The Man in the Mirror is the Man I Choose to Remember

Mallika Chopra's blog, Bloodsuckers and The World of Michael Jackson ( http://www.intent.com/mallikachopra/blog/bloodsuckers-and-world-michael-jackson ) hit the nail on the head with a great big smack. I’ve avoided blogging about Michael Jackson because I did not know him personally – only his music, and what is reported in the media.It saddened me greatly his death . Not just the loss of a brilliant young man (he was younger than me, so that gives me the right to say that!) who exemplified the word “genius” in relation to his art – his music and his dance.

But I was also greatly saddened by the whole nature of a great number of people who because they cannot tolerate the success of someone other than themselves, find ways to dig dirt and create doubt about character and motives in these bigger than life personalities, who relish in gossip and innuendo, and attack and undermine until the weight of that burden crushes the celebrity and their life force is extinguished. Then these same people who for years contributed to the destruction of such an artistic genius – come out in droves to eulogize him or to profit from his death .

It is the height of hypocrisy. I choose not to listen to the bizarre reports or buy magazines that do anything but celebrate his genius.

Rather, I choose to remember Michael Jackson the amazing entertainer that inspired the next generation of entertainers – and will probably continue to inspire generations as his music lives on - and who helped me make sense of my own life growing up. Sure he made choices as an adult that were inappropriate. But were they malicious or with evil intent? I don’t think so. I think it was more a sad case of not knowing any boundaries and trying to enjoy the childhood he by all accounts never had. His spirit was too innocent and loving for evil intent.

I first started paying attention to Michael Jackson’s music when “Ben” became a hit single. I was 15 years old at the time, and boy could I relate to the lyrics. It didn’t matter it was written about the love of a boy and a rat – it was about having a friend to call your own. And from there on every hit he wrote seemed to hang itself on a particular stage in my life.

His lyrics were honest and recalled I’m sure his own angst growing up. His music was simply alive. His dance, so fluid I couldn’t imagine anyone ever being able to dance like Michael. And by all accounts (the ones I choose to listen to) he was a loving father and one of the greatest philanthropists of his age.

That’s the Michael Jackson I choose to remember.

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change

R.I.P. Michael Jackson