Michael Jackson the musician - I understand the admiration some have for him musically, but I do not share it. I grew up with the Jackson 5 and watched his whole life progress. I was not a fan of his music or his style, although I admit he did have a huge influence on pop music... not for the better in my opinion. Watching his performances was comical to me.... the silly glove thing, the herky-jerky dance routines, the crotch grabbing and hip pumping, the 'moon-walk' and the short pants were all ridiculous to me... not "inspired genius". However, I respect the rights of others to view his musical contributions differently. I will also somewhat reluctantly agree that his life can be separated from his music for remembrance purposes. We all try to remember the good in others and bury the rest when someone passes, so I will not apply a different standard to MJ.
Michael Jackson the person - bizarre, eccentric, troubled, scary. He was not normal by any definition of the term. Celebrities live different lifestyles as we all know, but his life transcended all of that... even that of Howard Hughes and others. The whole Neverland fiasco, the bizarre masks, the surgeries (regardless of their legitimacy or not) and more smacks of a life that is unbalanced and troubled. While much of it was magnified by the media and microscope, he did nothing to mitigate it. Everything he did exacerbated it. He was odd.
Michael Jackson the [alleged] child molester - not sure how anyone can deny that there were issues here. To what extent may be debatable, but the fact remains, his relationship with little boys was not healthy, normal or natural. If he was indeed guilty of atrocities (and I believe he was), then he should have faced the harshest of punishment. Crimes against the weak, disenfranchised and young are deplorable. The fact that he never admitted any wrong doing is troubling to me. He should have taken responsibility for his actions and not just doled out money to cover up.
Michael Jackson the human being - I never rejoice in anyone's death, no matter how deplorable their life may have been. As John Donne wrote,
"No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." We all touch multiple lives. There are always family, friends, children, lovers, and more who are affected, and the loss of a loved one is traumatic. I am not talking about those who will suffer financial loss... but those who are suffering the loss of someone they truly loved. While I have no feelings at all for Michael Jackson, and I find much of his life despicable and his music irrelevant, I can in fact sympathize for those who truly loved him in spite of who he was and what he had become.
Woof, Woof - Dawg
