Jermaine Jackson: 'I Wish It Was Me,' Michael A 'Gift From Allah' (VIDEO)

(AP Article, Scroll Down for Video)

NEW YORK -- Jermaine Jackson says he would like to see Neverland Ranch as his brother Michael's final resting place.

In an interview broadcast Thursday on NBC's "Today" show, Jermaine Jackson also said he wishes he had died instead of his younger brother, and that Michael was "a gift from Allah."

"He went too soon. I don't know how people are going to take this, but I wish it was me," Jermaine Jackson said.

When asked why he felt that way, Jermaine Jackson said he always felt that he was Michael's "backbone."

"I wanted to be there for him. I was there and he was sort of like molded. Things he couldn't say, I would say them. During the trials, during everything ..."

Jermaine Jackson said that when he rushed to UCLA Medical Center last Thursday, where the 50-year-old pop singer was pronounced dead, "I wanted to see Michael, and I wanted to see my brother, and see him there lifeless and breathless was very emotional for me, but I held myself together, because I know he's very much alive."

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"His spirit is, and that was just a shell, but I kissed him on his forehead and I hugged him, and I touched him and I said, `Michael, I'll never leave you. You'll never leave me.'"

On Wednesday, Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said a public memorial was in the works but it wouldn't be held at Neverland.

A person familiar with the situation told the AP that permits for a burial at the sprawling Santa Barbara, Calif., estate could not be arranged in time. The person was not authorized to speak for the family and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Jackson said Neverland was Michael's home.

"He created this. Why wouldn't he be here? I feel his presence."

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Comments

[Marjoriemoon]

Pfftt... so when did Michael become an anti-Semite? Before or after his affiliation with the Nation of Islam. Gee, let me guess.... Anti-Jewish, Anti-Black and a pedophile. Oh, but wait, he sang and dance really good so that makes it all OK! I don't know who's sicker, MJ or the general public.

[kylennblack]

Jermaine's almost as nuts as Michael.

[MsIrisMG]

"This family's been through hard times before.." Matt Lauer has lost his mind, saying something like that!

[MaxPowerXP]

I would respect him more if he'd said "I wish it had been Tito"

[femmyror]

Ditto to Jermaine being a great spokesman. A lot of what he says echoes how I feel about MJ - the way people have been hounding him, how he was misunderstood. What's so damn wrong about being eccentric anyway? Why can't we celebrate people's differences? What a humdrum place the world would be if everyone was "normal". There wouldn't be many true artists, that's for sure - or creative geniuses of any field for that matter.

[LiveLifeNow]

Jermaine is a great spokesman for the family. Thats how you do it keep it real, Awesome on CNN too.

[Dana Nicole]

I would feel the same way, as his big brother, he wanted to protect his younger sibling at all times. People, have a heart.

[Bulbul]

Jermaine is standing alone there, perhaps with his siblings.....not out there to exploit ....

[harriettubman]

Jermaine carried on so much about Michael's spirit being at Neverland that we could read between those lines. Why take a body back to where MJ abandoned it? Because they want to turn it into another Graceland, that's why.

The property Neverland is on is beautiful but the house really needed updating.

[truthartbeauty]

I of course reject the Allah bs but the interview did him good, for his image. I thought he came across very well, calm, nice, .....I dont know what I expected but i thought Jermaine came across as thoughtful and nice.

[lady49]

WE ARE THE WORLD-- THANK-YOU MICHAEL
There comes a time
When we head a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

We can't go on
Pretneding day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of
God's great big family
And the truth, you know love is all we need

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize
That a change will only come
When we stand together as one

[Chorus]
We are the world

[duchamp2008]

Michael Jackson's family makes the Sarah Palin's family look normal by comparison, and that's not an easy thing to do. However, I do enjoy seeing all the enablers and sycophants come out of the wood work to gather up their 25 seconds of fame at the expense of the dead pop star.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Why don't you gotohelll?

[duchamp2008]

Which one are you: enabler or sycophant?

[truthartbeauty]

I agree, what a snotty comment!

[gladys46]

You wish ! Michael Jackson was honorable enough, respectable enough to marry Rowe, give her his name & his cash ... geez !!! Palin & family ... please .. don't they live off the taxpayers dimes !

[duchamp2008]

I think he gave cash (certainly not his 'name') since their relationship was contractual. But you are correct, where he is superior to the Wasillabillies is that he earned his money in the private sector rather than living off taxpayers.

[rzan1]

Does it make you happy to be so malicious?

[MrMojoRisin]

Insensitive, inappropriate, but right if you think about it.

[nilotic]

"Michael Jackson's family makes the Sarah Palin's family look normal by comparison." That's simply not possible. They are a bunch of backward f@cks!

[gladys46]

So, the will & last testament of a person is now worthless in this country ?

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

This going to sound really mean, but I wish it were Jermaine too.

[gladys46]

Hey Tiff ! Anything, anywhere ... just not Michael ! I guess I'm mean too !

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Tupac has a song called "How Long Will They Mourn Me?"

The lyrics go, "I wish there had been another", that's exactly how I feel.

It just isn't right. It isn't fair.

[EndTheHumanWar]

Excuse me, I'm going to go and puke now.........