Comments on: Michael Jackson 1958 - 2009 http://www.letterlover.net/2009/06/26/michael-jackson-1958-2009/ Where the written word lives on... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:32:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: Joselle http://www.letterlover.net/2009/06/26/michael-jackson-1958-2009/#comment-17414 Joselle Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:57:12 +0000 http://www.letterlover.net/2009/06/26/michael-jackson-1958-2009/#comment-17414 I'm very sad about Michael. I loved him so much as a child (who didn't?). What really makes me sad is that his madness was due to being severely abused as a child. I'd like to think he was born with many great gifts and could still have gone on to do the great things he did (and probably more) even if his father didn't beat him and his siblings during rehearsals. I don't think his madness and self-loathing were inevitable and that makes me very sad. It was awesome this weekend, though, hearing his songs blasting in bars, restaurants, the streets, my radio. SO good. It's so rare that we all gather around for a cultural happening. Everything's so fragmented now. His music brought a lot of people together this weekend. I’m very sad about Michael. I loved him so much as a child (who didn’t?). What really makes me sad is that his madness was due to being severely abused as a child. I’d like to think he was born with many great gifts and could still have gone on to do the great things he did (and probably more) even if his father didn’t beat him and his siblings during rehearsals. I don’t think his madness and self-loathing were inevitable and that makes me very sad.

It was awesome this weekend, though, hearing his songs blasting in bars, restaurants, the streets, my radio. SO good. It’s so rare that we all gather around for a cultural happening. Everything’s so fragmented now. His music brought a lot of people together this weekend.

]]> By: Samara http://www.letterlover.net/2009/06/26/michael-jackson-1958-2009/#comment-17482 Samara Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:59:23 +0000 http://www.letterlover.net/2009/06/26/michael-jackson-1958-2009/#comment-17482 I'm with you Joselle. There will never be another Michael Jackson! I, too, enjoyed (am still enjoying) all the MJ music and videos that are on constant repeat. It is undoubtedly unifying. His upbringing makes me sad, also. It’s bittersweet though, because it was Joe Jackson’s pushing that made the Jackson 5 famous at such a young age. All of them were abused, but Michael had the double whammy of childhood abuse and then worldwide stardom, which surely takes its turn on the psyche. I recently heard a report (who knows if it’s true) that MJ’s last will—written in 2002—left Joe Jackson out. His estate went to his mother, his children, and two charities. That is a HUGE statement in and of itself, and I hope the court rules in favor of that will. They may not because it was a draft will. I’m with you Joselle. There will never be another Michael Jackson! I, too, enjoyed (am still enjoying) all the MJ music and videos that are on constant repeat. It is undoubtedly unifying.

His upbringing makes me sad, also. It’s bittersweet though, because it was Joe Jackson’s pushing that made the Jackson 5 famous at such a young age. All of them were abused, but Michael had the double whammy of childhood abuse and then worldwide stardom, which surely takes its turn on the psyche. I recently heard a report (who knows if it’s true) that MJ’s last will—written in 2002—left Joe Jackson out. His estate went to his mother, his children, and two charities. That is a HUGE statement in and of itself, and I hope the court rules in favor of that will. They may not because it was a draft will.

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