Remembering Michael Jackson
It’s too easy.
It’s too easy not be moved by Michael Jackson’s passing on account of all the legal troubles, accusations and downright questionable things that occured in the later part of his life. It’s too easy to disregard him as “Wacko Jacko,” as if he wasn’t the entertainment icon that he was. As if he didn’t open doors for countless people who probably wouldn’t have their careers today, had it not been for MJ’s achievements.
From the "Rock With You" video. Definitely a top 5 favorite.
We can’t divorce the fact that he was really, in every sense of the word, the King of Pop, a man who didn’t just change the entertainment game upon arrival, but defined it. Yet also troubled and flawed.
That said, in this initial time of his passing, there’s a few things we can learn from his death and the passing of others lost this week:
1. Life is so short and unpredictable. You could be here today, but gone tomorrow. Time on Earth is too valuable not to be spent making a difference, using your talents, and living to your greatest potential.
2. The people you surround yourself with matter. There’s a lot of talk now, that Michael didn’t have good people around him in his last few years. His family was steadfast, but the “team” around him were bleeding him dry, not working in his best interest and just eating off him. Be thankful for good people in your life. Express to them how apperciative you are of them every day. Good people are a blessing.
3. Creativity and the opportunity to make a difference in someones life is a gift we all share. Michael Jackson used his music to inspire millions around the globe. Not everyone can accomplish that feat…but we can use our talents and gifts to inspire just one. That in itself is remarkable.
RIP to all those who perished this week: Farrah Fawcett, Ed MacMahon, Michael Jackson, those in the DC Metro incident, everyone who died. You will be missed.
Feel free to share your favorite MJ moments or thoughts you may have below.
I have to say that shock is a mild understatement of the emotion i felt when I learn of MJ death. This is something that took me completely off guard. And there is no question of Micheal’s contribution to the music industry, to black culture, and to American culture. He was once of the greatest artist the world has ever seen and it very well may be a very long time before we seen anyone come close to his talent.
I do not agree with this article that “it is too easy not to be moved by MJ death” From my perspective of what I am experiencing around me, the opposite is true. It seems people have forgotten the negative and destructive behavior that he had on himself and others. I think it is important to separate between the art and the artist. I morn the loss of the art greatly. For such talent to be lost to the world and for the future generations not to be exposed to it a great tragedy.
I have great sympathy for the artist. He clear lead a troubled life and had many of his own demons to battle. He had a hard childhood that he did not come to terms with and probably a hard adulthood dealing with all the issues that come with wealth and fame. While I do feel sorry for him, I cannot dismiss the fact that he had a disturbing fascination with children. People seem, to me, to have put aside all the bad and unsavory things. If our children had been victims, would our reaction be what it is? My first reaction was shock and disbelief and sadness, but once I started to really think about it those feeling shifted slightly. While I can morn for the loss of a great talent that was a gift to this world. I cannot morn for a man who may have destroyed lives. MJ accomplishments were great and he did so much with his talent and success then many of his peers combined, however it does not dismiss or forgive what he did.
I morn for the art and pray that God shows mercy to a troubled man.
Juve, you bring up some very valid and poignant points. He did have an unhealthy relationship with children and without a shadow of a doubt if any of our children were victims, we would be looking at his death from a totally different light.
I just find it difficult to 1) disregard how a single human being was able to touch an entire world. The outpouring from every corner of the world has been simply awe-inspiring. Like this man really did affect the entire global community. and 2) let the decisions and actions he took in the later part of his life cloud my whole feeling of him.
I don’t condone what he may have done, not at all. But I can’t not celebrate the life of the man he was – the Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad, We are the World, millions to philanthropy, etc etc. – man.
but I feel you. though a musical genius, he was flawed and unfortunately, that will be part of his legacy.
I think that he was a musical genius and his death was so sudden. He may have had a trouble life but he touched so many people creatively. I’m still in shock, like MJ is no longer on this earth, I will be telling my children about him like wow man…a shock but at least he was able to shine his light and share his gift with us thru his music, he was truly a vessel.