A Collection of Thoughts on Michael Jackson

We don’t often write about individual experiences here because we at MJ Truth Now most definitely operate as a team. However, I was recently reflecting upon the Michael Jackson Community and its various factions and arguments and was feeling a bit down. It came on the heels of the verdict in the AEG Live trial which was, of course, very disappointing. In fact, the five month long trial was heartbreaking not only for the verdict but also for what Michael endured in his last few months and the trial’s massive invasion of privacy of this very private man.

Add to that, Stacy Brown, a longtime Michael Jackson and Jackson family basher, wrote another hit piece in the New York Post especially directed at Michael’s family, as well as, Michael. I could only read (stomach) the first part but I am told that the other three parts were equally nasty. Stacy Brown and his good friend, Diane Dimond, just can’t seem to let go of their vilification of all things Jackson. Reverend Barbara Kaufmann, in her recent piece at InnerMichael.com, “The Creatures of the Night Return,” rightly excoriates such slimy “scandalmongers” as she names them. Rev. Kaufmann says in her article:

“Well, that was predictable, wasn’t it? The crawlers scurried back into their dark hiding places and waited for something to happen to exploit Michael Jackson again in the recent Katherine Jackson v. AEG trial. They need something to validate the filth that they peddled as news at intervals in Michael Jackson’s career. Instead, they found the jurors left the trial with a much different opinion of Jackson. They liked him as a man. So the creatures have emerged from the dark hiding places yet again. They arrive right on time, just as the Katherine Jackson v. AEG trial was wrapping up. To make sure the stingers go in while the public is focused on Jackson because one never knows when one might have another stab at Jackson.”

Please read more of what Rev. Kaufmann says about these creatures here.

http://www.innermichael.com/2013/10/the-creatures-of-the-night-return/

Even with the continuing bullying of Michael Jackson in the media, there is nearly daily news of tributes and stories of Michael’s massive influence on music, dance, and culture. Many of our current artists frequently mention Michael as their inspiration and their example of how to work hard to achieve their goals. Elite Daily, The Voice of the Y-Generation, discusses Michael’s incredible work ethic and vision in Joseph Milord’s recent article, “Learn From the Best: The Lessons of Success We Can Take From Michael Jackson.” It details five lessons that set Michael apart from those with talent who are good and those that become the greatest. Milord ends his piece with these words (and a really great video too.)

“It’s tempting, at this moment, to list MJ’s accomplishments and all that he has done to further solidify this point, but it might be easier to just ask this question: What hasn’t Michael Jackson won? Take your you time, answer it, then consider this.

He still wasn’t satisfied.”

http://elitedaily.com/money/five-great-lessons-of-success-from-the-legendary-career-of-michael-jackson/

As we were talking about Michael’s legacy as we do frequently, a friend said to me “that we feel frustrated because we want to see it full blown NOW in all its beauty, defiance and ferocity. I try to remember that Greatness has its own schedule.”

This comment on the article in Elite Daily is a reminder that the greatness has been hard fought and will be recognized.

“Well, Michael Jackson didn’t win the Award for the Guy Who Has Won the Most Awards — but only because it probably did not exist and no one thought to invent it for him. But, he did win something more profound, lasting and golden — though there is no traditional statuette, plaque or medal to mark it. It is the Award for Unconditional Love, Bravery, Guts and Dignity in the face of unimaginable cruelty and unending torment by forces determined to break him in pieces, and see him crawl away forgotten by the world. No. Michael Jackson never stopped. He never sat down. He never gave in. He never gave up. He kept on trying. He kept on doing. He kept on dreaming. He kept the Faith and fought the fight – until the end. Now, we watch his legacy form strong and brilliant despite all efforts to erase it, suppress it, marginalize it, stifle it, tarnish it, dismiss it, smother it, or kill it. It emerges and grows brighter with every tribute and homage; every thoughtful, fair-minded article, book, discussion or study that explores the whole Man in all his fame, vulnerability and humanity rather than as dismembered, exploitable caricature created by media for public consumption and profit. Michael Jackson’s ‘way of being in this world’ caused a magical calamity in minds and hearts around the world that cannot and will not be ignored.”

Michael’s artistic legacy cannot be easily ignored and showed up strongly yesterday in the half-time show of the Ohio State v. University of Iowa game. The Ohio State Marching Band featured Michael Jackson’s music for the entire show. Their rendition of Michael’s moonwalk was amazing and drew huge applause.

View the entire half-time show on the OSUBuckeye Youtube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTca2nrIn4U&feature=youtu.be

If you only have time for the moonwalk portion of the show, you can see it at this link below. While you are there, if you wouldn’t mind, vote down a few of the more negative comments on the article while voting up the more positive comments.

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2013-10-19/ohio-state-marching-band-moonwalk-video-michael-jackson

Discussing Michael’s legacy would not be complete without at least one example of his humanitarian inspiration that fuels the philanthropic activities taking place throughout the Michael Jackson Community. One such project, sponsored by the aptly named Michael Jackson’s Legacy is Everland Haiti, a children’s home that is currently being built in Haiti to care for 30 babies and toddlers. To learn more about this project please visit their website.

http://www.michaeljacksonslegacy.org/index.php/latest-news/146-from-liberia-to-haiti-with-l-o-v-e

I am an active member of Michael Jackson discussion forums just like many of you. In the days after the verdict came in the Jacksons v. AEG Live, many of us were, and still are, feeling bad. In one such forum, a new thread was started which came at a much needed moment for which I am grateful. It was a reminder of why we are all in this community together. The person asked these questions:

“When and where did you become a die-hard fan? What caused that to happen? Do you still feel that same way now?”

“How did you start? How did Michael affect you?”

In just a few days, there were 126 responses to these questions. Responses were thoughtful and beautiful and even, at times, humorous. It was an exchange between diverse people in age, race, religion, and gender who were brought together by one beautiful human being, Michael Jackson. For nearly every person who told their story, their feelings about him have only grown stronger with time. I was very glad for this wonderful reminder of why I am here. I want to thank those who posted the original questions and those who chose to comment (even though I have not named them and they may not even know they are mentioned.)

And, I also want to say to the anti-Jackson media, those creatures of the night, you will not prevail in your quest to destroy Michael Jackson’s legacy. We will not let you.

Sincerely,

Just one member of the editorial team of MJ Truth Now.