This week we lost an influential musical talent. To my generation it is the equivalent of the day Elvis died. Music lover or not, there can be no denying the influence Michael Jackson had on musicians today. There is an old saying about the highest form of flattery is imitation. Michael Jackson was definitely imitated but never duplicated.
The really disappointing news is that during the last part of his life his physical appearance made it much easier for people to form negative opinions about him and his involvement with children. I personally went through my own struggle with believing his innocence versus guilt as well. In this country a man is innocent until proven guilty and although we all like to think we adhere to that standard, unfortunately, we do not. However, in the end, Michael Jackson was proven innocent.
I look back now at the beginning of his career and I have re-visited his musical legacy this past week and I find it really hard to believe that anyone can have such duplicity by ever being guilty of harming a child and by having the child like innocence to write some of the most beautiful songs ever written. People forget things like USA for Africa and Heal the World and The Earth Song. Can a man the world convicted based on his unique and strange behavior and features be one to harm another child and yet have the mindset to help children. Think back to his Neverland Ranch. He had that built for children that were sick. Less we forget he himself never got to experience a childhood and it really became clear to me when his own father during the BET awards was more interested in posturing and promoting his new record label rather than mourn the loss of his greatest achievement, his son? Ponder that.
At least now in death, maybe Michael Jackson can achieve some peace after all. RIP MJ!
