ONEderful Life
Over the past months I have been privileged to receive and exchange thousands of emails with fans of Michael Jackson from around the globe. And I mean around the globe. Name a country with Internet access and I have an email from someone there.
I have received emails in languages I could not understand. I have waded through emails where the writer’s attempts at English are both heartfelt and heartwarming. I have received loving stories about how Michael Jackson has touched an individual’s life. I have read lengthy diatribes in which the writer vents their anger and frustration with the poor treatment of this man. I have heard from people whose email addresses pay homage to him in the form of song titles: thrillermj, or simple adoration: iluvmj4evr. And contained in them all, I have been repeatedly asked a single question.
Are you a fan of Michael Jackson?
In a global media which certainly seems hellbent on castigating Michael Jackson and turning him inside out for ratings and increased circulation, I admit I must stand out like a sore thumb or a die hard fan.
The sore thumb I will cop to. I simply refuse to get swept up in the tidal wave of hype, choosing rather to cling to a life preserver called objectivity and perspective. But as for being a die hard fan? No. What I am, and have been, is an ardent admirer of Michael’s for more years than most of the emailers I hear from have been alive.
Certainly I appreciate his immeasurable talent. But what has always drawn me has been his charity. His acceptance of his fellow man. His willingness to embrace his inner child. And yes, his open and innocent love for children everywhere.
So when I watch the news or read the paper and see another distorted headline or grandstanding public defender, I am compelled to respond to the stinking hypocrisy. Take for instance the recent public statement by everyone’s favorite candidate for a Queer Eye segment, Tom Sneddon. He now wants a gag order on the case, in order to protect Michael’s chance at a fair trial. I see, Tom. Make love to that podium and microphone until facts begin coming to light such as Michael Jackson not being in the same state with the child on the dates in question. Yeah, I can see where that information making its way to the public would make you gag.
And the hoopla in the past month regarding the Nation of Islam. Are they controlling him? Are they in charge of his finances? Life? Choices? I don’t care if Louis Farrakhan himself is counciling Michael on “paper or plastic” at the grocery store or if the Nation of Yard Gnomes is paying his bills. It is none of our business and when this is the lead story on the nightly news over a report on new casualties in Iraq, something is terribly wrong with media perspective.
Even after his interview with 60 Minutes’ Ed Bradley, all the media could do was derisively dissect his every word and gesture. Words like “ignorant”, “grotesque” and “liar” hung heavy in the Good Morning America-Today Show air. It had been a solid interview, but even the bunch on CNN were not above weaving in innuendo and heaping on the sarcasm. He simply can’t win.
Or can he?
That was my thought as I sat down to watch the delayed airing of the CBS Number Ones special, along with roughly 10.5 million other folks. For an hour I was pleasantly swept away, back to the 80's and 90's, powerfully reminded of Michael Jackson’s talent, staying power and contributions to the music industry. His voice, his moves, his passion for serving up more than we deserve. And when the show closed out with his new song, I realized something irrefutable.
While he is described by friends and fans as one in a million, that simply is not right. One in a million implies there are others like him out there. And when it comes to living life beautifully, fully and with conviction, he is unmatched.
Michael Jackson is not one-in-a-million. Michael Jackson is simply ONE.
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Reflection Of The Man In The Mirror
“Don’t expect too much from human nature; remember, man is made up of pounds of muscle, but only ounces of brain.”
I have been asked repeatedly why I publicly support Michael Jackson. And in light of the fact that just about every journalist, TV anchor and reporter have practically formed a club dedicated to vilifying him, it’s a fair question.
I suppose one reason is that I have never been a joiner, never considered it wise to mindlessly follow the crowd. Look at lemmings. These poor ratlike creatures take off running, one after another because it looks like the right thing to do and where do they end up? Plummeting off a cliff into the sea, that’s where.
Another reason would have to do with my love of fairness and my hatred of hypocrisy. I see a media burning the candle of Michael Jackson at both ends. For years, so happy to use him for ratings and circulation when he so much as sneezed, now equally as thrilled to abuse him for those same ratings and magazine sales when lies and sordid allegations are levied.
But drowned lemmings and libel aside, my biggest reason for speaking out in support of him is that I see myself in his actions with children, and I “get it”. I’m the anti-grownup where I live. As opposed to the majority of adults in this world, I make myself accessible to children. I love kids, I play with kids, I hug them, I kiss them on their heads, I laugh with them, I listen to them, and in turn, they fill my life and heart with hope and happiness. In my daughters’ schools, I no more than walk in and children come running from all directions. In the grocery store, it is not uncommon for these children to come out of nowhere and throw themselves around my waist for a hug.
It is when I see the expression on the face of the parent, that I easily see how my own actions could be totally misunderstood. The parent does not know me, and is visibly freaked out by the fact that their child has an obvious comfort level of touching with me. But pedophilia and perversion are worlds apart from cherishing and championing.
Here’s an example: Several nights ago, I sat in a darkened room, a five year old child - not mine - between my legs, As I kissed and caressed her, she pressed firmly against my breasts.
Ready to call Child Protective Services on me? Given that information, I would call the authorities on me!
Now, try this: Several nights ago, while sitting in the dark with my daughter’s soccer team, watching Harry Potter, the younger sister of a team member came and sat in my lap. I rubbed her shoulders and back, she fell asleep. As she leaned back against me, I kissed her on top of her little head.”
See how even the most innocent of scenes can be spun into a tale of debauchery?
Michael Jackson is a victim of an open heart, a loving mind and a simple soul. He is guilty of trusting the only people in our society who can truly be trusted, the children. They are born into the world as blank slates. It is unfortunate to see how the adults in their life choose to “write upon them” with their own bigotry, ignorance and fear.
The media is unfortunately a fairly unstoppable force. They will continue to pay money to people who claim to be “insiders”, publishing stories that are more fiction than any Grimm Fairy Tale. And in that is the grim truth about people. The basest part of human nature is an inherent fear of anything or anyone who is different, and the media is more than willing to dish up garbage to a public who is ready to believe the worst - the stinkier the better.
He is innocent. I believe it in my gut. I understand it in my head. I feel it in my heart. And like the millions upon millions of Michael Jackson fans around the world - I will continue to voice my support and when I look in the mirror, see the reflection of that part of Michael that lives inside me.
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