Interview With Omer Bhatti (O-Bee)

Omer Michael J Bhatti (O-Bee) has been performing in front of audiences since as long as he can remember, in fact, one could say he literally grew up on the stage. Gifted and passionate, Omer is a young man very much dedicated to his craft, delighting audiences with his own unique and individual style as a hip-hop musician and performer.

Following the success of his first official song, “All Around the World” featuring Genevieve Jackson, Omer concentrated his efforts on making his first official music video for the smash single, “Life is a Movie.” Released August 19, 2011, the video has received  outstanding responses from his supporters, and showcases Omer’s dynamic dance technique and provides a platform for his powerful lyrics.

My new single “Life is a Movie”, is a very personal song dealing with life under the media’s microscope. It’s a lyrical and visual insight into some of the scrutiny I have had to endure. It’s not criticism on any one person, but I hope it will open the window to my world with a fresh approach. The song is also influenced by the words, training, and experiences of my mentor. O-Bee

It is well-known that Omers’ mentor was of course, Michael Jackson. Over the years they developed a close friendship and spent considerable time together. There is no doubt that Michael inspired the excellence we see in Omer’s artistry as an individual performer, but this association also provoked an intrusive interest by the media and public into his own private life and relationship with Michael. His song “Life is a Movie,” is as much biographical as it is relating to what Michael underwent, living life under the watchful eyes of the media.

Omer is a very private person, and it was to my delight that he agreed to be interviewed by me for this magazine. Respecting his privacy, this interview has been crafted to highlight his achievements as an artist, musician and dancer.

Valmai:  Omer, before we begin, I would like to take a moment to thank you for agreeing to this interview with me, and for giving us the opportunity to help promote your song and music video, “Life Is a Movie”. It is a pleasure and honor.

Omer, did you always know that you wanted to be a performer, or was it something that came to you gradually?

Omer:  Music and dance has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and I have always wanted to be a performer.

Valmai:  What were some of your greatest aspirations?

Omer:  I always had the desire to entertain, and I used to be quite competitive as a kid. I tried out many different sports, but I found myself in dance and music.

Valmai:  How difficult was it for you growing up performing on stage? What sort of sacrifices did you have to make?

Omer:  It was never difficult for me being on stage, since it was something I really enjoyed. I wouldn’t say that I had to make many sacrifices, but I did miss out on school-trips and hanging out with friends on the weekends

Valmai:  Do you see similar parallels to your early beginnings on stage, to Michael Jackson’s?

Omer:  No, not really. I don’t want to be compared to him. He was on another level. But I guess we both truly loved to entertain. One thing I do want to say is that I wish people wouldn’t say I copy him, because like every other artist out there, yes, I am very inspired by him, but he also straight-up taught and mentored me. So I’m doing things the way I was taught, but adding my own twist to it. Like a martial artist being mentored be his sensei, and then taking that knowledge ahead with you in life.

Valmai:  It says in your bio on your website that as a gifted child, you always danced like entertainers beyond your years. It is clear Michael has a strong influence on your dance style; many of your moves are reminiscent of his, but who else would you say has inspired you in dance in the past and more recently?

Omer:  I am inspired by entertainers such as Frankie Lymon, James Brown and Fred Astaire. But, I’m also inspired by people like Bruce Lee—I like the way he carried and moved his body.

Valmai:  Omer, you have a very eclectic and unique style of dancing, incorporating various dance forms to make it completely your own. What inspired you to develop this technique?

Omer:  I like to pick up elements from different type of arts and combine them with my own twist. Sometimes, my moves might look weird or not technically perfect, but I like to take the body to new places and experiment.

Valmai:  When you dance Omer, are you there in the moment—are you thinking about the next move or step, or simply allowing the dance to lead you where it wants to take you?

Omer:  When I dance, I completely let go and the music controls my movements. Different music evokes different emotions, which creates different moves. I dance the best when I improvise, but when I am performing, I like to have a few cues in the music, where I “kinda” know what I can do.

Valmai:  “Life Is a Movie” is your first official music video. The way that color is used during different segments is interesting. Sepia tones transcend to stark black and white, and then subtly, color is introduced by way of the red, empty seats of a theater. There again, the use of an empty dance studio and mirror is redolent of Michael. Was the video constructed this way to indicate hidden metaphors?

Omer:  Well, first of all, the song is very personal and gives an insight into some of the things I have experienced. We wanted the video to be just as personal, and help people get a better understanding by showing them real visuals...no special effects or green-screens, just me in my element. The one theatre scene is of course inspired my Michael, and a reference to him.

Valmai:  What areas of artistic input did you have in the making of the video? Did you choreograph it entirely yourself?

Omer:  I had a lot of artistic input in this video. I wrote the whole video myself and chose the locations we filmed at. None of the dancing is really choreographed...it is mostly freestyle where we played different music and just had the camera rolling while I did my thing. I was also part of the whole editing process.

Valmai:  Omer, the lyrics of this song tells a powerful yet lonely story of one living a life under scrutiny and criticism. Just how difficult has it been for you living under the watchful eyes of the media and the world?

Omer:  Life in public eye can get hard and sometimes lonely. It has made me trust very few people and also a little paranoid. A lot of the attention I have been getting from media has been about my private life, and therefore that’s unwanted attention. I do want to share my artistry, but not my private life.

Valmai:  Is the storyline biographical or does the meaning and storyline also relate to what Michael went through during his life?

Omer: The storyline is biographical to a degree, but certain parts relate to things I saw Michael go though. I have learned a lot from him.

Valmai:  On You Tube, the video and song has received 56,582 hits to date, since its release. How much exposure has it received elsewhere, and what has been the general reaction to it?

Omer:  Those hits are thanks to my supporters, who are my greatest promoters. They are so dedicated, and it humbles me to see how much time they take to share my work. I posted the video on my own You Tube channel, and promoted it myself on my social accounts and official website - http://www.omerbhatti.com/ I hope it will keep getting exposure and open more eyes to me as an artist. The general response has been great—this is my first official music video, and I have much more in store.

Valmai:  Will the song appear on your debut EP, and when can we expect to see its release?

Omer:  Yes, the song will definitely be on my debut EP. There is no date yet, but the plan is early 2012.

Valmai:  You mention that Michael is your biggest inspiration. Could you share with us what the most important thing was that you learned from him, and the most important piece of advice he gave you?

Omer:  One of the mottos I live by is ‘RISE ABOVE’, meaning, not to fall down over obstacles and roadblocks in life, but rather ‘Rise Above’ them. I got that from him. He gave me lots of great advice, and if you take another listen to the song, you will hear some of the lines are actually quotes straight from him, as for example, “The bigger the star, the bigger the target.” He would always say that.

Valmai:  How do you implement that in your personal and professional life?

Omer: I RISE ABOVE :)

Valmai:  After the release of your debut EP, what is next for you Omer? What plans do you have for your future? Are there any VIPs or companies that are helping to boost your career?

Omer:  I am just living in the moment and doing what feels right—always with love.

Valmai:  The video has been wonderfully crafted, and the song stands on its own as one containing potent dialect. Combined with your dancing, it offers a strong message and an expression of gifted artistry. I believe this is just the beginning of a promising future and long career for you. We wish you luck in all your undertakings and much happiness in your life. Thank you, Omer.

 

VERSE 1
Look at me, my life's like a movie
But this is real life you should sue me
Sit back and watch me do me,
I mean kick back, Bruce Lee
Am I a knockout? Yeah, probably
But don't get punched out, Ali
Media should have left him alone,
but he kept jabbing, Sylvester Stallone
I don't worry too much about looks and stares
I'm a modern day Fred Astaire
This is new life, no abortion
surrounded by flames, bring torches!
Been under microscopes since adolescent
But being this famous is rather stressing
No more second guessing
I'm back to the bench pressing

CHORUS
Tell me what you see when you see me
Real life, this is not TV
My life is a movie, life is a movie, life is a movie
I know you've seen it before
They all wanna see me fall
My life is a movie, life is a movie, life is a movie

VERSE 2
Turn the spotlight off, good night
Let us reveal the few good types
Me defeated - is what they would like,
but in the darkness you will see good light
I keep sailing, my boat's kinda nice
But these sharks,- they could bite
Switch the channel, on to the next one
Broadcasting live I am the best one
Born to win since the baby carriage
Went from nothing to a kings palace
Heart of a prince, blood of a lion
There is no denying
This legacy, you can't tarnish
I was raised by the greatest, I promise
Honestly, I'm honored
See the bigger the star - the bigger the target

CHORUS
Tell me what you see when you see me
Real life, this is not TV
My life is a movie, life is a movie, life is a movie
I know you've seen it before
They all wanna see me fall
My life is a movie, life is a movie, life is a movie

BRIDGE
Yeah,
Tell me what you see when you see me
Real life, this is not TV
My life is a movie, life is a movie, life is a movie
Yeah,
Tell me what you see when you see me
Real life, this is not TV
My life is a movie, life is a movie, life is a movie
I know you've seen it before
They all wanna see me fall
My life is a movie, life is a movie, life is a movie
Yeah,
I know you've seen it before
They all wanna see me fall
My life is a movie, life is a movie, life is a movie

CHORUS
Tell me what you see when you see me
Real life, this is not TV
My life is a movie, life is a movie, life is a movie
I know you've seen it before
They all wanna see me fall
My life is a movie, life is a movie, life

Turn the spotlight off, good night!

    

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHpK5lk5C0M 

By Valmai Owens

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

This interview 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 editor@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.



Reflections

With everything Michael wore, it became a symbol of who he was, a trademark, completely owned by him. The glittery glove, the sparkly socks, his military-style jackets with colored armbands, the high-water pants, the fedora, the mask, and especially the oversized sunglasses were all a part of the Michael we knew and loved. He was fearless in the ways he expressed himself, both through his music and attire. Not afraid to be different, he challenged society’s conventions.

And no one else can quite pull off that air of mystery and intrigue that surrounded Michael, when he stepped out into public hidden behind those large aviators. Many have tried, and still do, but they are missing something integral and important; something other than just imitating the look that Michael made solely his. They are missing a reflection in those glasses that is impossible to replicate. Why? Because they are not one of the most-loved and hated men on earth. They are not the most-famous or photographed entertainer. They are not one of the most-ridiculed, feared and extorted celebrities. They are not the man whose life was lived on the world stage, allowing for neither privacy nor normal life. They are not the man whose appearance and every word or action, was dissected and twisted into something strange, weird, and sinister. They are, simply, not Michael. The reflections that appear in their glasses are quite different from what we see reflected in Michael’s....

Look closely at the masses of adoring and loving fans, whom Michael loved equally as much as they do him.

See the voracious media with their intrusive cameras and microphones.

See the securitypeople, business associates, hangers-on, curiosity seekers and those infatuated by his celebrity.

See those who eyed his wealth and fame—greedily swarming around him, pushing and pulling, all hungry for a piece of him and ready to take him down to get it. They all there somewhere, reflected in his glasses. This was the world he viewed: a world that surrounded him wherever he went.

Of all the speculation and intrusive curiosity over every aspect of Michael’s life, the most ridiculous was the time spent by the media debating his choice of wardrobe. It disintegrated quickly into something embarrassing and dehumanizing—almost as if they couldn’t or didn’t want to see the “man” himself. Perhaps it was because Michael could not be defined; he didn’t fit into preconceived societal norms, and the more they tried to pigeonhole him, the more angry and fearful of him they became. He made them uncomfortable.

They concentrated their efforts on nitpicking over why he wore this and why he wore that, insinuating that Michael’s penchant for the military style was based on something darker than making a mere fashion statement.  And, as with the surgical mask he wore, people were very interested in the reasons behind his wearing the large sunglasses even at night (as if Michael were the only person ever to do this). There were snide comments made about him trying to cover up more plastic surgery, and some went so far as to imply that he was hiding the effects of drug use.

Everything about Michael was turned into a negative by the media; a consistent analysis was brutally waged against him because some could not accept him for what he was and others felt he had stepped out of his place as a definable entity. Still others saw Michael as a means to satisfy their desire for fame and fortune, and power. Michael trusted to easily, simply because he came from a place of love—though in reality, there were very people he could trust at the end of the day because they came from a place of greed, mistrust, fear and plain old jealousy.

Michael once said that he didn’t like to look people in the eye—a reason why he wore the sunglasses, almost as if he were creating a protective barrier to guard what vestige of privacy he had left. The eyes are the mirror to the soul, it is said, and Michael’s soul was bruised and battered. He was lonely, he had lost his childhood, he found it difficult to find a true friend or someone to love him as he was, and his trust had been broken by too many claiming to be his friend—his life had become a platform for the media to stand upon and espouse far and wide all that was wrong with him and why we should be suspicious of him. They called him names; they ridiculed and debased his humanity. He felt the pain of all this, and no doubt it was reflected in his eyes; the hurt and disappointment, and the betrayal.

    

 

   

“I cut and bleed like anyone else”, he said, but still they wanted more from him. With the advent of his 2005 trial, the media went into overdrive and, as we know, very little of went on in that courtroom—the testimonies that were presented in Michael’s favor—were reported by the press. Instead, they chose to report bits and pieces—a mishmash of discredited witness testimony that placed Michael in a bad light—because that provided the fodder for sound bites: easy revenue based on sensational and biased reporting at the expense of a man’s life and reputation. What was left of Michael’s soul was in danger of being lost forever. His very private and intimate personal life was laid bare for the whole world to pick over like hungry vultures. You see it in his eyes, peering out from his wire-framed spectacles: trauma from a life inspected, used, abused and, finally, crucified. There wasn’t much left of him.

Well, no more will we see his beautiful, soulful eyes, because they have been closed forever by a man who took an oath to preserve and protect life. A man who held Michael’s life in his hands, and then systematically turned his back on his patient to make some “phone calls”, leaving Michael without the required monitoring equipment, abandoning him to the propofol filling his veins—leaving him alone to die. This man will shortly stand trial for manslaughter;  yet, knowing this, the media are still calling it the Jackson trial, and while the defense plays the “blame the victim” game, Michael’s life is once more examined. Michael’s life is once more being prepared for crucifixion.

The spirit lives on—I firmly believe that. Michael’s physical essence has departed this place, and no more will he have to endure the pain or hide behind the frail barrier of masks and glasses. We will no longer see his world reflected in a pair of lenses, but, I believe his spirit is fully aware of the events taking place. His legacy is at stake! His legacy is now in the hands of those who wish to protect it, for no other reason than  for the love of a man who was misunderstood and hated without reason. For no other reason than that we know and understand the importance of Michael’s life, we know what the gift of his life is to us, and to the world, really means. Knowing this, when we don our glasses tomorrow, whether it is to protect us from the sun or to enable us to see better, the reflections we see in our glasses should mirror that legacy. He is relying on us, he trusts us and we will be there to protect and preserve what he no longer can.

Based on the idea by Debby Barker

By Valmai Owens

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

The Comment

What does Amy Winehouse, victims of the current famine in the Horn of Africa, Michael Jackson, and a rape victim from Libya all have in common? They, among others, are the target for what is becoming a common source of pleasure and entertainment for many, and the opportunity for others to spew forth their own unique brand of virtual psychological and emotional terrorism, and that is, “The Comment”.

Almost everywhere you navigate online, facebook, You Tube, forums, discussion threads, news articles, or blogs, there is nearly always an opportunity for the reader to leave a comment, and it is here on this platform that we have an insight into the hearts and minds of those leaving their comments.

And an ugly picture is emerging; one of a sector of humanity, which has lost the ability to be humane, to be empathetic, to feel love, to show compassion, and to forgive. But, perhaps I am over-generalizing. Would it be better to say that a picture is emerging of a sector of humanity, of a society that is full of anger, cruelty and hate, and with an attitude of, “I don’t give a damn as long as it doesn’t affect my life”; an attitude of complacency and of living in a “bubble” mentality? Still over-generalizing? Too harsh? Unsubstantiated? Unfounded? A tad too critical and self-righteous? Allow me then, to let you be the judge.

Upon hearing that Amy Winehouse had died, I went to Youtube to revisit her marvelous voice and talent that had not been given a chance to reach its full potential. Death has an insidious tendency to cut short life, and Amy’s was indeed, taken from her much too soon. The world already knew of Amy’s demons and the battle she fought to exorcise them. That took courage to do, especially when she was faced with the knowledge that the eyes of the media were watching, and waiting for her to stumble and fall, providing more fodder for their hungry readers. While a lot of comments I read praised Amy for her fight and showed compassion, many more degraded and ridiculed her, in a torrent of senseless and venomous hate.

“It was her own fault she died early, shouldn't of been a crack head who had needle holes in her toes!, if you saw a heroin addict outside a shop with a good voice and died of an overdose the next week, would you say she died too early, or would you say it’s her own fault? Think about that for a second”.

“She was a Drug addict, she’s not a victim. You guys are f***ing idiots if you think she’s some poor girl. Why don’t you look up the videos of her smoking crack before you support someone who endorses a lifestyle like that”.

“ADDICTS = BIG STINKING CRAPS !!! ADDICTS = BIG STINKING CRAPS !!!

“Let’s face it all she was  ... was a smack head and a p**s head she had her chances to get clean and she didn’t, so I have no sympathy”!

“I'm actually very ok with her perishing, I mean one more drug addict off the streets it's not a bad thing, I bet most people pass thru junkies and/or hobos and speak very bad things about them so I don't know what is so different from her (besides she sings woopdi doo!)”

And the icing on the cake….

“Not enough money in the world for her sick lust for meth. She shoulda just ended it by drinking windshield wiper. Then maybe the world would be spared by her screeching that she calls singing. Coincidentally, she was probably singing on screech. LULZ”!

So, now let us proceed to the current famine crisis in the Horn of Africa, particularly, Somalia. Just speaking the word Somalia, for some, leaves a bitter after-taste in the mouth, because for Americans, emotions run deep and memories are long over events that occurred in Mogadishu on October 3, 1993. I can understand this, for what took place that day touched the world with the same feelings of outrage and horror. But, you cannot blame a whole nation for the actions of a few.

The people of Somalia are poor, and have been trying to survive in a country plagued by years of conflict. They are farmers and herdsmen for the most part, struggling to make a living, and a way to feed their families on a land that is as unyielding and relentlessly brutal as the conflict that surrounds them. Thousands flee to refugee camps, sometimes facing conditions not much better than from the ones they escaped from, and often leaving behind their children, who have been taken by rebels to train as soldiers in their army. Now, they are in the grip of the worst famine in nearly twenty years, and we see images of children with huge eyes and skeletal little bodies; their mothers weeping and praying for someone to save the life of their child. Aid has been slow to reach them because of the conflict, and what aid has been sent, falls far short of what is needed to effectively counter the hunger crisis.

I have read many articles pertaining to the famine, and comments left by some, have been particularly cruel and ugly.

“Oh well not my problem....... I don’t live in Africa”.

“When I get the urge to contribute, I think of how much these people hate people like me and the urge goes away”.

“Not only do I not care, but I am pleading for people to ignore their calls for help. Yes, someone is still bitter over the Black Hawk Down thing”.

“Let nature run its course.....stop sending food, financial aid (money pit), send birth control”!!!!

“I actually like watching people suffer”.

And the winner is….

“F*** THEM LET STARVE!!! Or better yet let the n****r rapists and basketball players and all the other n*****s with money feed them”.

Now, enter Michael Jackson, who was and still is, relentlessly pursued by a media determined to pry into every detail of his life, to dissect his every word and action, to publically put him on display as a “freak” and “weirdo”, to twist and manipulate every grain of truth, to portray him as a monster, pedophile, and drug addict, all for a juicy headline and a fat paycheck at the end of the week.

For most of his talented and brilliant life, Michael Jackson has been the target of hate, jealousy, prejudice, and ridicule, and even death has not saved his name and legacy from this continuous assault. The fire started long ago by tabloid reporters looking to gain a name for themselves in a business that had once been founded on integrity and truth, and continually fanned by die-hard supporters of sensationalistic headlines, is still being stoked by pens that should have run out of ink long ago.

“What happened? Why is this molester still on YouTube? Huh”!

“Yay... The KING OF THE PEDOPHILES is dead. Little boys around the world, rejoice.. your p***s is now safe”!!!

“It’s funny how people cry over a f****d up guy that was trying to look like a girl and raped little kids”.

“It’s incredible to forget how absolutely normal Michael Jackson looked back in the 70’s and 80’s, attractive even, before turning into the sideshow freak that he became”.

“I wonder how much his nose went for on EBay after his death..... It was still in decent shape, only a couple years old”.

And the pièce de résistance…..

“I was really disappointed last Saturday. I was rafting with some friends and missed Michael's two year anniversary of his death. I just wanted to stop by and say happy anniversary Mike. I hope you are rotting in hell you filthy, drug addicted, and child molesting freak. I hope your final moments were painful as your body was overtaken by the overdose. I hope you choked on your own vomit and felt your insides bloating up. You did it to yourself you fag. No one killed you except you. Trash pedophile”.

Ah, so eloquently penned.

And, lastly, we arrive at the Libyan woman, who burst into a Tripoli hotel where international journalists were based, claiming she had been gang-raped and beaten by Gadhafi’s forces. She has now been granted asylum in the United States.

Again, emotions and memories run deep in the hearts of many, as they remember the events that took place 11 years ago, on 9/11/2000. The act of terror played out on American soil, hit the heart and soul of this country, because no one dreamed, or thought that something like this could ever occur here. Trust turned to suspicion, courage turned to fear, children were educated about national security, and minds and hearts were redefined in the days and weeks that followed.

But again, you can’t blame an entire nation, or religion, on the acts of those who choose terrorism as a means to an end. They are not to blame for someone else’s agenda.

“Hilary Clinton needs to be slapped and removed from office for letting another freeloader into our country to live off our system”.

“Just what we need another lying asylum seeker from a terrorist country that the American taxpayers will be taking care of for years to come along with all her relatives that will now be given Visas and allowed to immigrate here”.

“Send her back to where the hell she came from. How long will it be before she starts making demands on our government. The last thing we need in this country is more Muslim's. Send her to France. Enough Muslims in our country”.

“While I feel for this woman, once again we will make this woman a celebrity, rich, while people, who have lived and struggled all their lives, will have to listen to her story for the next 6 months. I'm sorry, but send her a** back and save taxpayers a lot of money. Who knows, probably lying anyway. Whatever happened to the wino with the great voice? Probably back on crack, spending the money he made off his 15 minutes of fame”.

“Great. Another terror cell is now set up in the U.S. Why doesn't one of the freaking Muslim countries offer her asylum? She'll be on welfare and at the same time plotting death to the American people”.

And on a scale of 1 to 10, this comment received a zero...

“It would be interesting to find out how many family members she’s got. Probably hundreds. In a way I don’t have a problem with Muslim women seeking asylum. I much prefer that to the tidal wave of young Muslim men invading Europe. Illiterate, criminal scum, with no other reason to migrate than to make Europe’s white people suffer”.

The comments above are just a small proportion of what is really out there, and if you take notice, you will see commenter’s falling into definite patterns and groups.

The hit and run commenter’s are people who sign up on different sites, proceed to run someone over with their particular brand of unsavory words, and then flee the scene without checking for a pulse. They specifically troll the internet to see where they can do the most damage. You see this quite often on social websites such as facebook, You Tube, Twitter, and Topix.

Then, there are commenter’s who enter the room fully-armed, fire at point-blank range, sit back smugly and with a misguided sense of satisfaction, and read the effect their vitriolic and often pointless attack has had on another person. They then engage in verbal warfare with anyone who chooses to fight back, becoming increasingly more hateful with their comments, until they either get bored and move on to their next victim, or are blocked and reported. But, blocking and reporting is little deterrence when one can easily set up another anonymous profile.

And, let’s not forget the comments left to news articles. I will admit that a lot of commenter’s in this arena have constructive and intelligent comments to make. But, things will get heated when discussing sensitive issues, such as politics and religion. It is when you see strong opinions clash with other strong opinions that the sparks will fly and tempers will be lost, and eventually there ensues a melee of mud-slinging. In the quickly disintegrating atmosphere, certain personality types are easily recognized, while others remain hidden behind their strategically, veiled agendas.

Most news sites have moderators, who read each comment that has been submitted before giving the approval for it to be published. If the comments above, and others that I have read made the final cut, I would hate to read the ones that weren’t given approval. I know we have the 1^st Amendment in this country, which entitles all people to freedom of speech, but at best, it appears that it is being used as a screen to hide behind while dumping the muck from the bottom of the barrel. Why do people do this? What is their motivation? What are their individual agendas, because what people are bringing to the virtual table, appears to be multi-faceted.

Far from being an expert on this, my guess is as good as the next person’s, but, three distinct groups of commenter’s are emerging. You have, to all intents and purposes, the stereotypical and mean-spirited bully; the hit and run commenter whose purpose is to elevate him or herself socially, and to gain a sense of superiority. The fully-armed commenter; the one who likes to linger and watch their victims squirm with their continuous, verbal assault, seem to have no other purpose than to spread their hate far and wide. Perhaps, this is because hate is all they are capable of feeling. The last group is hard to define, but it seems to be comprised of an eclectic assortment of racists, bigots, the amateurish, armchair, political analysts, the quasi-religious, the self-opinionated, the self-righteous, and the apathetic. Quite the melting pot, really.

It’s through comments that we get a sense of the disturbing nature of some people’s minds and lives. Bitterness, anger, apathy and hate come to the forefront, and one has to wonder what has happened to these people. What has occurred in their lives to make them feel so bitter, angry, apathetic and hateful? Are they relating to these stories from personal experience? Do they see themselves mirrored in the accusations they hurl at others? Are they victims or perpetrators themselves, trying to shift the focus from themselves on to others?

We can only speculate, at best, what the motives and reasons behind a comment are, but one thing that can’t be argued is that no matter what the topic or subject is, in the virtual world, everyone is vulnerable. And the terrifying thing is that people can hide behind their anonymity on the internet. No one knows who you are. The person who leaves you one of these comments could be your best friend, next-door neighbor, work colleague, or a member of your own family. Kind of scary isn’t it?

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

To Bully or Not to Bully:That is the Question

Out of all the articles I wanted to write for this month’s issue, this was not one of them, but the gutter mentality of school-yard bullies who use the online arena to viciously and cruelly attack those connected to Michael Jackson’s world, and this includes attacks by fans themselves, is a continuing and disturbing trend. Some exchanges I have read recently have disgusted me with the humiliating, degrading, abusive and foul verbiage. It literally made me cringe.

Perhaps some people just don’t care or realize that by engaging in this sort of behavior, not only does it diminish their worth in the eyes of others, but also the worth of their victims. This is exactly what Michael Jackson had to deal with from the media and others throughout his life. And we are angered by it aren’t we? Don’t we rebut and counteract where and whenever possible? Why then, do we think it’s acceptable to put others through the same suffering Michael had to endure?

I sense certain arrogance in some people. It leads them to believe that their opinion is the only one that counts, their voice is the only one that should be heard and their truth is the only one that should be believed. If you don’t agree with them then obviously you have it all wrong and to all intents and purposes, you don’t know what you are talking about. This just doesn’t occur within the fan community, but also in other sectors and industries and is often a key factor in the disintegration of family, matrimonial and work relationships, friendships, governmental structure, religious groups and all manner of human relations.

We have all disagreed with someone else’s opinion at some point in time. We might argue and get a little hot under the collar, but most of us don’t declare open season on that person by calling them names, ridiculing and sometimes threatening them for not agreeing with us, especially in a public arena. For those who do, the question is why?

It is a misconception that most bullies have low self-esteem. Research has shown that most people who bully have an average or even high self-esteem and they often share similar behavioral and personality characteristics. They show aggressive behavior patterns, they like to dominate others, they need to be in control and win, they feel no remorse and refuse to accept any responsibility for their behavior. It also appears that bullies believe they will get some sort of social mileage or recognition for the act and in turn become very popular. As most of the bullying I have witnessed has occurred on Twitter and Facebook, I am inclined believe there is truth in this.

The social-cyber bully uses their new found status and followers to “freeze” out or humiliate other individuals and groups who oppose their opinions, beliefs and viewpoints. Sound familiar? But, nobody truly respects a bully and although they may have followers, they have no real friends. Nobody trusts a bully.

Sadly, with this behavior occurring within the fan community, it reflects a distorted image of us as a whole; an image we are trying to maintain as one of intelligent and rational people. If we continue to allow our buttons to be pushed, if we continue to interact with these people by countering their attacks, by using retaliative measures, then we are giving them what they seek and that is attention!  We can’t afford to sink into the quicksand of their mindset and hinder the serious work we are engaged in.

I understand very well how hard it is to keep emotions in check when feeling so strongly about something dear to the heart. Emotions strain to break free; feelings rise up and rebel against the control our minds try to have over them. But, as ambassadors for Michael Jackson and “Keepers” of the truth, (and ambassadors is exactly what we are) then we have a duty to Michael himself to remain composed and not cross the line that he himself drew for us by the way he conducted himself throughout his life. Yes, Michael had his moments of justifiable anger and outbursts, but his anger was never sent forth with damaging intent. He didn’t have in him to be mean-spirited.

Bullying is an unacceptable behavior and observing or participating in it leaves a bad taste in everybody’s mouth, including those who observe Michael Jackson fans and develop a distaste for them and him by association.

And what do we do about the bullies? Ignore them, block them and report them. Delete their comments and make none of our own toward them. If we cut off their food supply they will eventually starve from lack of popularity, look for other feeding grounds or decide to change their diet.

Further reading on bullying:

http://www.michaeljacksontributeportrait.com/article.php?article_id=321
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-barbara-kaufmann/bullying-not-just-for-pla_b_807389.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-barbara-kaufmann/arizona-shooting-violence_b_809250.html

Pledge of Peace:
http://www.michaeljacksontributeportrait.com/article.php?article_id=238

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

This interview 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.

Michael Jackson Legacy: The Lies That Bind

April 29, 2011. London. Westminster Abbey groans under its own weight in flowers and a nation prays for the sun to shine. A centuries old country hyperventilates as it waits for a young Prince and a young woman who would become a Princess – well, Duchess as it turned out – to kiss. The level of anticipation and interest in Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, building in the weeks and days before the big day, powered not only by a media whipped frenzy, but out of the massive desire to see the eldest son of the late ex-Princess of Wales make his choice before an audience of billions. Lady Diana Spencer, self-confessed ‘Queen of Hearts,’ was for many both in England and overseas, the real heroine of the Royal Family. And it was the memory of the joyous potential a young Diana’s own wedding represented and the huge sorrow and anger her death precipitated – that gave her son’s wedding the pathos and historic power it did.

The reality that it was in fact Diana’s death that revitalized the mythology and popularity of the British Royals is a deeply ironic one. Subjected to hostile media headlines after Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s marriage collapsed – in the wake of Diana’s death, the Royal family achieved its lowest approval ratings since King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936. Miraculously, that same Royal Family now enjoys the new affection that has transferred from the people’s adoration and respect for Diana – a respect she earned, to her first-born, Prince William.
The political Establishment, Royal family and still prevalent ruling class in British society, shunned Diana for her seemingly unpredictable informality and distinctly modern way of relating to a people the British constitution stubbornly defines as subjects. But the reason why Diana herself manifestly rejected the destiny that had been carefully mapped out for her, and was then rejected by the Establishment for that snub, was this singularity: Her refusal to accept a loveless marriage. That generations of Royal wives and aristocrats before her had put up with unhappy, arranged marriages and done so silently, did not change Diana’s mind or subsequent acquiescence to divorce.

Diana; the shy girl who became a woman before the world’s lens, portrayed then (and still now in some quarters), as weak, stupid – and famously, by parliamentary member Nicholas Soames on the BBC’s flagship, political TV program, Newsnight, in November 1995, after Diana’s interview with Martin Bashir as – suffering from ‘mental illness’ and in the ‘advanced stages of paranoia’– simply said ‘No.’ Deciding the vows she made during her 1981 wedding – not to mention the intrusive media she undeniably became a victim of – could no longer be honored if the husband she made them to did not love her exclusively: Diana made a choice. Though that choice would expose her increasingly to the aggressive attentions of a rapacious press who would not be ignored, one question amongst many bears asking: Would Diana have done anything differently if she still had the chance to choose between a loveless commitment or personal freedom and self worth? One suspects the answer would be no.

And it is this truth, in addition to Diana’s extensive philanthropic work – that is her greatest legacy. It is why the moniker ‘Queen of Hearts’ still has real potency and longevity. The example she set for her children and to the world: that no amount of privilege or perceived social status could ever compensate for the misery and pain that a life of emotional deception entailed – remains a bold and powerful one. The sole reason why Prince William’s marriage to Kate Middleton caught the imagination and hearts of millions around the world is simple: He married for love. And that choice, that one decision, will now ripple glorious effect into the generations that will result from it.

In the BBC’s evening coverage of the event, British reporter Andrew Wilson commenting, stated this truly unprecedented fact: “For the first time in over three hundred years, a future monarch has looked outside the inner circle for his bride – and brought her home.” This was Diana’s true gift. Diana bequeathed to her children the necessity of living an authentic life no matter how difficult, and the value and need for authentic love to fill that life. The first of her sons has now opened that gift. That is the power of legacy.

Legacy. A curious word. It applies to bloodlines of inherited wealth and historic families, and equally it applies to every human being. Who we are, how we live, and what we give during the lifetimes we are assigned – are key parts of sum we leave behind. And across the pond Michael Jackson also leaves a legacy to his children, and to the world. Like Diana, Michael used his fame, time and energy – not to mention millions of dollars – to positively benefit the lives of others. And like Diana, Michael also lived his life under unimaginable scrutiny. In Diana’s latter years however, the albeit tenuous respect afforded her by the media in Britain after her divorce and new relationships, not to mention the still rapturous media she enjoyed in America and around the globe, were exponentially more humane than that extended to Michael Jackson. While both these public figures endured violating levels of media attention, Michael did so for far longer and on a much more malevolent scale. 

Yet there remain striking connections between these two icons; similarities which apparently Michael and Diana were themselves well aware of. In a 1997 interview on the popular television program 20/20, American host Barbara Walters revealed that the last two concerts of the European leg of the ‘HIStory’ tour were dedicated to Diana after Michael learned of her death. Poignantly, in that interview Michael revealed that during one of those concerts he had this thought of the late princess. “I love you Diana. And shine on forever, because you are the true Princess of the people.” Interestingly, Michael’s choice of words here completely negates the media mischaracterization of him as being unaware of, or unable to understand the politick of the real world. Clearly Michael understood the deep insult and exclusion the British establishment intended Diana when, as a condition of her divorce settlement, it was insisted that the title of ‘Princess’ be removed from Diana’s official ranking as a Royal.

By referring to Diana as a ‘Princess of the People’ before an audience of millions, Michael stated the obvious: that after her death Diana was – in truth – this even more so. Symbolically too, since Jackson is known throughout the world as the ‘King of Pop,’ by declaring his sense of empathy with Diana and her struggles, Michael expressed in words the resonance and connection he felt with Diana that, in fact, exists on a number of levels. Many celebrities do good works, endorsing a charity is de rigueur for any modern PR savvy star. What made Michael and Diana so different was the way they gave to others, the overriding sense they did it from a place of compassionate service; not out of duty or because it would ‘look good.’ The similarities do not end there. Both Michael and Diana met not only untimely deaths – but violent ones. One, the result of a high speed chase through Parisian streets by paparazzi on motorcycles; the other, at the hands of a prima facie acutely negligent physician treating his patient with inappropriate drugs for relief from chronic insomnia. The grief that attended both these deaths was compounded by the certain knowledge that they were both overwhelmingly unnecessary.

Only the most imperceptive would deny that Jackson’s insomnia was undoubtedly the result of a life massively traumatized. Even for someone used to living in the glare of uber fame, the level of stress, abuse and cruelty Jackson had to deal with, went far beyond what any individual could healthily be expected to cope with. Indeed there is an argument – a strong one –for contending that Jackson would never even have arrived at a point in his life where he felt he needed doctors around him constantly, had the media persecution which came his way not been so unrelentingly vicious. Used to being bundled through the back doors of hotels and venues long before he hit his teens, Michael often said he had ‘rhinoceros skin.’ Clearly he did not. And now the toll of false allegations exacerbated and perpetuated in the public consciousness by the overtly malicious, commercially-driven marketing of Jackson as some sort of monstrous harmer of children by at least two generations of journalists, editors and TV pundits across the spectrum of media – now undeniably threatens the positive truth of his legacy. And it is that threat that has united many in one outstanding purpose: Restoration.

The reality that Michael Jackson remains the one of world’s least celebrated humanitarians, and despite fourteen emphatic ‘Not Guilty’ verdicts in the criminal trial of 2005, has not as yet been vindicated in the actual – is testament to the enduring power of perception. This perception of ‘guilt’ dominated Jackson news stories while he was alive and continues even after his death. Present day media comment in the run-up to the Conrad Murray trial that only hinted at the ‘demanding addict’ sub-text has now exploded into full blown accounts of ‘drugs found in the Neverland raid,’ and horrifically, graphic speculation about what the autopsy pictures may look like. It is evidence that the powerful and pervasive Fourth Estate shows no sign yet of any desire to recant the years of distortion they issued into the public domain. Many believe this state of affairs to be insurmountable. The question is, is it?

Years of self-serving media narrative will take certainly take time to be righted. But the journey back has begun, and it has begun in earnest. One way this is being achieved can be seen in the new narratives now surfacing. Amidst the wealth of rush-to-copy, mostly picture books releases that hit the market soon after Michael’s death, others have sought to push back the years of media misrepresentation and actually honor an exceptional life. To date, three publications are notable. American journalist, Aphrodite Jones’s ‘Michael Jackson Conspiracy’ published pre-2009 in 2007, details the extent of a preconceived negative bias within the U.S media towards Jackson and how that was reflected both during, and after, their coverage of Jackson’s 2005 trial. Post 2009, Bruce Swedien, noted recording engineer, released ‘In the Studio with Michael Jackson.’ In it, Swedien takes it back to the music, tracing the beginnings of his working relationship with Jackson from as far back as The Wiz through to HIStory – and does Jackson great service throughout. More recently, Joe Vogel’s new work, ‘Man in the Music: The Creative life and work of Michael Jackson,’ set for international release in October 2011, also promises to positively contribute to Jackson’s legacy – simply by returning the conversation to Michael’s commitment and service to the creation of phenomenal music, dance and visual art.

In the arena of journalism, Jones’s work with Discovery Investigation via her True Crime television programs has so far made modest impact on the prevailing smirking content found in the majority of current media, but these are early days. Similarly, British journalist, Charles Thomson, in hugely important articles on Huffington Post and elsewhere, has consistently exposed the damaging inaccuracies about the legal challenges faced by Jackson – inaccuracies still recycled ad nauseam by the media. In addition, a multitude of positive articles and interviews from people who knew Jackson personally (and some who didn’t) – such as David Nordahl, Thomas Mesereau, Elizabeth Taylor, Susan Fast, Stephen King, Jeff Koopersmith, Forbes Everett Landis, Michael Bearden, Linda Deutsch, Armand White, Stuart Backerman, Matt Semino, Dr Patrick Treacy, Barbara Amiel, Jonathan Margolis, Dave ‘Dave,’ Ishmael Reed, Gerald L. Campbell, Wade Robson, Howard Bloom, testimonials from stars and those who worked with Michael professionally, and the many families who benefited from the outreach work Jackson did continually throughout his life; are all part of the new narrative that could potentially transform the destructive Jackson meme most of the media remains irrationally attached to.

Mention must also be given to a hugely ambitious project undertaken by Reverend Barbara Kaufmann. In 2010, Kaufmann, herself a minister, award winning writer, Huffington Post contributor and bright voice in the field of activism – gathered together a bank of exceptional  articles, poetry and case studies, inspired by and dedicated to the lives and incompletely acknowledged achievements of both Lady Diana Spencer and Michael Jackson – as part of the collaborative ‘Words and Violence Project.’ It stands as a body of work that, in time, could one day be widely referred to and used by educational centers to further our society’s understanding of how words and media culture occupies a dual ability to both benefit and damage the lives it touches.

Likewise, a range of websites diligently compiling their respective collections of memories, anecdotes, stories, facts, and extent of the phenomenal philanthropic gift Jackson gave, are also contributing – some better than others – to the archiving of Michael Jackson’s legacy. While many of these sites focus only on the musical accolades and aesthetic of Jackson’s many ‘eras’ in his musical career, some notable ones go further and actively keep alight a true record of Michael Jackson’s compassionate legacy to a world that so dramatically refused it.
Among these, Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait. Represented by members and visitors from over 180 countries, 250 thousand so far (and counting) have signed up to be part of the largest [dot] comprised portrait of Michael Jackson ever commissioned. Also worthy of note is The Silenced Truth website. One of the first sites to draw attention to the gap in the world’s understanding of who Michael Jackson was, The SilencedTruth also hosts one of the most comprehensive lists of Jackson’s humanitarian contributions. Another site worthy of highlight is MJJ-777. Hosted by Jackson archivist Seven Bowie, it’s an exquisite repository. Rich in facts and a cultural breadth reflective of Jackson’s impact on the world, this site is a must-visit destination for not only fans, but all those who seek to expand their knowledge of Jackson. Also of note are the informational grand central stations in the forms of MJTruthNow, Vindicatemj, Reflections of the Dance, and the outstanding blog spots of smokeandmirrorsmj, gatorgirl277 and mjandjustice4some. To dismiss – as some do – the value of the work produced on these sites and blog spots as merely ‘fan’ sites hosting partisan perspectives, is to fail to comprehend the extent of the staggering research amassed on these demonstrably, credible sources. 

The rejuvenation proper of Jackson’s official charitable legacy has still to be re-ignited since the Estate is still in probate and thus has to seek specific legal dispensation to make payments even to approved creditors. But as the executors – John Branca and John McClain – of the Estate of Michael Jackson expressed as recently as April 21, 2011 as part of a larger statement, their intention to make decisions and “… direct contributions to recipient charities … with complete regard to Michael’s wishes and Michael’s legacy, which we intend to honor and perpetuate ” –  should assure those who need it that rejuvenation is indeed coming. The legal furore over the sensitive and complex settlement with Howard Mann and Melissa Johnson, who held the rights to various trademarks and control of the ‘Heal the World Foundation,’ itself an unauthorized impression of Michael Jackson’s original vision – has paradoxically within it the seeds of a new platform for the Estate, Michael Jackson’s family – and three children to go forward from an albeit clumsy beginning to a future that possibly reincarnates that vision.       
On January 25, 2011, Zach O’Malley Greenburg of Forbes reported that the Estate of Michael Jackson earned $275 million more than Madonna, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Jay-Z combined. An intimidating statistic considering the artist earning these gargantuan sums is in fact dead. But this also suggests that if speaking in purely monetary terms alone, the legacy of Michael Jackson is very much alive. Greenburg notes much of this boon was due to the commercial boost that nostalgia driven sales of ‘all things Michael’ received ‘following the King of Pop’s death,’ which of course indicates that the one thing the ‘Michael Jackson’ brand does not lack – is an audience.

In February of this year, the Estate of Michael Jackson declared it made over $310 million before debt clearance, and it is no doubt banking on that same audience to consume the array of Michael Jackson products now flooding the market. These include: the interactive dance game Michael Jackson the Experience, box-set Michael Jackson Vision, collector’s item Opus, the film This Is It, the Cirque du Soleil collaborative live extravaganza The Immortal World Tour, the Epic album releases – part of the Sony corporation, and a legion of Michael Jackson posters, T-shirts and merchandise etc, as well as the sales of Jackson’s peerless musical back-catalogue. None of this, of course, even takes into account the plans for a replica ‘Vegas Neverland,’ the revenue possibilities for the actual Neverland, and the over $1.5 billion estimated worth of the Sony/ATV catalogue jointly owned by the Estate and Sony. Yes, in purely monetary terms alone, legacy is big business.

But the success of a legacy turns on more than just balance sheets and portfolios. Clearly the Estate has already made more money than any of Michael’s three children could spend in a lifetime, and to those children it will not be their father’s money they remember – or long for. The lasting legacy of Michael Jackson will, in reality, rest on the de facto restoration of his rightful place as not only one of America’s greatest creative sons, but also one of her most unjustly judged. After death, a man (or woman’s) reputation is the unwritten text on which the memory of that individual falls or stands. The public’s insistence on an ambivalent collective relationship with Michael Jackson, and the American and British media’s engineering and perpetuation of that stance, however – is not fixed. Flux is inevitable, and the pendulum will swing. Perhaps to somewhere in the middle, or perhaps just beyond the catastrophic damage wrought by years of media malice and deception by characters that need no introduction here. That will not be good enough for many of course, but how far that pendulum swings will be down to the work of those actively involved in the work it will take to move it further.

The reshaping and restoring that Michael Jackson’s reputation deserves will need work to make that restoration a reality. But behind the scenes a body of people that combines fans, advocates and supporters, the Estate, the Jackson family, Jackson’s friends, the generations of fans yet to come – and perhaps Michael’s children; are all part of that groundswell. Just as Diana’s children now forge new destinies because of the gift their mother gave them, three voices bearing the name Jackson may one day join the force that now gathers pace but as yet lacks focus. Because the reality is this: it isn’t only love that survives. The lies that bind will remain as tightly fastened as they are allowed to – and Michael Jackson’s legacy demands nothing less than the truth.

by Deborah Ffrench
© 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.

What's Wrong with This World

I recently came across an intriguing documentary that is now showing in various parts of the United States called,  I AM.  It was directed by Tom Shadyac, a Hollywood director whose previous work includes some very successful comedy blockbuster films such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Nutty Professor and Bruce Almighty.

In this film however, he sets out to explore the answers to two very important questions: What’s wrong with our world, and what can we do about it? I believe the answers to those questions can be found by looking at the way Michael Jackson was treated during his lifetime.

He was one of the most successful and influential recording artists of all time with estimates of 750 million records sold worldwide.  His achievements are too many to name, but the records he holds in the Guinness Book of World Records give a small glimpse into the success he achieved:

Guinness Book of World Records

• Michael Jackson’s Thriller is the biggest selling album of all time, with over 100 million copies sold worldwide.
• A record 504,000 people saw Michael perform for seven nights at Wembley Stadium in London in 1988, achieving the distinction of most successful concert series. 
• Michael won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards in 1984, more than any other artist in one year.
• Michael secured the largest recording contract ever, a reported $890 million with Sony, with prospective earnings of $1 billion.
• He achieved the highest-ever viewing audience during a Super Bowl performance; 133.4 million viewers watched the NBC transmission of Super Bowl XXVII on January 31, 1993. According to this NY Times article, “Jackson produced a stunning first: raising NBC’s halftime rating higher than the Super Bowl action before it.”
• Pepsi Cola made Michael Jackson the highest paid commercial spokesman by paying him $12 million to do four television commercials.
• Michael’s Jacksons Bad tour brought in record-breaking gross revenue of over $124 million during September 1987-December 1988.

In addition, Michael released thirteen number one singles, more than any other male artist and he was the first black artist to have a video aired on MTV.

Source: World Amazing Records

He obviously had an amazing ability to achieve extraordinary success which very few people are able to accomplish. Whenever someone is able to achieve that level of success people take note, and the ones who want to ride their coattails aren’t far behind.

Although his accomplishments are amazing, what they did is made some people view him as a product instead of a human being, allowing their hearts to close off to him, creating a lack of empathy that permitted them to feel justified in lying, criticizing, condemning and using him for their own monetary gain.

“I am bewildered at the length to which people will go to portray me so negatively.” -Michael Jackson

His extraordinary success also caused him to become the target of extortion attempts. In an interview with Deborah Kunesh, creator of Reflections On The Dance, David Nordhal, Michael’s personal painter and friend of 20 years said, “Michael would get between 50 and 60 extortion attempts per year. Most of them were paternity. Women claiming that Michael was the father of their child and a whole bunch of other ones were over music. Somebody had written a song or something and they claimed that Michael had stolen their music or their words. All of those things got thrown out of court because once they got to court they couldn’t back it up.” The worst of the extortion attempts were the ones who used his love of children against him to accuse him of horrific acts.   

“The more I spoke with him about the alleged molestation charges, the more firm I became in my belief that they were part of a universe of money-making opportunities created by charlatans.” -Thomas Mesereau

In the May issue of the MJTP magazine, Dot to Dot: Keeping Michael’s Legacy Alive, Valmai Owens, Editor-In-Chief, interviews Thomas Mesereau about the upcoming trial of Conrad Murray for the death of Michael Jackson. Mr. Mesereau is the trial lawyer who successfully defended Michael as his lead counsel in the 2005 child molestation trial.  

When asked what he would consider his greatest achievement in his career to date, Mesereau said, “Well, first of all you have to understand that every life is valuable. I don’t value one life as more important than another life so whether the case is high profile or low profile, a life is a life. So when I save a life, it’s just as important to me whether the person is rich or poor or known or unknown, valued or not.” 

That comment made me realize why he was brought into Michael’s life to defend him, because he was able to see him as a human being. Michael Jackson wasn’t a product that was going to make Tom money; he was a father, a son, a brother and a man who just happened to need Mr. Mesereau’s help in that moment. I can’t help but wish the same insight would have been present in the professionals caring for him during the final weeks of his life.

“I’ve followed too many celebrity cases... Elvis Presley, Anna Nicole Smith, and you find these physicians become enablers.They’re afraid to deny the celebrity what they want for fear that they’ll be out of the fold and it’s something that I think law enforcement has to take very seriously.” – Thomas Mesereau

Enabling is a subject I have become intimately familiar with. On June 26th, while I was in California for the one-year anniversary of Michael’s death, I found out my 19-year-old son had developed a problem with addiction. I was devastated. I never, ever thought this would happen.

As a result, I was thrust into a world I never knew existed and boy, did I learn a lot. People from all walks of life, all cultures and all educational types of backgrounds become addicted to all types of substances.
I was introduced to the concept of enabling while he was in treatment. Enabling is defined as “to make possible or easy.” In the case of someone who has an unhealthy dependency, if you’re making it possible or easy for them to remain dependent on that substance, then you are taking away their power and ability to heal. 

My son’s counselor helped me understand the power an enabler holds and the devastation they can cause when he started to identify enabling actions. Realizing I had done some of them I said, “I do those things out of love.” His reply? “You’re loving him to death.” In that instant I got it. I stopped being an enabler that day thus giving my son back his power to heal, which he did.

If Michael Jackson had a problem with addiction or a dependency of any kind, and since I didn't know him personally I am in no position to know or say, then what he needed in that moment of his life was to be treated responsibly and given back his power to heal. If he developed a dependency on medication in order to sleep and Murray continued to allegedly provide and administer it to him under those circumstances, especially in the reckless way he did, then he was an enabler whose actions resulted in disastrous consequences and he should be held accountable. .

In response to Valmai’s question about his greatest accomplishment, Mesereau went on to say, “My greatest accomplishment has been my ability to blend the practice of law with charitable work.” He does things that are good for the soul. He believes that lawyers should give back to the community and he believes that he can make a difference in the world by doing so. He sees every human being as valuable, no one more special than the other, regardless of what they have accomplished.

I haven’t seen the film I AM yet because it hasn’t come to my hometown, but my response to the question What’s wrong with our world? is that a lack of empathy has created a lack of regard for our fellow human beings. We haven’t come to recognize the importance of making people feel like they matter. A lack of heart has created a lack of compassion. If you’re living with a closed heart it makes you feel justified in tearing others down. It becomes easy to participate in man’s inhumanity to man, lying, criticizing and condemning those who seem different.

A letter Michael wrote to his critics in 1987

The message that is being sent through the lies, the deceit, the criticism, the condemning, the using and the enabling of another, is that you don’t matter. You’re feelings don’t matter; your integrity, your dignity, your reputation, your health, your well-being and your happiness don’t matter.

In response to the question What can we do about it? I believe the solution lies in developing our ability to have empathy for others. The President of the United States, Barack Obama, said, "Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world." If Michael Jackson would have been given more empathy maybe he would still be here with us today.

We have to be conscious of how our actions affect another person, taking care to treat them as a human being that matters. We have to be able to stand in their shoes so we can see what they see, hear what they hear and feel what they feel, which will give us the capacity to act compassionately and responsibly toward them.

We also have to treat ourselves as though we matter by doing things that are good for the soul, making a difference in the life of someone else, giving back to our own communities and maintaining our own sense of dignity by respecting ourselves and others.

We have to put the heart back into humanity so humanity will live with heart. When that happens, I believe we will all begin to understand what Tom Mesereau already knows: that every life is valuable.    

by Linda Higgins

© 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.