What are your reflections on the life, career and death of Michael Jackson?

Michael Jackson encouraged his fans who really were interested in his life to listen to his autobiographical song "Childhood". One of the lines of the song is "Have you seen my childhood?"

Many of us did see Michael Jackson's childhood. We saw incredible performances when he was very young. It has been reported that he spent many hours each day singing and practicing his dance moves. He did not have a common childhood. He worked harder than most adults do.

His fame robbed him of the opportunity to enjoy what most of us take for granted: a walk in the park, a ride on a ferris wheel or an evening at the ballgame. It makes sense that he created Neverland to try to experience what he never had and what he would never be able to have.

It's too bad that there was not an equal to him that was his age to share his life with. Lisa Presley was the daughter of the King of Pop but she had a childhood. Lisa was looking for a man when Micheal wanted to enjoy the playfulness of childhood. Micheal's friendship with Elizabeth Taylor made sense. She was a child super star but she was too old to be a partner for Micheal. I can't think of any girl super stars that would have been the same age as Micheal.

I can understand why some people might be confused and believe that Micheal had a pedophile profile. But when one looks at the totality of Micheal's unique profile it does not fit the profile of a pedophile. When Micheal described allowing a boy to sleep in his bed while he slept on the floor he sounded like a kid having an innocent slumber party. A pedophile would have hidden his behavior. Micheal was open and innocent.  It's sad that people are still speculating about Micheal's innocence even after a jury acquitted him from the pedophilia charge.

People may ponder Micheal's often bizarre behavior but no one can deny the excellent music he created, his awesome performances and his humanitarian contributions. The world has suffered a tremendous loss.

Michael Jackson illustrates the best and worst of a "star" in the world of American popular culture.  "Beat it" was huge ... "Thriller" was phenomenal.  His incredible talents as an entertainer brought great enjoyment to people all over the world.  His gifts to the world are incalculable.  His talents brought him wealth and fame, and this ultimately destroyed him.  Michael seemed like a genuinely kind, sensitive and generous person.  Sadly, he became freakish and reclusive, struggling to find happiness for himself.  I think of Michael Jackson's life as a modern tragedy.

Dear Voices of the Valley:  You will be happy to note that I will be, no doubt, one of the most quiet of the quiet this week.  However, though the subject of music is before us, any of you who enjoy the works of Back, Franck, Albright and Vierne might want want to catch a handsome young man at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church this Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m.  Mitchell Garcia was once a special ed. student of mine who was on the wonderful "receiving" side of special ed. benefits to help him overcome academic struggles.  He is somewhat of an organ prodigy, and I first heard his concert last year before entering his first year at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ.

Having earned much of my college funds by playing the organ for weddings and funerals, I felt like a kindergartener as I listened to this young man; I was totally blown away.   And any teenage daughters you have will definitely not find it difficult to watch Mitchell.

Hope no one minds this announcement.

Betty

Like all untimely deaths, Michaels Jackson's passing is tragic, but its importance pales in comparison to other life-changing events taking place in our country.  As I write this, the Democrat leadership in Congress (with the help of certain Republicans) is doing their best to pass a cap and trade bill that will almost certainly alter our lives in ways that we can't even imagine, all based on evidence that is suspect at best.   Can we discuss Michael Jackson?  Sure, but it's akin to Nero sawing away on his fiddle.  I suppose we serfs are powerless to do anything about either MJ's death or cap and trade, so let's have at the pop idol.  Move over, Bob Terry, and make room for me on that splintery mourners' bench.

 One can only speculate what it is like to be THE story anywhere on Earth. Elvis, the Beatles, and a few others maybe, are the only thing close. Starting with ABC being easy as 1 2 3, the guy had "IT" in spades. I feel he was pushed into show biz by a demanding father, and perhaps would have been less of a recluse if given some chance at a childhood. Talented is an understatement. Have you ever tried to do the moonwalk? Not easy. People who danced for a living were in awe of his skills. As anti-macho as dancing is perceived at times, one must be an extraordinary athlete to make such quick and precise movements look so effortless.  The man could flat out glide, and when one adds in the singing skills, it is no wonder why he caught the imagination of the world.

 His later days were tarnished from the buzzards known as paparazzi, and the press jumping on any and every rumor trying to make a story. What a shame he was not able to do his 50 stop tour this summer that sold out in minutes. I suspect the pressure he put on himself to be perfect was very intense. Too bad a Michael Jordan or Stevie Wonder type never connected with him to show him how to live among the madness.

 There is no doubt Michael Jackson will live on in the music realm, and will get a boost in respect now that the press "freak show" is over. Seems many of the "special" performers flame out way too early. I feel for the many fans, and his family. Crazy world it is. Good thing it is a surprise ending. Gip

PS...global warming is a big ole stinky pile of Al Gore, worthy of zero tax dollars and further discussion in my view. Can some one tie Jackson to global warming? I am pleased we did not get another nerf ball "teacher" question. However, I feel like this is a one answer and done topic. I miss the passion we have had in the past. I'm just saying...

Man, I have been missing for a while, sorry. Life has been busy.

 

I grew up in the age of Michael Jackson. When I was in Junior High School I remember these girls in my school going gaga over the guy. It was insane! I called in a radio show for kicks one time when they were having a contest for Jackson 5 concert tickets and won. I was more thrilled about going to RFK Stadium, home of the Redskins, to see the concert than I was about the concert itself.

 

That being said, I think the Michael Jackson of the 70s and 80s was a true music icon. With his crazy family and childhood stardom, he could have turned into a D-List celebrity before age 25. Instead he turned the world of music upside down by adding new dance moves, (instead of the Motown snapping fingers and swaying), and taking advantage of the music video. Instead of just making a video, he made a production - a movie short.

 

The one thing I really appreciated about Michael Jackson was his ability to laugh at himself. There was a up and coming satirical musician that Michael took under his wing and allowed to satirize Michael's songs. The musician was Weird Al Yankovic. Any artist that can laugh at themselves earns my respect.

 

God only knows what happened to Michael Jackson since the 1980s. He turned into a loon. Was he a pedophile? I don't know. But his lack of a normal childhood made him want to give so much to other children so they could be kids. Did people take advantage of that? Oh yeah. Did he deserve the lawsuits and the bad press? I don't know. He reverted to this childlike person in the 1990s and our society gets creeped out by that.

 

However, I am glad to see many of the remembrances of him focus on Michael the musical innovator and not Michael the freak.

 

Perhaps I should listen to the advice “if you can’t say something good, then say nothing at all.”  But really that would make this panel very boring!!!  However I will refrain from making any comments for publication this week.

 

When it comes to Michael Jackson, my first question is have we really done such a good job discussing and solving the world’s problems on this panel that we must waste a week discussing him.  Can’t we find a more worthwhile subject?

 

Now for my thoughts on Michael Jackson…

 

First, being the good bluegrass and classic country fan that I am, I never cared for or listened to his music.  So I must say that I won’t miss him at all for the music.

 

Second, as a person he was obviously very mixed up or sick.  I can accept and tolerate a lot of behaviors that I don’t necessarily agree with, but child molestation crosses the line on my tolerance.

 

One of the most important questions we all need to ask is….Is the world somehow a better place because I was here?  In Michael Jackson’s case, I hope so, but I can’t really see how.

 

And from a personal standpoint….I will really miss Farrah Fawcett a lot more!!!!

 

Clonnie Yearout:

Like all untimely deaths, Michaels Jackson's passing is tragic, ...

Tragic?  TRAGIC? T-R-A-G-I-C?

I've been tracking the gradual devaluation of this word, but this takes the cake. 

 

Gip,

Are you waking tommor with Nick and me?

..
jc

 Freeda -

I enjoyed reading your comments.

I'll just add a few quick comments today - 

Jackson never had what we all want: an equal partner or soulmate. We all want to have friends of both genders. Except for LisaP, he really wasn't linked with any women.  Even his second wife was just a baby factory. ETaylor gravitates toward emotionally needy people; my observation is that she is probably one of the few people close to him who didn't want anything from him other than friendship. It was probably one of his few positive relationships.  He also appeared in public alone (except for his handlers), so it seems he didn't have many, if any, guy friends.

The hard part to believe is that he was 50. It's hard to make that connection, because he certainly didn't have the maturity associated with middle age. I think the public started turning on him less after the pedophile allegations and more when he started making his own playmates. The few public outings with his children were horrifying, like a child trying to raise a child and doing a really bad job. 

He had such a physical and musical talent, but he just didn't know how to channel that into appropriate private and public behavior. It was like he was two different people - one we loved to watch onstage but one who creeped us out offstage. .

Our medical community has become more adept in identifying mental or developmental illnesses, and our society has become much more compassionate in dealing with people who are not "normal." I'm going to think this one through some more, but my guess is that there will be a lot of armchair psychiatrists chiming in with diagnoses. 

Jan 

Joe Campbell:

Clonnie Yearout:

Like all untimely deaths, Michaels Jackson's passing is tragic, ...

Tragic?  TRAGIC? T-R-A-G-I-C?I've been tracking the gradual devaluation of this word, but this takes the cake.

I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage here, Joe.  I've spent several minutes thinking about this and I just don't understand your objection -- assuming that you are voicing an objection.  I even looked up the definition of "tragic," just to make sure, and found it to be congruent with the point I was attempting to make.  I realize that tragedy has an "in the eyes of the beholder" aspect to it, and I'll admit that Jackson's death is not as tragic to me as it obviously is to others, but I'm having a hard time coming up with a different word.  Unfortunate?  Sad?  Maybe.  I could not have honestly used "calamitous" or "disastrous" although it may indeed seem that way to a few of those who depended upon him for their livelihood. 

But I would never have described it "no big deal" either, for that would have been disrespectful and shown me to be an inconsiderate and unfeeling cad.  I don't think it deserves the wall-to-wall coverage it's receiving because important things are happening in Washington, but I have to face the fact that most Americans are more interested in pop culture than in safeguarding our freedoms.

Maybe I am "taking the cake" here, Joe, but if You want me to understand how, you're going to have to be more specific.  I still think all untimely deaths are tragic, and out of respect for all my fellow panelists I fought off a powerful urge to include late-term abortions in that category. 

Marvin Foster:

I can accept and tolerate a lot of behaviors that I don’t necessarily agree with, but child molestation crosses the line on my tolerance.

Just for the record, Marvin, I don't believe he was ever convicted of child molestation, was he?  I really don't know whether he was guilty and beat the rap or whether he was set up by some people hoping for a big cash pay-off, but my gut feeling is that he was just a flawed and mixed-up human being who had the misfortune to undergo an unnatural childhood experience.  I could be wrong of course, but under our system, if a court finds you not guilty, we have to accept that verdict.

As an entertainer, MJ was, for me, just one of many great ones, but then I'm not the type to idolize anyone.  In the end, he turned out to be just like the rest of us in one respect:  he was just one heart-beat, one breath away from that journey back to the clay from whence I came.

Marvin Foster:

Perhaps I should listen to the advice, "if you can't say something good, then say nothing at all."  But really that would make this panel very boring!!!  I can accept and tolerate a lot of behaviors that I don't necessarily agree with, but child molestation crosses the line.,,,"

Predictably, it didn't take long for the allegation of pedophilia to emerge here in the discussion of Michael Jackson upon his sudden death this week.  (It actually started as a parting shot from Mr. Terry in the previous topic of Virginia Standards of Learning.  Try explaining how it relates to that.)  I think Freeda explained it well.  Apparently Jackson suffered from what some psychologists call Peter Pan Syndrome.  Lacking a proper childhood, having spent his youth as a hard-working breadwinner for his family in the music business, he seemed unable to grow up.  His adult relationships seemed fake or at best futile.  He was determined to bring happiness to countless children, some of whom he surrounded himself with.  Eventually he had his own family, bizarre as it seemed.  I think it's fair to say he needed a good therapist.  It's totally unfair to call him a child molester.  That characterization from Bob and now Marvin could be attributed to their innocent acceptance of rumors without really paying close attention to the facts.  Someone who has no interest in Jackson's music probably could not be expected to have much of an objective, analytical understanding of this crazy story. 

This part of his private life is a long and complex story full of allegations, evidentally contrived by clever, unscrupulous people trying to cash in on his wealth.  Civil lawsuits and criminal investigations found nothing substantive.  If we truly believe in our system of jurisprudence, in which a person is innocent until proven guilty, we ought not to call him a child molester.  Nonetheless, the tabloids thrived on these allegations, they became part of the surreal public persona of Jackson, and people who should know better will continue to feed the rumors and judge the man harshly without knowing the full story or even really caring to give it much thought. 

So, with all respect, Marvin, I think it would have been better to have followed that advice, listened to your inner voice of better judgment, and left that stone uncast.

Dan Radmacher:

What are your reflections on the life, career and death of Michael Jackson?

Jackson had incredible talent which was ultimately squandered along with his fortune and his life.