BellaOnline Forums Career Musician Michael Jackson, friend or foe?

While writing Michael Jackson, friend or foe? - the article for this week, I was struck by the vehemence (nastiness) of some people and the wild praise of others when they talked about Michael.

What's your impression of Michael Jackson? And what do you think he'll best be remembered for?

I loved Michael Jacksons music but I didnt approve of his life style. I believe he didnt have a happy childhood life. He didnt have time to be a child. Such a sad tragedy.

J

Thanks for your comments Julie. I think you are right about not having had time to be a child. Especially when he was performing at the age of 5.

Wow - he's BOTH! He's like the mall Santa who pinches kids' behinds; a wolf in sheep's clothing.

See I don't know, I reckon we are all a product of parenting or the lack thereof, Society and our own temperaments. I don't believe we generally chose to be insecure, or short tempered... I also think we are capable of change... but question is how much of who we are is really a choise. I admire that he did what he did well. I've made my own mistakes in life, that I am not proud of, and did not affect the magnitude of people comparable to this man... but also we don't know what is or is not ture. If they are true then gees there must have been some serious issues there...on the otherhand he gave of himself... and maybe because we fame places demands on people that not everyone can handle... then you know maybe he did his best in his circumstances. I can only dream to apply myself as much as he did.

I was just seeing Oprah Winphrey's interview the other day and you can't help but feeling sorry for the guy. Questioned about his skin color, he reacts defensive in a very childish way "it is a condition, I can't help it", he whines. He does not have the assertiveness to just explain what vitiligo is, or even show some blotch and make every body shut up. He just gets lost on how others tan in the sun, others have their noses fixed too. Like a kid in school would talk to his teacher. From his interviews, you can really tell that he lacked the basic social abilities necessary for life in general, but especialy for life on front of the media. He says he does not want to speak about his medical history because that it is too private, but he actually speaks exclusively about his private life in interviews. How he loves children, how his father was mean to him...
Whenever did he speak about the creative process of writing his songs, or about rehearsals for the next tour, about the people working with him? And that is what he should have done.
He lived so detached from real life, that he did not know how weird it came out when he talked about having kids over to sleep. He just had no perception about how other people saw him. He must have been very lonely, he should have had better people around to give him the right piece of advice and help him out.
I wonder if he ever talked to a psychologist. It would have helped a lot more than all those fancy doctors ready to prescribe anything to keep him happy.

I don't mind saying it. I love MJ both as a legendary, multi-talented music machine and as a real human-being struggling with his many complexes whilst under intense life-long media scrutiny from a very, very young age, whilst at the same time living under the iron fist of a bullying psychopath (Papa Joe). I think of 'Heal the world' and 'Leave me alone' and so many of his wonderful story-telling video clips in which his strong desire for a better world really came through. He never had a chance to be what most might call 'normal', appearing in Las Vegas nightclubs from a very early age. But if he had been 'normal' and had a 'normal' life I doubt we'd have the wonderful magical music and dance legacy he left us with. As for the media/police witch-hunt of him re child-abuse, it ultimately failed. He was 'guilty till proven innocent' because he was who he was - different. I refuse to get into any argument over my opinion, but I so want to say it's interesting reading interviews from the other side. Quite a number of children who stayed at Neverland over the years have been interviewed. Many reported that the 'bedroom' was bigger than the size of an average house, and that Jackson always slept on a lounge or on the floor, or offered them the bed and he'd take the floor or vice versa. Many said he gave the kids this huge bed to sleep in. Those interviews don't seem to have been very widely reported on by the media for some reason. I'm feeling really sad for his children right now. He was an incredibly devoted and loving father, and that's not something that can be replaced in any childs life, no matter how much money is involved. Chocoholicsanonymous

I will remember him for his contribution to music and as for his private life I don't care. I dont believe he did anything wrong I think he is too intelligent to do that and the words posts seen well I hope the children won't see them. I think everyone has forgotten the impact it will have on them. I can't imagine anything more heartbreaking than to see someone you love prosecuted. I hoped it would be rest in peace and not rest in harassment. I think he should get his rest. I dont know I just feel sad all the time about it. I also think Paris had the right to speak and I wanted togive a standing ovation and say good for you girl, you deserve the chance to use your voice. She needed to speak and I was proud for her.
I pray to God I am never in the firing line. I have been there for something else and I think that is one reason why I know words are poweful.

Overall I think he will be remembered for the wrong reasons eventhough he was forgiven by the government.