michael jackson: what’s the problem?

if 31 million people watched the michael jackson memorial on television i’m sure the numbers of individuals who streamed the content is astronomical.

in writing this i imagine some may cringe, tired of all the michael news coverage, commentary, talking heads, talking points, blogs, tweets, twitterers, columns on the pop star…the legendary michael jackson. apparently being a global legend does get you major, endless, fanatical, constant airtime. it’s who legends are. they’ve captured us…intrigued us enough with their lives, their arts and their gifts…what they gave is that hard to classify obsession that lives in our psyche, beneath our breath, tumbling in the back of our minds…we simply can’t get enough. and by the globe’s response to michael jackson…we who are still talking are indeed not alone.

i guess i’m a bit disappointed at speaker nancy pelosi’s refusal to allow the debate to go forth on resolution 600 brought forward by representative sheila jackson lee. the resolution would be a testament to michael jackson as a global humanitarian. i cringe when i hear pelosi, obama, colin powell, even though i respect them deeply, associate michael jackson’s life with ’sadness’ and as ‘tragic.’ these claims have nothing to do with michael jackson’s giving to the world.

what are their (and other naysayer’s) valid concerns? the child molestation accusations? well, he was acquitted. are they saying our judicial system is faulty? these are elected officials. his face? he was diagnosed with lupus and a skin condition called vitiligo. he speaks about using make-up to even out his skin tone. the oxygen chamber? the elephant man’s bones? false, michael said to oprah he wouldn’t want the elephant man’s bones and that the chamber was technology for burn victims. i believe it was something he purchased as a therapeutic device for burn victims and donated the hyperbaric equipment to a medical center in california. plastic surgery? in hollywood? are you kidding? i personally believe michael never needed it, but who am i. wearing colorful surgical masks, walking around in the sun underneath umbrellas? again, people who have vitiligo and lupus have great sensitivity to sunlight. his love for children as odd, strange, weird? he gave to the sickest of them. loved them dearly. check his list of charities. because he was so famous at such a young age, michael has said his affinity to help children is from his lack of being able to have a true childhood. i believe he felt that the purity and unconditional love of a child’s affection wasn’t tainted by greed and manipulation. why ever would he want to hurt them or victimize them? he has said that kind of behavior is not in his heart. veiled his children from society? perhaps because he didn’t want the press to overuse their images. an addiction to pain medications? lupus is very painful. he doesn’t like women? even if he didn’t…why would that be an issue? just listened from the mouth of stephanie mills that he was “a good kisser, looked cute in his underwear and was very much a manly man.” besides he’s linked to brooke shields, lisa marie presley, apparently the woman from ‘the way you make me feel’ video, tatiana thumbtzen, stephanie mills…not a bad line-up.

if you are a passionate michael jackson fan and feel he is being viewed unfair…it’s a free country, write about your feelings. write your government if you support the resolution.

all the allegations, criticisms, bad jokes, crazy names and rumors about the life of such an amazing person are unfounded. let it go. michael jackson was not the freak that people perceived him to be or wanted him to be. he was kind, caring, crazy talented, genius and will forever be ‘the greatest entertainer that ever lived.’ if you can’t enjoy him for what he is…i suppose i feel sorry for you…more than i do anyone else.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Rejects Michael Jackson Resolution

‘I don’t think it’s necessary,’ Pelosi says.
By Gil Kaufman
link: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1615618/20090709/jackson_michael.jhtml

During the Michael Jackson memorial on Tuesday, Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas proudly proclaimed her support for House Resolution 600 in praise of the King of Pop, even holding up a copy of her proposal honoring the singer for his humanitarian efforts during a lengthy, loving speech about the singer.

A number of Republicans in the House — most notoriously New York Representative Peter King — were quick to shoot down the effort and on Wednesday, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined the chorus. While she said she would allow fellow House members to express their sorrow over the pop icon’s passing, Pelosi stated emphatically that she didn’t think a resolution was necessary.

According to a transcript of her weekly press conference provided by her office, when asked at a news conference if she would support the resolution, Pelosi said, “Michael Jackson was a great, great performer … [there's] lots of sadness there for many reasons.”

She went on to say there is plenty of “opportunity on the floor of the House to express their sympathy or their praise any time that they wish. I don’t think it’s necessary for us to have a resolution.” She added that a resolution would open up Jackson’s life to “contrary views that are not necessary at this time to be expressed in association with a resolution whose purpose is quite different,” seemingly referring to the more sordid elements of Jackson’s life, including two allegations of child molestation and allegations that he abused prescription medication.

The non-binding resolution proposed by Jackson Lee — who noted during her speech on Tuesday that Jackson was acquitted on criminal charges of sexual molestation of a child in 2005 — would have been a symbolic gesture from lawmakers with no legal or political implications. Pelosi’s spokesperson said the House Speaker was not available at press time for further comment and a spokesperson for Jackson Lee could not be reached for comment.

Was Lupus the Reason for Michael Jackson’s Glove?

Michael Jackson’s Glove and Umbrellas Indicate Lupus
By DAN CHILDS
July 9, 2009
link: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MichaelJackson/story?id=8041395&page=1

As speculation about Michael Jackson’s health problems swirls after his June 25 death, it appears that many of his signature habits seem to confirm that he struggled with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disorder. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects 1.5 million people.

On Wednesday, Dr. Arnie Klein, Jackson’s physician, told “Good Morning America” that he had diagnosed Jackson, 50, with lupus, a disease in which the body comes under attack from its own immune system. The result is inflammation, pain and damage to certain tissues of the body.

Hints of how Jackson dealt with such a condition can be found in his personal style choices, from the surgical mask he occasionally donned to his signature white glove.

According to the Lupus Foundation of America, at least at least 1.5 million Americans have lupus, and about 5 million people throughout the world have some form of the disease.

Dr. Robert Lahita, a professor of medicine at Mount Sinai Medical School who has has written numerous books on lupus and other autoimmune conditions, told “Good Morning America” that what we know about Jackson’s other medical conditions may also point to lupus.

“He had a form of skin lupus, called discoid lupus, which affects about 40 percent of the patients with lupus,” Lahita said, adding that this condition can lead to depigmentation of the skin, among other things.

“Michael Jackson acknowledged having vitiligo, having splotches of the skin,” Lahita said.

This condition may explain why Jackson was often seen carrying an umbrella, as these patients are normally advised to avoid sun exposure.

But for many of Jackson’s fans, the implication that the singer’s famous single white glove may have been camouflage for his condition may be most intriguing. It was a possibility that Lahita called “very interesting.”

michael jackson lyrics

i think people forget the depth a lot of michael jackson lyrics held. not only could you dance to the music and [try to] imitate the moves…you could also appreciate the empathy or politics behind them.

If you can’t feed your baby
Then don’t have a baby
And don’t think maybe
If you can’t feed your baby
You’ll be always tryin’ to stop that child from cryin’
Hustlin’, stealin’, lyin’, now baby’s slowly dyin’

(from “wanna be startin’ something” thriller 1982)

Tell me what has become of my rights
Am I invisible because you ignore me?
Your proclamation promised me free liberty, now
I’m tired of bein’ the victim of shame
They’re throwing me in a class with a bad name
I can’t believe this is the land from which I came
You know I do really hate to say it
The government don’t wanna see
But if Roosevelt was livin’
He wouldn’t let this be, no, no

Skin head, dead head
Everybody gone bad
Situation, speculation
Everybody litigation
Beat me, bash me
You can never trash me
Hit me, kick me
You can never get me

All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us

Some things in life they just don’t wanna see
But if Martin Luther was livin’
He wouldn’t let this be

(from “they don’t care about us” HIStory 1995)

As I, turn up the collar on
my favorite winter coat
This wind is blowing my mind
I see the kids in the streets,
with not enough to eat
Who am I, to be blind
Pretending not to see their needs

(from “man in the mirror” bad 1987)

Tired of injustice
Tired of the schemes
Life is disgustin’
So what does it mean
Kicking me down
I got to get up
As jacked as it sounds
The whole system sucks

Peek in the shadow
Come into the light
You tell me I’m wrong
Then you better prove you’re right
You’re sellin’ out souls but
I care about mine
I’ve got to get stronger
And I won’t give up the fight

With such confusions
Don’t it make you wanna scream

(from “scream” HIStory 1995)