Michael
Michael Jackson was a brilliant singer, song-writer and dancer. He was a leading entertainer and musician for more than three decades. The world was his stage. So it is only proper that we celebrate his exceptional musical accomplishments. But let us not celebrate this life.
There are so many questions about Michael's life. There was his childhood in Gary, Indiana, apparently filled with abuse. This we should not celebrate. There were many accusations of pedophilia, including some very explicit news accounts, and reports of substantial out of court settlements. This we should not celebrate. There was a lengthy addiction to drugs, including Valium and Ativan, to help him cope with chronic pain, and Xanax for panic attacks. This we should not celebrate. There was his whitened skin and his clef chin. This we should not celebrate. There was a child who became a man only to do everything possible to remain a child. This we should not celebrate. There were his children who were frequently shrouded in veils and always denied a normal life. This we should not celebrate.
Yes, there were many generous acts. Jackson supported about forty charities. He did do many good things. But these cannot answer the questions. There was the unprecedented We are the World campaign. But this cannot answer the questions. Yes there were many shrewd business decisions. Yet there were so many terrible personal decisions.
Yes there was Thriller, Off the Wall, Bad, Dangerous and History. Yes there was Beat It, Billie Jean and Black and White. Yes there was the Jackson Five as well as an extraordinary solo career. Yes there was the moonwalk, the hat and the glove. Yes there were the break through music videos and magical dance routines. Michael Jackson was a historical talent, a one of a kind person. But this does not answer the questions.
Michael's music is an exceptional legacy. As an entertainer, he was the best. As a role model for our children, Michael was among the worst. Michael's music moved us, inspired us, lifted us from our sorrows and troubles. Yet so much in Michael's life disappointed us.
As millions around the world watch the endless television coverage of Michael's memorial, let us keep this brilliant life in proper perspective. Let us celebrate the King of Pop. Let us celebrate his music.
Follow Joe Peyronnin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/joepeyronnin
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
America is the Greatest nation on earth because it is the only one that so reveres the power of the individual
and celebrates the lowly rising to the heights of their individual power.
Like America, Michael Jackson achieved execellence, fame and cultural influence, and financial success while rising
from humble beginnings. America is Michael Jackson's story writ large.
This is a society built on secular beliefs in Idolatry and the creation of heroes.
Michael represented the best and some of the worst instincts of our modern age and achieved hero status
by so doing. If Democracy is our bedrock political value then Idolatry is our fundamental cultural ethos.
Long Live Michael Jackson! Long Live America!
If a child must turn to a celebrity to find a "role model", someone's utterly failed as a parent.
Similarly, if someone must turn to "stories" and "reports" (none the result of his own independent investigation) in order to support his broad indictment of Michael Jackson's personal character, he's utterly failed as a journalist.
Everybody loved MJ's gift for entertainment. He was truly great. He was generous, too, donating huge sums of money to worthy charities. He also dangled a small baby over a balcony. His many plastic surgeries seemed to be the acts of a troubled soul. While he was obviously an important icon for many, many people, as we have seen over the past week, we really don't know what kind of father he was. The emotional tribute from his daughter is really all we know about her. Thousands of people have said that MJ's music meant so much to them, that is a clear fact. What kind of man he was in his private life is mostly unknown. It seems important to remember that.
Mr. Peyronnin,
For all the frothing at the mouth in indignation at Michael Jackson.....
Questioning his innocence of the molestation charges....
Are you just as outraged at R. Kelly?
Another celebrity videotaped having sex with, and urinating on a 14-year-old girl.....
He's still giving concerts, making music, making money, free to move as he choose.
Not a peep from those same folks just about mentally undone at the mention of Michael Jackson's name......
No relegating his children to "sideshow freak" status.....
Endless rivers of ink spilled trying to articulate exactly how disgusted with him the author is.....
Of course, the 14 yr old is Black.
And Michael's alleged victims?
Interesting.....
Yes, yes, when Michael Jackson "moonwalked," he really WAS walking on the moon. And Billie Jean was NOT his lover. And he WAS "bad."
"There were many accusations of pedophilia, including some very explicit news accounts, and reports of substantial out of court settlements."
Mr. Peyronnin:
As a journalist, is it not your ROLE to ANSWER questions, rather than write blogs where you throw out scurrilous, unfounded accusations against a man who was found innocent of those charges while alive, and can no longer defend himself in death. You are engaging in 'yellow-journalism' against Michael Jackson. THAT is not definitive of a ROLE MODEL.
As to the "accusations of pedophilia" that you thought it necessary to include in your negative screed against Michael Jackson; perhaps you were busy in the newsroom at Fox News and therefore too busy to look into/investigate the matter but:
Michael Jackson was "accused" of mo lestation by children whose parents ALL sought multi-MILLION dollar pay-outs from Jackson PRIOR to or IN LIEU OF seeking police action. This, NORMALLY, would be referred to as: EXTORTION!!! In Michael Jackson's case, the U.S. media gave little to no credence to the credibility or character of his accusers. There was NEVER an ATTEMPT to get to the bottom of all the frivolous lawsuits that this poor man was fending off from gold-diggers and blood-suckers. For example, what kind of parent seeks the representation of a lawyer, but not the involvement of the police when their child is mo lested: Gold-diggers -- i.e., Parents-- who saw Michael Jackson as a target, that's what kind!
"As a role model for our children, Michael was among the worst."
And what kind of role model are you, right now, for HIS children?
You beat me to the punch, my brother. Well Said.
I will show MY children this article written by Joe Peyronnin and tell them: HE is not a "role model" for children.
A Role Model does not tear down; a role model lifts up
A Role Model does not seek to exploit the life of a man; ESPECIALLY on the day that he is being funeralized.
A Role Model 'attempts' to ANSWER questions, not throw around more unfounded innuendo and misleading inaccuracies.
A Role Model DOES NOT scandalize.
Joe Peyronnin IS NOT A ROLE MODEL!
what about all the humanitarian work he did? he shouldn't get credit for that? he did so much good. why should the bad always out weigh the good? why? did you hear his daughter? he was an excellent father to her. did you hear his friends? his family? his loved ones?
He was more than his music. so much more.
why can't we let allegations be allegations? he was found an innocent man.
let him rest
let his children mourn him
let his fans mourn him
let his family mourn him
he did so much good. lets focus on all the positives now finally please
because for the last years of his life all anyone ever did was focus on negatives
when people were calling him wacko jacko who was saying lets just focus on his music?
but now all of a sudden that the people who loved him most want to talk about the good he did in his life you want to say just focus on the music?
I agree with many of the other posters. Much of what is written here is not true (Michael had vitiligo,he did not bleach his skin), misrepresented (the painkiller problems were tied to real issues related to having his scalp burned in the 80s and pain associated with lupus) or just down right biased (the child abuse claims are dubious at best and besides, the man was acquitted)
Why does the media feel some need to put Michael Jackson "in his place"? Can't we, in this moment, celebrate the life of Michael Jackson; exceptional achievements, human missteps, and all without unnecessary qualifiers?
"Why does the media feel some need to put Michael Jackson "in his place"?"
I actually got tears reading this.....you nailed what I've attempted to articulate so many times.
He was attacked by shameless grifters and a partisan press. Unlike others who betrayed the faithful, he was toataly innocent.
His life lifted the world. To his critics, Get off the island or go back.
Joe Peyronnin
Michael Jackson is not a pedophile. Michael Jackson love children and wanted to given them what he did not receive as a child. Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris says that her father was an outstanding parent. Reasonable people know that Paris was speaking from heart like a daughter who loves her father and was mourning him.
Joe Peyronnin
Michael Jackson’s childhood in Gary, Indiana, is filled with abuse as you rightly pointed. But Michael Jackson should not be blamed for being born into a poor family of nine children. Michael Jackson has claimed in televised interviews that his father abused him. What if the issue is not of abuse in the real sense of the word but everything to do with cultural conditions of given time and place. Child labor is decreed against and unlawful in developed industrialized countries of the world.
Joe Jackson applied the instruments he thought were appropriate in the upbringing of his children. Joe Jackson committed errors of his time and place.
Joe Peyronnin
Why are you setting standards that are not humanly possible for late Michael Jackson? You be the judge.
Joe Peyronnin
No human being is of no character flaws. If you are looking for a perfect individual with no human frailities or shortcomings, you are going to harm yourself for pursuing delusion of grandeur. Every human being we have ever celebrated and immortalized are due in part to the components of their achievements in advancing mankind in whatever field. It has never been or will ever be for the entire life of that person. Nobody’s life is perfect.
"As a role model for our children, Michael was among the worst."
Why do famous people have to be role models for your children? Because you're too busy trashing people in your columns to do something for them? I'm a kid, and Michael Jackson's behavior hasn't caused me to do anything horrible.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
