Standing on the Side of Love: The Michael Jackson Legacy

When the last exhale of the “lets blame Michael Jackson” foolishness is finally breathed and the death gurgle is unmistakably heard, the world will finally know its mistake. I believe Michael even knew that. I believe he even planned for it. And like trail markers left on trees in the forest, the path he took to immortality was well marked by Michael himself to one day be recognized.

A trailblazer is often not appreciated until long after they are gone. Genius is an elusive thing and it’s easily misunderstood. And those who carry it are often thought odd or different. The truly gifted among us are rarely recognized in their own time by their own culture and often they are outcasts of their own kind. Especially the ones who shatter ideals on the rock of truth. They are always disturbing to the unenlightened and unwilling. They are always ahead of their time—sometimes a bit or sometimes a lot, and it’s human nature to fear that which we don’t understand. When we fear, we try to destroy. This too, shall pass.

Some future and not-too-distant day we will put away childish things and as a race, we will grow up. We will learn to treat each other better and we will recognize when those among us are treasures. We will wake up from a deep hypnotic sleep and understand where we came from and what that merits in how we behave and treat each other. The trail that Michael left points out one way that we might exit the forest to find the trees. Or exit the fog and to enter the clearing. His message said every which way but loose, whispers to us or sometimes shouts: “Awaken!”

When exploring Michael’s legacy and what he left behind in his work, I am often reminded of the poem by British playwright, Christopher Fry, whose work I also admire:

A SLEEP OF PRISONERS

 The human heart can go the lengths of God...
Dark and cold we may be, but this
is no winter now. The frozen misery
of centuries breaks, cracks, begins to move;
The thunder is the thunder of the floes,
the thaw, the flood, the upstart Spring.

 Thank God our time is now when wrong
comes up to face us everywhere,
never to leave us till we take
the longest stride of soul men ever took.

 Affairs are now soul size.

The enterprise is exploration into God.
Where are you making for? It takes
So many thousand years to wake...

 But will you wake, for pity's sake?

Who Michael Jackson was and is, is so complicated that it is hardly recognizable that we are in a puzzle that needs to be put together to reveal the bigger picture. Finding the pieces, identifying what they are and where they belong is a process. Not all the pieces are yet on the table. Some of those puzzle pieces will come from the most unexpected places.

Michael Jackson was a force. His message and mission was divinely inspired and God is not going anywhere. The Universe has a way of supporting the advancement of its creations—in this case, humans and the race. There is something to be learned here and it is big. Michael knew that. He knew his place and his worth and he taught that philosophy to others. His message was simple—remember you are god-sent and act like it.

I believe there is a grand plan, a blueprint, if you will, for the evolution and advancement of the race. This experiment called Earth is an important one; it is at once elegant and genius because it is an island and there is nowhere else to go. Putting all kinds of live beings together on a lonely island, hanging it out in space somewhere and then letting them have free will and free rein, is either a prescription for disaster or a blueprint for that race’s eventual evolution toward love. Michael understood that and began standing on the side of love. He helped to push the race forward. Someday that will become clear.

There are forces of course that push back and that has always been true. Resistance is one of the things we do well. And we still learn more through fear than love, but that is changing. In order to know what we want, we must starkly represent and identify what we don’t. Michael helped us with that. Just because he’s gone does not mean it’s over. His memory is still very much alive in the collective mind—sometimes for good and sometimes not. But Michael understood even that polarity and its purpose, and the alchemy of opposites and paradoxes and breakthroughs whether subliminal, recognized, yielded or wielded. And wield he did. The Excalibur sword was not forged in a moment and is not drawn from the stone without force. And we have yet to discover we are the kings who have already arrived.

To keep hope alive, take a look at the take back of our democracy movement in the Midwest, the anti-tyranny movement in the Middle East and North Africa. Remember the overnight attention given environmental toxins from offshore oil and now the safety of nuclear fuel. See how an unknown woman named Neda, in Iran, can become a martyr and symbol for a movement that rumbles quietly in the background of the collective psyche. Notice how the new youth eschews complacency and embraces civil disobedience and more for the sake of revolution, and how U.S. Senators stand for principles instead of the more safe “political correctness”, and vote with their feet when those feet feel the heat on the path to autocracy. With the internet and social media, it becomes harder to hide treachery and easier to oppose it together. Sometimes one event can change the world. Overnight.

The world around us swells with the winds of change. And that is the kind of wind that takes the breath away and knocks humans off balance who eventually learn to stand aright. People are weary of corruption, of corporate and other greed and inequality of all kinds. It’s all a modern version of the movement of Michael’s youth: “Power to the people!” That too is a prescription for disaster or a turn toward the light—in the hands of the capable, the responsible and level headed. Chaos theory works, darkness will not prevail and the truth is not going anywhere—it’s only hiding. For now.

While controversy stills swirls around all things Michael Jackson because there are still those who find darkness comfortable, there are others who seek the shimmer in whom he really was because they are able to acknowledge their own inner brilliance. This Is It has caused many to rethink their initial judgments. Michael Jackson The Experience will lead youth into that frequency and Michael vibe with dance and its’ exhilaration. Joe Vogel’s book Man in the Music promises to reveal the true musical genius, and other books to reveal the man. Cirque de Soleil’s Immortal will be experienced and remembered by thousands, and they will understand the message in the music and lyrics of one skinny little Moonwalker.

How will Michael be remembered? It’s not over till it’s over and the fat lady is still in the dressing room with her vocal coach just getting warmed up. There is no mistaking the work of the heart and art for the evolution of the soul in service to the world; there is only the forgetting that one is the gallery. It’s not going anywhere. Michael is not gone—only his body is now still. The legacy moves and lives forever. The truth is a marathon and the race is not over; I am not betting against that sword of truth or against Michael for I have my ticket, I am the gallery and I am left standing on the side of love. Ah… I see you are standing here too. Now could you please pass me that sword over there?

Artwork by Rev. Barbara Kaufmann. 41/2 foot by 41/2 foot painting: "Vision of the Madonna"  acrylic on 1/2 board which hangs in a retreat center in the midwest.

by Rev. Barbara Kaufmann
http://www.innermichael.com/

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.
No reproduction without permission from author.

This article appears in the publication Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael’s Legacy Alive,

http://mjtpmagazine.presspublisher.us/
and its content is the property of the authors and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait. Articles and exclusive interviews are copyrighted; therefore there should be no republication without permission. You may email edito@michaeljacksontributeportrait.com with any requests for republication. If permission is given, credit must be given to the author, Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael's Legacy Alive and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait.

Fighting for the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait

Some people say that out of every tragedy comes something good. Indeed, I've been blessed to encounter some of the most unconditional love I've ever experienced through friendships I've made in this community.

However, in the last few months I've had people with whom I was friendly become distant. Some who used to engage with me through social networks stopped doing so as much, others whom I've tried to befriend have flat out ignored me; comments on our articles have dropped, and some people seem to not support the MJTP to the extent they used to.

I didn't give it too much thought until I discovered that there are people in the community who feel the MJTP betrayed Michael, because one of our team members attended (by invitation) the album release party for Michael; some even going as far as writing about it on their blogs. Now it all makes so much sense, I thought to myself as the tears began to flow. That hurt me. 

Our intent at the MJTP is to be a tribute of love and carry on Michael's legacy, which for some may or may not include buying his music. There is no doubt that he will go down in history as one of the world's greatest entertainers. Through his songs, performances, concerts and short films, future generations will be able to experience his incredible talent. His influence will be felt for decades to come as artists now strive to emulate him, but there was something else just as amazing about Michael that future generations should be aware of, and that was his extraordinary capacity to love.

They should know how much he cared for all of humanity, how sensitive he was to the pain of sick and disadvantaged children, how he used his global fame as a force for humanitarian causes around the world.



They should know about the special relationship he had with his fans, why we are so loyal and how we shared an unconditional love. They should know about his connection to a Supreme Being, and how it was the foundation for his astounding creativity.

They should know about the strength he exhibited in the face of challenges, the dignity he maintained through attempts to discredit his character, and the extraordinary father he was to his children.

There are people with strong opinions on both sides when it comes to Michael's music. I have always encouraged fans to remain true to whatever it is they believe. When it comes to his children, I know they will be very successful in life no matter what happens with the music, because they were blessed enough to be raised on the love of Michael Jackson. It doesn't get any better than that. Having that as a foundation on which to build their lives is a precious gift he gave them. It's the most important part of his legacy.

To those who judge others without having the facts, please try to remember that this is what hurt Michael the most while he was living; it's what continues to hurt him now that he's gone, and what will ultimately tear this community apart if we turn on each other.



It's disheartening that some people have become so judgmental that they are making it hard for anyone to put positive work out there on Michael. Take for instance the recent announcement from Jermaine Jackson about the memoir he is writing called, You Are Not Alone. He said it was a book written out of love, and an attempt to show the world who Michael really was.

When he passed away, I was horrified to discover how some people had made it their lot in life to take Michael down. They tried everything they could to get the public to hate him, and judge him, and stigmatize him, so if Jermaine can educate the masses about the love he really embodied I am all for it.

I feel a responsibility to garner as much love for Michael as I possibly can. I have a passion to educate the world about how worthy of love he really is, and I am compelled to do whatever it takes to evoke those feelings from them, so I truly understand why he wants to do this.



Every person on this team does this work as a volunteer; most of whom also have full time jobs. We do it because we love him. To have someone suggest otherwise is unfair and unjust. It upset me so badly that I considered just walking away from it all, because to put it bluntly, it sucks to be loved conditionally. I decided to sleep on it though, and I'm so glad I did.

The next morning I awoke with a smile as I quickly recalled a dream I'd had. I was in a room, standing in a row behind a barrier with a few other fans waiting for Michael to come and greet us. The room was square and dimly lit, with walls that were cream colored and bare; the air was filled with excitement and anticipation. As he walked in, the energy quickly changed to love and the room lit up with a beautiful peach glow.

He gracefully walked over to us with his entourage behind him, and started talking to the fans next to me. He reached out and grabbed my hand without making eye contact or saying anything to me, holding it the entire time he spoke with them. I just stood there mesmerized feeling like my heart was going to beat out of my chest, taking note of how soft his hand was. When he was finished, he squeezed it lightly as if to say "don't give up," then he let it drop to my side.

As he told the crowd goodbye, he declared his love for us by putting his hands in that famous prayer pose, then blew a kiss with his fingertips. We couldn't take our eyes off him as he made his way toward the door. Then, right before he walked out, he turned around and winked at me...That's the only dream I've ever had about Michael, but it was exactly what I needed to renew my spirit.



In his autobiography Moonwalk, he said, "When I feel that something is not right, I have to speak up. I know most people don't think of me as tough or strong-willed, but that's just because they don't know me." I can relate to that because even though my focus in on love, that doesn't mean I won't speak up when I feel something isn't right.

To those who questioned our loyalty and dedication to Michael, in the words of Christina Aguilera's hit song "Fighter."

"I wanna say thank you.'Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter."

You've helped me develop a little of that rhinoceros skin Michael used to speak about, which makes me that much stronger. You've renewed my passion and sense of purpose which makes me work a little bit harder, and by heeding Michael's advice, I've become that much wiser: "No matter who's around you that's being negative or thrusting negative energy at you, totally block it off."

Most of all you've helped me remember why I started doing this work in the first place: to love Michael Jackson and help others do the same.

The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait is, and always will be, a tribute of love by the fans for the fans, to honor and appreciate the man, the legend and the humanitarian. To those who continue to support us in what we're trying to do for him, we thank you. It means more than you could possibly know.

Written by Linda Higgins

All Rights Reserved.
No reproduction without permission from author.

This article appears in the publication Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael’s Legacy Alive, and its content is the property of the authors and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait. Articles and exclusive interviews are copyrighted; therefore there should be no republication without permission. You may email edito@michaeljacksontributeportrait.com with any requests for republication. If permission is given, credit must be given to the author, Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael's Legacy Alive and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait.

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What the Whole World Knows, But Doesn't

The whole world knows of Michael Jackson’s humanitarianism now that he has gone. Charities and organizations he supported during his life-time can be easily found on the internet, and it’s an impressive list. The sort of list that when looking at it triggers a twinge of guilt or shame, and the feeling that a period of self-reflection is long overdue and well in order.

Yes, the whole world now knows of Michael’s habit of giving freely without expecting anything in return, but why didn’t the media report on this while he was alive? For the most part, Michael didn’t want it publicized. It wasn’t about getting good press or photo opportunities or making himself look good. It came from his heart and he did it for love, quietly and unobtrusively without the prying eyes of the world watching.

And perhaps there was another reason he discouraged publicity surrounding his acts of love and generosity, especially toward children. The rare times was actually filmed visiting hospitals and orphanages, and at Neverland when he hosted special visits from underprivileged and sick children, it was often down-played or underscored as an act of kindness, and sometimes found questionable by those who didn’t understand, didn’t want to see it for what it was, and alluded to something far darker than his innocent and pure love for all little ones. That  left the door open then, for more sinister elements to enter Michael’s life and take advantage of him.

And those that did take advantage of his love for children, and used it for their own nefarious gain; the circumstances surrounding the situations, the gossip and innuendos fueled by the media, the resulting court case, stigmatized and branded Michael forever. It didn’t matter that he was found not guilty. In the eyes of the armchair critic’s who sat before their television sets night after night watching one man’s life ton apart, he was guilty, regardless of the verdict. Yes, he was guilty, but only of his simplistic trust in the goodness of the human heart. For this he was judged, condemned and forever remembered for the things he never was, instead for all the things he should, and deserves to be recognized for.

One man, with so much love to give, donated millions of dollars of his own hard-earned money to countless charities. He donated medical equipment to hospitals. He paid for transplants and surgeries; opened up his life and home to hundreds of kids and their families, and people gratefully accepted his kindness. They were touched, affected and changed forever through his gift of unselfish love.

Charities and organizations were grateful also.Through Michael’s generosity, their work in helping the disadvantaged, underprivileged, sick and terminally ill, was made just a little bit easier. It helped continue the humanitarianism that echoed so strongly in Michael’s heart. But hearts beating as one in an instant, in the flash of a camera, in a news broadcast, in an allegation and trial, faltered and skipped a few beats. And after the acquittal, for some it was too risky, too controversial, to pick up and unify the rhythm again.

Having Michael’s name associated with their charities became an embarrassment for some. The money had been accepted, spent wisely in most cases and used where it needed. “Very much appreciated and thank you very much Mr. Jackson for your kind donation, but….” And that is a very loud "BUT." Even now, approaching some of these charities and hospitals to ask if they will help support or sponsor new projects that will ensure Michael’s legacy continues, and also bring attention to their needs and continuing work, there is a reluctance, flat-out refusals or total silence.

And still today publishers are reluctant, if not un-willing, to print books on Michael’s life unless they are tell-all’s that focus on negativity, hearsay and gossip. So many positive and beautiful books that have been written both by Michael’s friends and his fans, have been turned away and not afforded their due, forcing authors to self-publish. Without marketing, distribution and promotion, these books do not have the range to reach a mass readership, therefore denying countless readers easy access to a better understanding and insight into the real truth about Michael.

How sad it is that this one slight man with a voice that brought even men to tears, that engaged generations in a love affair of the heart, mind and spirit, who gave so much, did so much to help others, is still seen as a pariah in society. It doesn’t say much for humankind.

So what can we do? How can we change an opinion that has been engraved upon the public’s mind through the clever manipulation of words, and that has been accepted as a truth by those willing to believe everything they read? We can continue walking the path we are on; all of us. Fans, friends and associates of Michael are all working toward the continuation of his legacy each in our own ways. We are fighting for justice, seeking the vindication of his name, paying tribute to and honoring all that he accomplished and stood for. We are trying to live his message everyday and we are showing the world by our example, the truly special gift that Michael was and still is.

Everything we say and do causes a reaction; a ripple in the universe that becomes locked in the time of that precise moment when action produces effect. Essentially, it becomes a part of history because the clock cannot be turned back. We cannot change what has been said and done. Let our words and actions become a part of Michael’s history so that when future generations read of this time, when they read of how it all began, they will see how the negativity and lies were silenced with truth, and by the roar of millions of voices speaking one language for a common good.

This video was made to honor all of Michael’s fans and friends, and all the websites both tribute and justice that are dedicated each in their own way to the continuation of Michael's legacy and the vindication of his name. Thank you all for your tireless work and love.
Valmai Owens

              

http://www.youtube.com/user/EditorMJTP?feature=mhum

© Valmai Owens, 2011. All Rights Reserved.
No reproduction without permission from author.

This article appears in the publication Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael’s Legacy Alive, and its content is the property of the authors and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait. Articles and exclusive interviews are copyrighted; therefore there should be no republication without permission. You may email

edito@michaeljacksontributeportrait.com with any requests for republication. If permission is given, credit must be given to the author, Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael's Legacy Alive and the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait.

http://www.mjtpmagazine.presspublisher.us/

www.MichaelJacksonTributePortrait.com

Michael

The Name

Michael. Who is like God. Gift of God.

It is not an uncommon name. Many have had it bestowed upon them, but for us it is a name that when spoken, slides over the lips like red wine, rich and bursting with flavor. Lighting up the eyes it wreaths a face in smiles, and quickens the heart with excitement and tender longing. We clothe ourselves in this name; drape it around our necks and dangle it from our ears. We speak it, watch it, dance and sing it. It is drawn and painted and written upon pages; branded on our skin, hearts and minds. It is a name synonymous with everything we hold dear and love in this life. The name Michael is a soul’s kiss and a spiritual whisper of adoration.

The Child

Cute, adorable and playful, his smile won our hearts. He sang like an angel and moved like a seasoned professional far beyond his years, holding us captive and bound to him forever.

Well, you don't get to do things that other children get to do, having friends and slumber parties and buddies. There were none of that for me. I didn't have friends when I was little. My brothers were my friends. Michael Jackson.

For those of us who witnessed his emergence into the world of song and dance (children ourselves), we never questioned the hows and why’s he arrived to the stage. He was just there, shining and bright with life and a talent that left us breathless. We never considered that while we were going to school and playing with our friends, going to the park, the beach or on vacation with our families, engaging in normal childhood pleasures and activities, Michael was not doing the same.

He was like a child who never was. Years determined his age, but harsh discipline, grueling hours of practice and performing and dedication to his art, determined that he would never know the simplicity of living in the world of children with all its magic and laughter and fantasy. Instead he lived it in his mind; a private playground equipped with all that he yearned for but had never experienced. And through it all, he kept smiling and singing and dancing for a world that was unaware of his loneliness.

The Teenager

I was a gangly adolescent heading toward five feet ten inches… It was tough. Everyone had called me cute for a long time, but along with all the other changes, my skin broke out in a terrible case of acne…. I couldn’t look at people when I talked to them. I’d look down, or away. I felt I didn’t have anything to be proud of and I didn’t want to go out. I didn’t want to do anything. Michael Jackson

He grew; he grew tall and lean, and the roundness of the child’s face refined itself into angular lines of the young adult. The evitable course of nature dictates that all life must age, and Michael left his childhood behind and walked toward the angst, uncertainty and afflictions of the teenage years. And we walked with him, each bearing the signs of our body’s ever changing appearance and the confusion over emotions that often seemed out of control.

For some, these years were more painful than for others, leaving scars that ran deep into the future. Michael was no different, but this period in a sense was worse for him because he was so much in the public eye. Exposed on stage and before cameras he could not hide his face from the spotlight nor did he try, as he sang and danced in an expression of joy and deep emotion.

If we noticed the physical changes occurring in him, it was the revelation that a magical being was starting to emerge from his cocoon. We waited in expectation for the day he would unfold and stretch his wings.

The Butterfly

I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. Charles Dickens

Once free from his chrysalis, Michael was more beautiful than we could have imagined. He had an ethereal beauty that came from deep within his soul, and it shone from him surrounding everyone who came near. None of us could resist the magnetic pull toward him; man woman and child were drawn to him like a moth is to flame, and we burnt from the love that was out of our reach, almost untouchable.

Yet we couldn’t help but come back for more; just as the moth, we kept flying into the light. We stood under hotel balconies and at the gates of Neverland, everywhere that we knew he would be, with our smiles and hopeful hearts waiting for a glimpse, a wave, a word, a touch; just one moment of physical connection.

Some would say that Michael was no different to other icons that collected adoring followers, but we know different. We know that Michael was different. He was more than an artist and he was more than just physical beauty. He exuded a spiritual aura that touched everything and everyone with an unselfish and all encompassing love. We could see it then as we can now, that one such as him comes but once in a lifetime.

The Master of Song

I wake up from dreams and go "Wow, put this down on paper." The whole thing is strange. You hear the words, everything is right there in front of your face . . . Michael Jackson

Instantly recognizable; a voice that is as smooth as silk and fluid in intonation and clarity. Strong and powerful or soft and tender, Michael adapted his voice to the message in his songs, pouring his heart and soul into lyric’s that told more than just a story. His songs were poetry; an extension of his feelings that exposed his deep innermost feelings. They gave us an insight into his heart and mind, and carried us far beyond imagination into the reality of his world and the spiritual essence contained within. When we close our eyes and breath in the music, we are right there in his moment of joy, pain, happiness, loss, loneliness and sometimes anger; feeling the words as if they were our own.

Michael’s song is unforgettable and much more than just aesthetically pleasing to the ear. It brings us to an awareness of his message; a message that ripples across the universe in waves forever etched in the history of mankind; an eternal prose of enlightenment.

The Master of Dance

…I keep on dancing and then, it is the eternal dance of creation. The creator and creation merge into one wholeness of joy. I keep on dancing and dancing.......and dancing, until there is only......the dance. Michael Jackson.

He was a white heat radiating from the stage pulsing with energy and light, and when he danced time stood still. No one could take their eyes off him  nor deny the genius of his artistry. Michael was simply mesmerizing. But what made him different from other great dancers of our age? Michael didn’t move to one genre. He incorporated many styles into his dance and mastered each, making him unique and a force to be reckoned with.

His innate sense of rhythm and timing was a natural gift not acquired through practice, but born in him and gifted from above, and each movement he made was in perfect time to the message contained in his lyrics. Quick-fire spins led to the sensuous sway of hips, and in between, he tap danced and moon walked across the world inspiring and electrifying audiences of all ages.

His passion for the art he excelled at; using every part of his body, heart and soul, was a ballet choreographed by divine communion. Michael on-stage and off, will forever remain irreplaceable.

The Man, the Mirror, the Message

I'm just like anyone. I cut and I bleed. And I embarrass easily. Michael Jackson

Michael. The name, the child, the teenager, the butterfly, the master of his craft, was driven to perfection; inspired to make a change in this world. He was a man made of flesh and blood, a man who had his flaws, eccentricities and demons that chased him. His childhood experiences helped to shape the man he would become, but his drive toward excellence and perfection, and more importantly, the empathy he had for the pain and suffering of others, especially children and our planet, came from another place.

He was a beacon to not only his adorers, but also to the disdainers who recorded and wrote of every aspect of his life. Nowhere could he go without being followed, photographed or questioned. His only sanctuary was Neverland, and that too became tainted through lies that almost destroyed his spirit. He became geographically homeless in a sense, drifting from one country to the next with the little ones he knew he could trust, his precious children.

How much the loss of his childhood, the pain of his teenage years and the many betrayals affected Michael, we will never know, but undoubtedly they left their scars. A brilliant businessman and consummate artist aside, Michael was a sensitive soul; a soul that searched and questioned and dreamed.

I changed. People change. Michael Jackson

We see glimpses of this searching and questioning in images captured of Michael standing before a mirror. The mirror image of self- reflection is intrinsically bound to his message; Michael and the mirror, the mirror and Michael.

What was he thinking as he contemplated his reflection? Was he measuring what he had gained against the price he had paid for his success; the countless tours and rehearsals, the invasive curiosity about his life, the publicity and bad press, the ultimate betrayals and tribulations? Did he ever ask the mirror, “Why me? Why was I chosen to deliver this message?”

Whatever his thoughts, whatever was passing through his mind during those moments, there is a sense of Michael pressing into the mirror as if was trying to merge the physical with the image; as if he saw both as two separate entities.

But, through all his joys and happiness, the trials and pain throughout the years, one thing remained constant; his message.

To heal the world, we first have to heal ourselves. And to heal the kids, we first have to heal the child within, each and every one of us. Michael Jackson

What about the bleeding Earth
Can't we feel its wounds
What about nature's worth?
It's our planet's womb.

The basis of his message isn’t new by any means. Many advocates of peace, love and healing have lent their voices to the peacemaker’s choir. But what made Michael’s voice so different; so special?

He was loved and supported unequivocally, by millions upon millions of people in an age where technology allowed the farthest reaches of our world access to images and sound through the click of a button. He toured extensively, he recorded, and he published and used his craft to rise up onto the world platform. Once there, once he had our hearts lying in his hands, he delivered his message to ears that were open and ready to hear. No one before has been able to reach so many people at the same time.

Michael’s legacy more than anything, is his humanitarianism; his unselfish giving of time, money and love. It wasn’t just empty words he spoke, he lived his message and he believed in it with all his heart and soul. For us now, the one’s left behind, a duty falls on our shoulders to make sure his legacy is continued into the future. Let not our words be empty. Let not our actions disprove what he worked so hard for and ardently believed in. We have this one chance given to us so let’s make it count. Let’s make that change in ourselves, and then change the world for our children and for Michael. It is the greatest honor we can give a man who sacrificed so much for us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_RqXeiFn3E&feature=player_embedded

© Valmai Owens, 2011

Director of Publications/Editor-in-Chief

Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael’s Legacy Alive

http://www.michaeljacksontributeportrait.com/magazine.php

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"Hold My Hand"

When I listened to “Hold My Hand” this morning, I was once again awed by the purity and magic of Michael’s voice. It’s a voice I am intimately familiar with; it’s a voice I love dearly, and in that moment when the harmonies came together in perfect unison, I loved him more than I had at any other point in my life. The song is a beautiful testament to his genius and a lasting reminder of his incredible legacy.

Knowing that this was perhaps his last known song before he died, I was struck by the profoundness of the lyrics and wondered if Michael had any idea what they would come to mean to the fans, especially now. The release of ‘Hold My Hand” at a time when the fan community is so divided, so full of anger and dissention, is uncanny. Speaking for myself only, I strongly feel that the message in this song calls for unity and love.

This life don’t last forever (hold my hand)
So tell me what we’re waitin’ for (hold my hand)
Better off being together (hold my hand)
Than being miserable alone (hold my hand)

Cause I’ve been there before
And you’ve been there before
But together we can be alright.
Cause when it gets dark and when it gets cold
We can just hold each other till we see the sunlight

So if you just hold my hand
Baby I promise that I’ll do all I can
Things will get better if you just hold my hand
Nothing can come in between us if you just hold, hold my, hold my, hold my hand.

The nights are getting darker (hold my hand)
And there’s no peace inside (hold my hand)
So why make our lives harder (hold my hand)
By fighting love, tonight.

Cause I’ve been there before
And you’ve been there before
But together we can be alright.
Cause when it gets dark and when it gets cold
We can just hold each other till we see the sunlight

So if you just hold my hand
Baby I promise that I’ll do all I can
Things will get better if you just hold my hand
Nothing can come in between us if you just hold my hand

I also feel almost as if Michael is calling us to go back to that place seventeen months ago, when we come together as a global family through our grief, pain and love for him, vowing to remember always and to carry his legacy forward. That place where we reached out our hands to each other in friendship and support not anger and hate. That place where we promised to never let go of his hand; that place before the fighting, where we stood as one ready to face the world as a united front, with the promise that his message would be forever heard.

We won’t achieve anything through anger, and if we let it consume us then it will eat away at our hearts until there is nothing left except for a hard core of bitterness. At the center of everything Michael did, was love. “It’s all about love,” he said and without love there is nothing left to fight for.

So if you just hold my hand
Baby I promise that I’ll do all I can
Things will get better if you just hold my hand
Nothing can come in between us if you just hold my hand

‘Hold My Hand‘is an R&B duet/collaboration between Akon and Michael Jackson. It was recorded in 2007.

 http://breakingnews.michaeljackson.com/

© Valmai Owens, 2010. All Rights Reserved.
No reproduction without permission from author.

Mr. MacKenzie We Beg To Differ!

Remaining calm and rational is a lot harder that what one may think at times, especially when faced with the horrors of injustice. When I read Kelvin MacKenzie’s comments that had aired on ITV This Morning, November 9, 2010, I was filled with an equal amount of rage and disgust. I was also filled with immense sorrow. My immediate reaction was to lash out, and express to him in no uncertain terms exactly what I thought of him, but then I wondered if it had been his intention to illicit this sort of response. A mental picture formed in my mind of McKenzie rubbing his hands in glee over the furor he had caused, and I was not about to give him the satisfaction of knowing he had hit a raw nerve.

MacKenzie is best known for being the man to coin the term “Wacko Jacko” and is a perfect example of the unconscionable reporting that is prevalent within tabloid media today, but in this case, he has crossed a line that even his own peers cannot find acceptable.

Charles Thomson writes in his blog:

“MacKenzie’s comments were morally and ethically reprehensible. He demonstrated a complete lack of respect for the justice system and also for the ethics of his profession. Jackson was acquitted of any wrongdoing and nobody has any right to insinuate that he was anything other than innocent.

MacKenzie’s outburst was unacceptable. [T]o announce on television that three orphaned children are better off now their father is dead and proclaim that they should never have been born in the first place – that is beyond vile.”

Indeed, no one could agree more.

Surprisingly, there is actually a journalistic Code of Ethics in most countries that was designed as a guide to assist professional journalists in the truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity and fairness of their reporting, and to help with difficulties such as conflicts of interest and ethical dilemmas. The Preamble to the Society of Professional Journalists in America states:

Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.I have highlighted the areas above to draw attention to a singular lack of ethical and moral conduct on MacKenzie’s part.

Has MacKenzie ever read the court transcripts for Michael’s 2005 trial? No doubt he has, but it obviously did little to change his opinion. One could even go as far saying that he doesn’t care. The fact that Michael was found innocent by a jury of his peers apparently holds little sway to a man who has always been very vocal about his hatred of the King of Pop. The most we can hope for here is a retraction or formal apology by the former editor of The Sun, but that may be a long time coming. According to OFCOM (the official complaints authority for UK media) MacKenzie has not broken any of their rules and none of our complaints are being upheld.

Whether MacKenzie apologizes or not, the damage has been done, for he has not only caused grief to Michaels’ family and children, but he is malignly contributing to the on-going character assassination of a man who has now passed. In short, MacKenzie is nothing but a bully who uses words as weapons to destroy. It is because of him, and people like him, that organizations such as Voices Education Project have been created, but until we educate people in the destructive power of words, something needs to protect those who can no longer speak for themselves.

The defamation of someone’s character is hardly new, and lawsuits testify to the fact that it is not a particularly legal practice, unless of course the person you are defaming is no longer alive. I am not entirely sure why the absence of breath in someone’s body gives others carte blanche to damage the reputation, through slander and libel, of that said person. Surely in all conscience the law should encompass both the living and the dead? Apparently not, so either the law needs to be changed to protect those who can longer speak for themselves, or at the very least, develop a heart.

But changing the law can be a very difficult process and as proven in the past, not always successful, however, it’s not impossible. When I was approached by a group of supportive fans to help promote their Michael Jackson Legacy Defamation Law Petition, I thought to myself, “This is something I can really get behind.” Michael was a target of the media and public alike for nearly all his life. He was criticized, mocked, laughed at and debased at every opportunity, and it still continues now after his death. If signing a petition helps to change the law; helps to prevent any further false allegations, slander, innuendos and degradation of this man and his legacy, then my name is on it, especially after reading MacKenzie’s vitriolic comments.

“OK, well a rather different view to that is that the death of Michael Jackson may well have saved some children, possibly, who knows… from a lifetime of being mentally corrupted, shall we say.”

“He’s faced a number of charges, a number of allegations, and I in some ways feels that the children will have a better life for their father not being around, which is pretty unusual.”  

Mr., MacKenzie, Michael’s children and his family beg to differ. Mr. MacKenzie, Michael’s fans beg to differ. Mr. MacKenzie, the countless children, organizations and charities that he helped and donated too, beg to differ. You speak for no one else but yourself, Mr. MacKenzie!

© Valmai Owens, 2010. All Rights Reserved.

No reproduction without permission from author.

The Voices behind the Michael Jackson Legacy Defamation Law Petition

A year ago several of us came together through an Amazon Michael Jackson community. It seemed that each of us had embarked on the same journey on June 25, 2009. In trying to understand what we were experiencing, we all found ourselves at the same thread on the Michael Jackson Community. We shared our sorrow, anger, confusion, frustration, tears, discoveries, and joys. As time went on we truly became a family and we were very comfortable with one another. We all consider one another to be sisters, and we are a very close group.

The emotional pain and sorrow began to evolve into something deeper. We wanted to find a way to make a difference. Many of us became involved in writing letters and posting comments where we saw a need. We placed an ad in the newspapers in Gary, (Indiana,)  and the surrounding area on Michael’s birthday to honor him and to let it be known that there are people who care about seeing his legacy go forward without the tinge suspicion.

Those efforts prompted some of us to want to become even more involved. After a Skype call where all who wanted to work on this project came together, MJ shared her idea to take some form of legal action to stop the spread of untrue and hateful information about Michael. Discussions over that idea lead to another conference call with Karen, Barb, MJ, and Vanessa. There the idea was formed to try to have a law passed in California that would make it illegal to defame a person who had passed on.

Michael Jackson was unfairly portrayed by a biased media throughout most of his life. Every aspect of his life was a source of amusement to the media, and they happily distorted facts and spread rumor and gossip in order to make a profit. It was a terrible way to treat Michael. No one in the history of our country has ever been so vilified in the media. Journalists, entertainers, public figures; it seems everyone felt very comfortable with treating Michael's life like it was a comic strip. That is heartbreaking to us because we see what a wonderful man he was. Not just for his legendary accomplishments in entertainment and the arts, but for the contributions he made to the world through his message of love. He lived a most remarkable life and managed to remain humble, loving, kind, generous, and respectful.

That is why we have come to this point where we say enough is enough. To have defamed him while he was living was an egregious misuse of the freedom of speech and the power of words. However, to continue to do so after he is no longer here is reprehensible. While the attacks on Michael Jackson have been the most aggressive ever seen in our country; the fact is that the media, in general, is out of control. They will go after anyone who may bring a profit. There is little, if any, thought to reporting only facts and reporting them without bias. This effort came about through a love and respect for Michael Jackson, but the purpose for the law does not extend only to him. We want this effort to be taken seriously; it is meant to protect anyone....famous celebrity, average citizen, or innocent child from being maligned unfairly.  In the current media culture, anyone is fair game.

After the call with Karen, MJ, Vanessa and Barb, it was decided that we would pursue having this law introduced, and we should start a petition. MJ researched how to start a petition, and she set up the link. Barb wrote the petition letter, and is writing letters to be sent to the legislators in California. Karen is meeting with an attorney in California at the end of October, 2010. She hopes to get advice on how to proceed with this project.

The purpose of the petition is to prove that there are people who want to see a higher level of integrity and accountability from our media. There are people in California who have already said they are willing to go door-to-door with the petition to get signatures. We hope to have this law introduced in California because that is where Michael lived. Karen plans to return from her California trip with a plan on how best to move forward. Karen personally contacts anyone she feels may be of assistance. MJ spends hours every day posting the petition link on websites all over the internet, and keeping us all informed and encouraged. Martha is assisting with getting the petition circulated. MJ and Martha contact, through Face book and other discussion groups, everyone they think would be interested in aiding with this endeavor. Vanessa searches for articles that continue to reflect a distorted image of Michael. All of our sisters on our forum support our efforts by posting encouraging comments; lifting us up with email messages, and of course, signing the petition. It is really a group project of love.

Barbara Owens, Group Journalist

September 28, 2010

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Michael-Jackson-s-Children-Are-Better-Off-Now-that-He-s-Dead-Says-Kelvin-MacKenzie-165901.shtml

http://charlesthomsonjournalist.blogspot.com/2010/11/kelvin-mckenzie-jackson-was-abuser-and.html

http://www.petitiononline.com/MJJ2010/petition.html

Honoring Michael's Gift To The World On His Birthday

Written for the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait, 8/28/2010.

It’s hard to believe that we are celebrating yet another of Michael’s birthdays without his presence. The last year has passed by so quickly, but the feelings of loss and grief still linger within us. This will never fade because missing Michael is now a way of life, and calls to mind all the reasons why we love him and what he means to each one of us personally. That is what is at the heart of this birthday video; recollections of a man who found his way into our hearts and changed us forever.

Many times I found myself smiling at the images moving across my computer screen as I tried to piece them together for the video, and I would drift on waves of memory. Michael was my first crush. I was 12 and didn’t particularly hold boys in any worth or importance, so when Michael burst into my world and I found myself entranced by his sweet smile and face, it really was a major event.

In my country there was only one television station at the time, so it was rare to see Michael and his brothers appearing on our screens very often. I spent most of my spare time tuned into the radio listening to “The Jackson 5” hits as they were released. There were some magazines around that covered stories on their success and contained large, colorful posters inside, but my mother would never agree to buy them for me no matter how much I begged, so when video clips from Michael’s “Off The Wall” album started to air on our TV’s, it had been awhile since I’d actually had a good look at him and he had grown; grown into a very good-looking young man. His style had also changed; the way he dressed, his moves, the songs combined, made everyone sit up and take notice, including me.

The shift from childhood crush and teenage adulation started, and when “Thriller” took the world by storm I felt the first stirrings of love. By the time Michael appeared be-decked in his signature black jacket, pants and boots, boasting dozens of silver buckles, badges and crests during his “Bad” era, my full-blown love affair with him began in earnest. Of course it was a very one-sided affair because Michael never knew who I was or that I existed, but hope floated through the years upon my dream that one day we would meet and live happily ever after. I couldn’t see at the time how Michael could become any the more beautiful to me than he already was, or that I could possibly love him more than I did. As time passed he not only grew in beauty, but also artistically, leaving me speechless in the face of each new song and video he released.

Many years later after emerging from what I call the “lost years”, I re-discovered the Michael I had lost contact with only to find it was too late. He was gone, and he had broken the hearts of his family, friends and fans. After reading and watching everything about him I had missed through those years, I finally understood the nature of what had always drawn me to him; what draws everyone to him. Transcending the physical, he was beautiful on a deep, pure and spiritual level. He touched the core of us; our very souls, and lifted us up, over and above ourselves to connect with his essence. This to me is what is at the very heart of Michael and our love for him; his giving spirit glowing with love, a spirit that drove him to excellence and generosity, a spirit that was battered and bruised, but endured to the very end and beyond. This is how I will remember Michael more than anything else. His gift to the world and to our lives will never be forgotten.

From our heart to yours; reaching out across the distance that lays between us, we wish you a happy birthday!

We Love You Michael!

Ode to Beauty

Oh beautiful eyes

That pierce through my loneliness and pain

Promising love and hope in a world that has lost its way

In your depths I swim, and drown in pools of liquid brown

The velvet caress sliding over me in the heat of your glance, stills my heart

You take my breath away

Oh beautiful smile

What pleasure you offer to my mind and senses

I am a willing captive to your radiance

Held forever by my earnest request

Don’t release me from my desire to dwell within your purity

I lose myself in you

Oh beautiful voice

Your cadence lifts me up upon the music

And sings me to places I have never been before

I fly the skies on silken flows of harmony

Cradled gently in your sweet lullaby

You uphold me

Oh beautiful body

Your form of color and motion

Dancing with timeless rhythm, ascends with grace

I sway to the poetry of movement

Each dip, each twirl, each thrust you make, is a vision of artistry

Awakening within me a spiritual verse

I am speechless before you

Oh beautiful man

My precious star

You hang so perfect in my sky

Spreading light through my day, and comfort in my night

You nourish my spirit and sustain my belief in your faithful promise

That forever you are here with me

You make my soul sing

Oh beautiful, beautiful man

I LOVE you!

© Valmai Owens, 2010. All Rights Reserved.

No reproduction with permission from author.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuHw0E1CoC8

http://www.michaeljacksontributeportrait.com/home.php