I just wanted to share my thoughts on what Michael Jackson’s memorial service taught me.
For better or worse, people will remember MJ and his talent was outstanding, even his opponents couldn’t disagree there. Much has been said about the person that he was as opposed to the "icon". At the end of the day MJ was a son, a brother, a father, and a friend to many. He was a real person with a depth of emotion and spiritual intent, we are told by those close to him.
I saw some of the memorial service and was touched by the support and outpouring of love. It saddened me too, though. When MJ needed people most, it seemed to me that all the media could do was ridicule him and parade him on their front pages like a freak of nature. Judgement was made on MJ time and again regarding his looks, his relationships, his actions and accusations. Little thought was given to how all this media attention would affect the very real little people in his life, his 3 innocent children. It took his death for people to honour him and respect him for all the good that he did with his fame and fortune.
As a parent, I could not contain my tears of emotion when MJ’s daughter, Paris, spoke at his memorial service. Paris’s emotions were raw and her heart was true. She spoke like a child who had lost her daddy at too young an age. It was heart-breaking. There is a real family that has to deal with all that goes with the death of a loved one. Paris and her siblings lost their daddy, let’s not forget that.
I have never understood why it takes a funeral for people to stand up and say how much that person meant to them. Tell them NOW! "I love you, you’ve made a difference in my life, I am proud of you…" I couldn’t help but imagine what it would have been like for Michael to have actually been sitting in the audience during the memorial. Imagine if people (media included) could have held a function to honour this man in life and show their love and support, as well as, gratitude for the causes he brought to the world’s attention?
Michael would have felt loved, appreciated and respected. Perhaps that would have made a difference in his life, who knows? I am sure of one thing though, his little children were probably one of the few who did tell him and who did make him feel special, like he was the "best daddy you could ever imagine".
Michael would have been proud of his daughter, as will she in time to come. let’s all take a lesson from this and hold our loved ones close, wasting no time in telling them their worth.
God Bless
Toni,
What a wonderful post! It expresses exactly how I felt yesterday. The outpouring of love for this wonderful soul that was Michael Jackson brought tears to my eyes over here in Switzerland. The villification of this man was so savage in the last 5 years, I don't know how he made it. Only the love of his family and his children could have pulled him through.
When I saw the hypocrites on CNN and other media fawning over him as if they'd suddenly discovered who he was; a man of immense talent and genius, the charitable causes he supported, and the fact that he was a feeling, bleeding human being, it hurt my heart.
And it made me ask another question that occurs to me from time to time. Why can we not accept people as they are? Why can we not appreciate the great ones while they're alive? Naive question, I know.
But I grew up in a society where you are judged by what you do, NOT by what you say. And despite my hard upbringing, I am so very very grateful to have been born in Trinidad and Tobago 50 years ago, where I learned what truly matters and not at any price would I embrace this dysfunctional reality that we're living in today.
Keep your love shining bright Toni.
Catherine
Have a perfect day!
Thank you for your comments Catherine, appreciate you reading my post
Toni and Catherine,
I agree with both of you whole-heartedly. I grew up with MJ's music and I have always been a fan. He was a legend, a spiritual artist who saw love as the greatest of all.
So why, WHY, was he judged and ridiculed so much throughout his life? Excuse me, but who are we as a society to pass judgement on somebody we don't know? MJ's music spoke directly to my heart, but I am not naive enough to suggest I knew him at all. Not in a way that really mattered. His artistic contribution to the world, his generosity to those less fortunate (especially children), his attempts to awaken us through music, those are the things I see when I look at MJ. And surely they are the things that matter most.
I pray for the time when we stop judging one another and live in a state of being that practices only love and acceptance. If MJ's death has taught me anything it is to think twice before I criticise, make the most of the now and never, ever take our loved ones for granted.
Thank you Toni for your wonderful post – you put my thoughts into words!
Love and blessings,
Erin
Michael Jackson, the moonwalking former child star who became known the world over as the "King of Pop" before his life and career deteriorated in a freakish series of scandals, died, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. He was 50.I will not set in judgement over Michael Jackson, he was a great performer, and though he was accused of being a child molester, nobody really knows if that's true, or if it was just a way for someone to make <a rev="vote for" title="Need new shoes? Try a payday loan" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/personal-loans/quick-loans/quick-cash/">quick cash. I just want to say we can't believe all that we hear, Hollywood is full of rumors. If it's true, it's in Gods hands, not ours. I say god bless his soul and my condolences to his family & loved ones. Let him rest in peace. I never knew him personally so I can't say what he did or didn't do. He paid his dues, so be it. Farewell to a great performer. I'm sure a lot of people will disagree with me, but I won't lose any sleep over the way I personally feel. So say what you will about my opinion, it's on you.
Thanks Erin,
Regarding your comments, that is all that we can do, practise non-judgement ourselves and live the way we want the world to live. By your example, others can follow, so your actions can make a difference.
Thanks again for your comments xx
Dear Jaylyn,
Thanks for your comments, in the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter what people think MJ did or didn't do, and it serves us well to remember he was still a human being with a family etc etc etc … so you continue to believe what you believe and honour MJ for what he contributed to society.
Thanks again x