Michael Jackson Despised Hitler and Was Never an Anti-Semite
It was bizarre seeing this morning how hundreds of news sources on the Internet alleged that Michael Jackson admired Hitler and considered him a genius. Nothing could be further from the truth and these scandalous allegations are all based on a simple misrepresentation of a quote from Michael in my book The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation. The book debuted only this morning on NBC's "Today" Show (scroll down to watch). But before I even had the chance to discuss it in the first TV interview, this serious mis-characterization of Michael was spreading everywhere unchecked.
Here is what Michael actually said, as found in our conversations, which were recorded with Michael's enthusiastic consent for the express purpose of publication in this book:
Hitler was a genius orator. He was [able] to make that many people turn and change and hate. He had to be a showman and he was. Before he would speak, he would pause, drink a bit of water, and then he would clear his throat, and look around. It was what an entertainer would do trying to work out how to play his audience. He would go into this fury of the first words he would say and he would hit them hard. But where did he come from? I know he failed school and he wanted to be an architect. He failed a lot of things. But I think it all happened in prison, the whole Mein Kampf thing, didn't it?
Not only is there nothing controversial in what Michael is saying, but the point has been made by countless authoritative historians. Hitler was a master showman. He was indeed a brilliant orator who used his considerable charisma to stoke an inferno of hate. It is well known that he practiced his speeches in front of mirrors and had photographers take snapshots of him in different poses that he later studied to determine which were the most effective. He was an evil genius who employed every facet of a darkened soul to bring out the beast in man. And Michael is insightful in pointing out how Hitler studied his audience in order to gain mastery over them the way an entertainer would. It is very surprising that such a straightforward comment has become so controversial.
Look, Michael had enough real flaws without people unfairly inventing new ones. I have already in the past written several columns refuting the idea that Michael was ever an anti-Semite. Indeed, I always considered him a loving friend of the Jewish people. In 2001 he came with me to meet Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and was honored to have all the photos released to the press, even though he was warned that this could provoke a serious boycott of his music in Arab countries that despised Sharon.
Then, of course, there was the fact that Michael, for two years, trumpeted me, a Rabbi, as a mentor, hardly the stuff of anti-Semitism. And Michael loved coming to our home for the Friday night Sabbath dinner and told me that the night I took him to Synagogue to pray was the happiest of his life. I could go on, but the allegation that Michael could admire Hitler is so preposterous that it does not require any lengthy refutation.
As far as Michael's contention in the book that he could have touched something inside of Hitler in a one-hour meeting, obviously this is ridiculous and I criticize the comment heavily in the book. Hitler was intrinsically evil and had utterly erased any trace of the image of G-d from his countenance. Touch Hitler and all you would have found is rancid bile and poison. But far from this being a demonstration that Michael excused Hitler's evil, it is rather a sad commentary on Michael's hopeless naïveté and growing Messiah complex.
Michael hated Hitler and knew he was evil. But it was his mistaken belief that there was still something human in him that Michael could uniquely touch. In my book I discuss how one of the more corrosive elements of superstardom is the deification by fans that can lead the object of undo veneration to believe that he is possessed of special abilities. Michael deserves to be strongly criticized for believing too much in his own power to reform those who migrated irreversibly toward the dark side. But the suggestion that he had any sympathy for Hitler is grossly unfair and simply untrue.
I have no reason to undeservingly defend Michael Jackson and indeed those who read my book will discover that I have bookended our more than two hundred pages of transcribed conversations with a moral overview of Michael's life and how his tragic existence and untimely demise can only be redeemed by serving as a morality tale for the rest of America. Michael was an American icon and embodied in his broken person so much of the excess that is coming to define a nation whose citizens increasingly seek fame at any cost. But that still does not give us the right to distort him in death on issues where he had no culpability.
Michael wanted these conversations published and made available to the public. He felt that if people understood the extreme suffering he had endured and if he exposed his heart to what he knew to be a suspicious public, people might judge him more charitably. In the final analysis, this book is Michael in his own words and each person will make his own judgment. I am not asking you to make Michael into any kind of saint in death, any more of a man than he was in life. But let's not unfairly make him into the devil either.
On "TODAY" Friday:
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Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's newest book, The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation was released today by Vanguard Press. NBC Dateline will be airing a one hour special on the book tonight at 9pm.
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Whether you loved or loathed Michael, most people would regard it as a basic human right to be able to speak freely, share one's innermost feelings about horrendous abuse, be rational or otherwise in a therapeutic setting without fear of being ridiculed or quoted out of context. This book is not Michael's true voice but clearly that of a man in therapy, being prompted for reasons Michael was not aware of - into answering questions from Shmuley that had nothing to do with Michael's personal growth or healing. Michael did not intend these tapes to become public or he would have published them and now when he cannot speak for himself, his most private thoughts and feelings are being flogged on the open market. Despite Shmuley's claims that this was a consensual effort with Michael, I am certain most people will recognize this book for what it is: - a shameless act of exploitative betrayal with staggering greed at its heart. If you want to listen to the tapes go to youtube or Facebook, this disgusting book has been uploaded. Just please don't buy it. We, have the power to refuse to be a part of ' enabling' Shmuley to profit from Michael's death. I am hoping there are enough people who still believe there is such a thing as common decency. Because what Shmuley has done amounts to nothing less than abuse.
This is precisely why Michael Jackson despised the media. They take one thing out of context and put it as the tagline. In this instance the Rabbi should have known that this would happen when he did this book. Now he is trying to defend what MJ said. Proof that the book should have never happened. I tried to read it and did see a few things that made more sense but basically it was the same things that MJ has been saying for years that can be looked up without buying the book. MJ did say that he thought it was difficult for a woman to be married to him because he was a nomad and couldn't stay in one place for very long. This isn't shocking since he spent his entire life traveling since he was a small child. He said women want a man who is settled. He talked about how Brooke Shields was one of the loves of his life and that he wished that she loved him as much as he loved her. This explains her statement that MJ proposed to her many times and she turned him down. So that was touching to hear about him, but the remainder was rehashing and with the Rabbi's (in my opinion) negative commentary about Michael Jackson's life choices, etc. Once again, this is not surprising from our ridiculous excuse for media and the Rabbi now sees first hand one inkling of what MJ endured his entire life.
I recall hearing about a book about Jewish women who had dreams that if they had been allowed to talk with Hitler they could have changed him.
Here's the point where this project is naive. Hitler was a psychopath. Psychopaths are a pernicious manifestation of narcissistic personality disorder. There is certain things that are universally true about these people.
1. They have no empathy for other people.
2. You can flood them with love, thinking this is what they need to change, but it does no good. They are too far gone. The problems they have are very deeply seated and they not reachable. Arrogance does not begin to describe how they interact with others.
MJ was great. He meant well. I love him. But when it comes to psychology, he hadn't figured himself out too well so it's not a surprise to me that he hadn't figured out that even he couldn't reach Hitler. Had he been in a position to try, no doubt he would have learned a lot about the dark side of human nature.
Maybe MJ was drawn to this thought about Hitler because he had spent a lot of time as a child thinking that if only Joseph had listened to him, things might have been different. I don't know. Just a thought.
Boteach and Michael had not been in correspondence for the last six years of Michael's life, because Boteach did not stand by Michael when he faced charges in 2003. We do not even know if Michael intended to do a book. For all we know, this could be a carrot stick to convince the fans to buy this shabbily conceived page-turner. Michael - so often duped in life, could have merely been going along with Boteach's own request that they tape their 'therapy sessions' - as many therapists do now. They clearly sound like therapy sessions, with Boteach introducing 'leading' questions into the stream of the conversation and offering advice back. As a leading Rabbi posted on The Huffington Post recently, Schulmey has overstepped the line and remit of a Rabbi in breaching the confidence and trust placed in him. Despite Schulmey's overkill protestations that Michael wanted this published to ' bring the family together,' I am certain most people with a modicum of intelligence will recognize this book for what it is - a shameless, money -making act of exploitative betrayal and staggering cheapness with a con-man at its heart. Shame on you Schulmey.
Killashandra, your post nailed it; and i am compelled to say, the Rabbi has no shame, not even compassion for Michael Jackson's family, he like others worship at the altar of capitalism, as he is capitalising on Michael Jackson's therapy session. people say things in therapy cause that is how they are filling at that moment, but to publish a book years later, seriously. the day i decide to go into therapy, i will make sure none of my conversations are taped, shame on you Rabbi, shame on you!!
One walks a very thin line when trying to defend or explain someone who can no longer speak for himself; the media will always find a way to twist quotes into something shocking because that is what sells. I hope MJ had some true friends who can keep quiet and not capitalize on his death.
I like MJ a lot. I'm a fan. However, I personally found this video disturbing.
My attention was first to the way he put his left arm behind his back as he left the van. It immediately felt odd to see. There was something militaristic about it.
Then came the salute at about 1:50, which in my mind, at least, is reminiscent of the kind of salute Hitler used.
Was it intentional on MJ's part or not? After all, MJ was extremely tuned into gesture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmELhU46V2g&feature=related
Too many people rely on soundbites and don't bother to check out the context of words. Instead they hear something and run with it.
It all has to do with information overload, poor education, and the downward spiral of American society.
Obviously, Hitler WAS a great orator or he would have been ignored. Saying that does NOT mean that MJ or I believe AH was a good person. He was a rabble rouser and a demagogue who played on the weaknesses and fears of others. We've seen the same thing happening here, but we now have fox and the internet and don't need an AH.
I think many people hear the unresolved revelations about Michael Jackson's alleged pedophilia, and feel internally conflicted about having enjoyed his music these many years. People so conflicted are especially receptive to further allegations that would let them decide for good that Jackson was a "bad" person, thus giving them a resolution to that conflict --- in effect, closure.
Jackson was a complex individual in which the admirable and the execrable existed side by side. In that sense, he is a mirror for all of us.
There are NO "unresolved revelations" about alleged pedophilia. There was a lengthy and obscenely expensive trial, which went forward even though the grand jury decided NOT to indict. Michael Jackson was found NOT GUILTY on all counts.
Read Michael Jackson Conspiracy by true crime writer Aphrodite Jones if you want to know the real story.
I meant no offense; when I said "unresolved", I meant unresolved in the public's mind. (You will notice I used the word "alleged.")
Jackson is legally not guilty, but the public's imagination isn't limited by the stringent rules that govern the justice system. When they hear rumors about strings of out-of-court settlements, secret rooms, and child-sized sex dolls, they aren't quite sure what to think. Whether or not there is any truth to it, that is *still* the perception to much of the public, and my argument still applies.
I can s ee why Michael will read about & be fascinated with Hitler.. I was.. I read up on the whole Nazi regime since I was in my teens.. the Affair of Hitler & Eva BRaun wetted my interest.. & I'm not Jewish. It's important to be aware of such things so it can be avoided in the future..
Boteach and Michael had not been in correspondence for the last six years of Michael's life, the reason being Boteach did not stand by Michael when he faced charges in 2003. We do not even know if Michael intended to do a book. For all we know, this could be a carrot stick to convince the fans to buy this shabbily conceived page-turner. Michael, so often duped in life, could have merely been going along with Boteach's own request that they tape their 'therapy sessions' - as many therapists do now. They sound like therapy sessions, with Boteach very clearly 'leading' questions into the stream of the conversation, and offering advice back. As a leading Rabbi posted on The Huffington Post recently, Schulmey has overstepped the line and remit of a Rabbi and brings the sacred into disrepute. This book does more harm than good for Michael, and despite Schulmey's adept skills at 'selling his intentions' - it is clear he released this on the eve of the TIS film being promoted - for his own self-interest. Please can we all not buy this book - Michael deserved better 'friends.'
hsve you bone up on Hitler?? actually, he wasn't exactly an abused child. you know.. he really wasn't..
He was the offspring of first borne cousins.. his father was elderly when he was borne.. a postal worker.. if anything Hitler.. he was ignored by his father but doted on by his mother.. & she died young.
it's really quite easy to say-- Hitler is one of the coldest hearted creatures imaginable.. he really was.. one of the oddest,most curious phenomenoin in modern civilization is-- how he was able to seduce a country ;like Germany when he had no academic background to speak of( like Lenin.. a true idealist) HITLER WAS living off the state.. selling his little watercolours casrds to earn a few pennies until he was called to duty for WW1..
Boteach and Michael had not been in correspondence for the last six years of Michael's life, the reason being Boteach did not standby Michael when he faced charges in 2003. We do not even know if Michael intended to do a book. For all we know, this could be a carrot stick to convince the fans to buy this shabbily conceived page-turner. Michael, so often duped in life, could have merely been going along with Boteach's own request that they tape their 'therpay sessions' - as many therapists do now. They sound like therapy sessions, with Boteach very clearly 'leading' questions into the stream of the conversation, and offering advice back. As a leading Rabbi posted on The Huffington Post recently, Schulmey has overstepped the line and remit of a Rabbi and brings the sacred into disrepute. This book does more harm than good for Micahel, and despite Schulmey's adept skills at 'selling his intentions' - it is clear he released this on the eve of the TIS film being promoted - for his own self-interest. Please can we all not buy this book - Michael deserved better 'friends.'
Inevitable. Inevitable. Inevitable. Who will stand up for this man as his name is yet again dragged through the mud? Michael can be quite clearly heard saying that Hitler was: " able to make that many people turn, change and hate " Could someone tell me where the offence is, as to me it is a simple statement of fact. Hitler 'was' an incredible orator, history shows us this demonstrably. His words did 'move' people; moved them to terrible acts of unspeakable violence, cruelty and depravity that affected and still affects generations of people today. He was able to do this, because, firstly: Hitler was a maladjusted, walking storm of fury, accumulated slights, unprocessed fear and hate; and secondly, because the people
'wanted' to be moved. And that, rather neatly brings me to my final point. If you ' want ' to believe Michael Jackson - a man, whom even the most hard-hearted would surely admit had an extremely,
'extreme' life - is a Nazi; lets be sure that's the truth. Declaring Hitler to be a powerful orator was probably the opening line of my history essay at college. It's a statement of fact, not empathy. If we, in these supposedly sophisticated times can't tell the difference between the two - are we any better than the crowds in Nuremberg?
When MIchael Jackson talks about Hitler he is totally conventional, he says the same as everybody could have said. But what he did was different. He could relate to Hitler, because he did the same thing: make Mass-suggestions to racial integration which had enormous influence on the culture. Michael Jackson's genious is rarely seen as clearly as superbowl from 1993
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnvSebbIVAM
There he shows this unbelieveable show of illusions - which sweeps out our rational mind - and then he makes the most American of the American to be about no racial boundaries - black and white. It is mass suggestions like the one Hitler used. And we are so grateful for it - it changed us forever. This happened just before the child molestation crap started. I see it as important - Michael Jackson became perceived as somebody who could change culture, which could be dangerous for us.
huh?? what t he hell are you babbling about?!
Michael.. doing the SUPERBOWL?? compared to Hitler's TRIUMP OF THE WILL PROPAGANDA.. excecuted by ALBERT SPEER?? during their hugest rallies?? you got to be kidding!
Inevitable. Inevitable. Inevitable. Who will stand up for this man as his name is yet again dragged through the mud? Michael can be quite clearly heard saying that Hitler was: " able to make that many people turn, change and hate " Could someone tell me where the offence is, as to me it is a simple statement of fact. Hitler 'was' an incredible orator, history shows us this demonstrably. His words did 'move' people; moved them to terrible acts of unspeakable violence, cruelty and depravity that affected and still affects generations of people today. He was able to do this, because, firstly: Hitler was a maladjusted, walking storm of fury, accumulated slights, unprocessed fear and hate; and secondly, because the people
' wanted ' to be moved. And that, rather neatly brings me to my final point. If you ' want ' to believe Michael Jackson - a man, whom even the most hard-hearted would surely admit had an extremely,
' extreme ' life - is a Nazi; lets be sure that's the truth. Declaring Hitler to be a powerful orator was probably the opening line of my history essay at college. It's a statement of fact, not empathy. If we, in these supposedly sophisticated times can't tell the difference between the two - are we any better than the crowds in Nuremberg?
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