Just like a few other threads I've recently started, this one is born from the fact that the rest are long dead, and I have no wish to get busted for reviving them. With that in mind, I wanted to start off, by contributing some thoughts I originally had in 2016, and posted on Facebook. Here's what I wrote, back then... Today marks what would have been the 58th birthday, of someone who I and many others grew up admiring. For those in the mid-1960s, he was a cute kid from Indiana with a lot of talent and even more heart. He took inspiration from the likes of James Brown, Fred Astaire, and Gene Kelly...and today, many do the same with their memories of him. He went from the lead singer of a five-man group, all brothers...to a solo artist whose work is still deemed a creative and professional standard. Music aside, he also made lasting impressions on many children and families through his charity contributions, both public and private. He helped further early AIDS research through his friendship with Ryan White, supported the Make-A-Wish foundation, and co-created a song for African relief efforts with Lionel Richie. Many saw him as someone to emulate, while others even hailed him as a "god" of sorts. But the one title most remember is something he actually came up with for himself: King of Pop. While this certainly changed people's perception of him, it was nothing new; he'd been dealing with that all of his life. His mixing of divergent musical styles and fashion trends attracted people from every age group, ethnicity, and religion on the planet. But for me, there was one thing I liked most: he showed me it was okay to be different, staying young in heart and mind no matter how old you became. He loved so many people, the best he knew how...yet they often mocked and manipulated him in return. Sadly, the last few years of his life were filled with despair, from an insane trial on charges of child molestation (resulting in 14 acquittals), to an extravagant comeback attempt halted by an accidental drug overdose. As such, he is remembered as a polarizing figure...loved by many, yet hated by others with a fiery determination. As for me, I really miss him: he was my favorite musician, and so many of his songs spoke to me. He did have a Peter Pan complex, never wanting to completely grow up...but why is that such a bad thing? I think a lot of people deem innocence so horribly, because it exposes their own corruption. This man, still loved and cherished by so many, was not God. He never had apostles, never claimed divinity, never performed supernatural miracles, and was by no means perfect. The only crucifixion he ever experienced was a constant form by the media, and the so-called "court of public opinion". He openly loved most he encountered, striving to side with that instead of hate or contempt. The way he lived really had a lasting impact on my life, making me want to be better to those around me. I continue to read books about him, wishing he were still here so I could tell him how much of the real God I saw in him. That's why its my sincere hope, that he's with God and Jesus now, in Heaven. He was no saint or angel, just a man...but far from an ordinary one. He remains missed by his family, friends, and millions of fans like me all across the world. In just over five decades, he tried his best to provide healing for the world and all its people, no matter who tried tearing it down. Michael Jackson was no Savior, or Messiah...but he was someone I still love and admire. My heart goes out to those he left behind, especially his three children. I lost someone I looked up to, but they lost a father. Happy Birthday, Michael; my greatest prayer for you is that you're finally at peace.
Lizzie Borden was acquitted as well but the court of public opinion rendered a different verdict. And we've been rhyming about her whacking her parents ever since. The shopping-at-Kmart joke may not be as catchy as the Borden ditty but its part of the dude's legacy now.
10 Undeniable Facts About the Michael Jackson Sexual-Abuse Allegations | Vanity Fair Some pretty damning stuff in the article.
Yep. Amazing artist. Truly one of the best. But he was a pedo. Anything else that he may have been has forever been tarnished by that.
I'm not sure why the OP thought it was even a good idea to bring up that aspect of Jackson. Sunk his own thread in the first post.
Michael Jackson had a complicated childhood. It doesn't excuse what he did, but it may explain what led him down that road, and hopefully we'll learn from it.
We could still continue the thread. There's an equally talented young actor from BUGSY MALONE who equally owns the Michael Jackson name. name. Have we forgotten the living legend known as Razzamatazz? (No, not the John Travolta single.)
I've put a couple of users on Ignore status, just because I know trying to reason with them wouldn't make any difference.
You mean you know that they aren't going to come around to your side, and you have no interest in budging an inch. Dude, your hero is a likely pedophile.
You have posted 403 times in 19 days since registering (so, what, 21 posts a day or so and change?), with many of your posts seeming intended to stir up trouble or controversy. You have caught the attention of the admins. I strongly suggest you consider lowering your profile for a while.
Michael Jackson's music was incredible and he was one of the 20th century's greatest songwriters and performers. Some of his albums and songs deserve every piece of praise that's ever been heaped on them. We're all better off for his music having been a part of popular culture on our planet over the past 60 years. That being said: he was a dysfunctional, emotionally underdeveloped man-child who clearly did some very, very tasteless and even illegal things with minors. His talents did not carry over into his private life behind the doors of Neverland and his judgment just completely failed in that respect. He did (mostly) good in public, but his private life was a complete mess. I'll always love him as an artist, but damn, was he one profoundly broken man whose flaws adversely affected far too many others, many of them children.