R.I.P. to the King of Pop.

[HEROHAMO]

You clearly have not done your homework.

If you only knew some of the work I am involved in and the experiences I have had on the field, you would not write that.

But to each its own values and I appreciate your sentiment to grieve for arguably the most popular singer in modern times. Peace brother.

I never attacked your character. I am sure you are a good man.

I attacked your comments. Michael did not have to give to charities or help anybody. But, he did. Many many times throughout his lifetime. To great causes.

The saying to whom much is given much is expected comes to mind. I believe in that saying wholeheartedly. I know I am a non famous guy. I can give and do good deeds as well. But, when a person of Michael Jacksons status does so. Speaks out through song about giving. Does so with action. It will reach out to more people. There voice is heard by many whom otherwise would not have listened to maybe you or me.

I try to look at his body of work. Michael is good for at least twenty years of charities. His songs Heal the world, Man in the mirror and We are the world will be here forever. The power of song to inspire change. To inspire goodness is something that cannot be underestimated.

In his latter years scandals dominated the headlines involving Michael. But that cannot take away what he already did do. Especially when we cannot prove anything. Speculation is just that, speculative.

So peace to you brother. I should respect your opinion as well. Maybe I went overboard emotionally. I am over it now. The show must go on.

[redskindave]

R.I.P. Michael

[tcwest10]

... we'll never know what was in his head.

That's not technically true. At this time, it's precisely the reason he hasn't been laid to rest yet.

Look. I tend to take things at face value. Everybody knows my views on religion, so it's not that. It's just, you don't do what he admitted doing with other people's kids...even if it wasn't what it appeared to be.
For his fans...hey. I personally felt the loss of Presley, Lennon, Harrison, Croce, Denver and half of Skynyrd; the pain is not alien to me. Still, it feels wrong to canonize him. The media, for the most part, has made this more than the simple passing of an entertainer.
MJ was a strange bird. Some of the choices he made were at least questionable if not illegal. Others were downright weird. I don't think that expressing that equates to taking a whiz on his grave. I concede that his generosity was enormous, and his stage presence legendary.
I further concede the 80's to him, as far as that kind of music goes.
I just can't get past the thing with the kids. Doesn't make me a bad person.
My bias may be further rooted in my own ideas of what music is and isn't; to me, MJ was more about the MTV era, videos, dancing and flashy shows rather than any real musical ability. I felt his work with the Jackson 5 was much better than anything he did after that.
For me, I can't wait until they put him all back together and get him in the ground. His "peace" began precisely at the moment of death, but the coverage continues until they put the macaroni back in the pot.

[VetSkinsFan]

... we'll never know what was in his head.

That's not technically true. At this time, it's precisely the reason he hasn't been laid to rest yet.

He's not laid to rest b/c the media always overhypes and overkills on everything. News sells. Michael Jackson as a saint doesn't sell, Michael Jackson as a deviant sells.

You can never know what's on an individual's mind, their path of thinking, for sure. You don't know what kind of thoughts or perceptions he had, expescially since he's far from the norm. The abuse he went thru alone would be more than some people could bare. The the pressure from all of the fame and never really having a child hood; growing up in the spotlight, that in it's own light is another burden many childhood stars cannot handle.

I am not saying the man was a model for the perfect citizen in today's society; I've already covered that opinion.

All I would like to see is to let the man's last memories be a reflection of the good he did in the world. Last respects I think most call it. The man is no longer around to defend himself and it will be marred enough by hte media. Who deems any individual worthy to judge a man on his life's accomplishments? Even someone as far from the norm as Michael Jackson...

I'm not a religious man, but I like to think of myself as a moral man. I have many weak moments, but I try to live by the golden rule; "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Would you like your loved ones' last memories of and respects to you to be all of the wrong you did in your life? Certainly not how I want to be remembered.

[langleyparkjoe]

So i'm in the mall the other day and I hear this young kid (maybe 8 or 9) singing Beat It. First I laughed because I thought it was cute the kid was singing one of my favorite songs. Then it hit me real hard, this kid, many other children and my daughter would've probably never known who Mike was if it wasn't for his death and the worldwide coverage of it. I know the dude seemed off track at times and I will always be troubled by what he "supposedly" did with those boys (I mean, was it ever really confirmed?) but Mike's music will always have a place in my heart. I was very young myself when Mike hit the soundstage and I grew up listening to his music and I can probably sing every song on his albums. R.I.P to the man and I wish the Jackson family and ESPECIALLY his kids the best.

[Chris Luva Luva]

So i'm in the mall the other day and I hear this young kid (maybe 8 or 9) singing Beat It. First I laughed because I thought it was cute the kid was singing one of my favorite songs. Then it hit me real hard, this kid, many other children and my daughter would've probably never known who Mike was if it wasn't for his death and the worldwide coverage of it. I know the dude seemed off track at times and I will always be troubled by what he "supposedly" did with those boys (I mean, was it ever really confirmed?) but Mike's music will always have a place in my heart. I was very young myself when Mike hit the soundstage and I grew up listening to his music and I can probably sing every song on his albums. R.I.P to the man and I wish the Jackson family and ESPECIALLY his kids the best.

I introduced my nephew who is 2 to Mike last week and he loved it. Started reciting "who's bad" almost immediately.

Mike was found innocent on the molestation stuff and apparently the boy has revealed that his dad put him up to the accusation. Nobody really knows at this point.

[Jake]

So i'm in the mall the other day and I hear this young kid (maybe 8 or 9) singing Beat It. First I laughed because I thought it was cute the kid was singing one of my favorite songs. Then it hit me real hard, this kid, many other children and my daughter would've probably never known who Mike was if it wasn't for his death and the worldwide coverage of it. I know the dude seemed off track at times and I will always be troubled by what he "supposedly" did with those boys (I mean, was it ever really confirmed?) but Mike's music will always have a place in my heart. I was very young myself when Mike hit the soundstage and I grew up listening to his music and I can probably sing every song on his albums. R.I.P to the man and I wish the Jackson family and ESPECIALLY his kids the best.

I introduced my nephew who is 2 to Mike last week and he loved it. Started reciting "who's bad" almost immediately.

Mike was found innocent on the molestation stuff and apparently the boy has revealed that his dad put him up to the accusation. Nobody really knows at this point.

I saw that about the kid fessing up but I put NO legitimacy to it. The sites I read it at did not look credible and provided NO quotes. If he actually did fess up to lying, don't you think it would be all over the TV's right now?

[Chris Luva Luva]

Well, that's why I said nobody really knows...

[VetSkinsFan]

Well, that's why I said nobody really knows...

...and I completely agree, bro. We can formulate a guestimation on what he was thinking or thought, but we don't know. I don't tihnk anyone here did any kind of counseling with or phychological eval on MJ, so we don't know...

[Jake]

... so let's not get into the molestation crap and just pay our respects to him as a humanitarian and entertainer who affected BILLIONS of people in one way or another.

That's what this thread was created for. People can go ahead and make another thread and bash him but that's not the purpose was for this was, as I was a big fan of his growing up.

[langleyparkjoe]

... so let's not get into the molestation crap and just pay our respects to him as a humanitarian and entertainer who affected BILLIONS of people in one way or another.

That's what this thread was created for. People can go ahead and make another thread and bash him but that's not the purpose was for this was, as I was a big fan of his growing up.

Oh, and check this out.. no lie either. That song Billie Jean was made for me. I swear to you, except for the groupie thing cause I'm not a singer but I met a girl named Billie Jean.. this was when I was like 16/17 years old and we had relations. She became preg. and after the kid was born she was like "joe, my son looks just like you".. no flippin way was my response but momma raised me right. I told her lets take a test and find out.. she did take the test, well not her and not even me actually. Another guy took the test and he was the father. Man oh man.. Michael the prophet, really loved the guy's music.. I bought the ultimate collection too, great investment even if you have the single cds (does that make sense?)