R.I.P. Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

I felt compelled to write, following the death of Pop Music icon Michael Jackson nearly two weeks ago. Those who know me, know that I’m not a “fan” of any particular artist, even though I love and appreciate all genres of music. I have over 20 GB of it on my iPod that almost never leaves my side. With that said, I must say that in all those GBs there was only one Michael Jackson song in residence: “Thriller.” I downloaded it a couple of years ago for my Halloween music playlist.

Like many others, I was vaguely aware of Michael Jackson and his career. I remember watching The Jackson Five perform on the Ed Sullivan show many years ago, just as I watched The Beatles and The Dave Clark Five when they came to America. Everybody who saw him knew that Michael was special, and I doubt anyone was surprised when he developed into a most gifted entertainer. I did not follow his career, but you couldn’t avoid hearing the news headlines that cropped up from time to time. I felt personally sorry for him in having to deal constantly with the Media, and I always believed that he was the victim of greed in the child abuse cases brought against him. I don’t think he knew how to deal with that, especially emotionally, because they were attacks on his character. He settled out of court in the first case and was acquitted in the second, but I believe that, if he was guilty of anything at all, it was his naiveté—but then, he had been insulated and isolated from most of the world since he was a teenager. He most assuredly did not live anything resembling a “normal life.” Like many people, I also had no idea what a philanthropist Michael was, and I learned that Michael Jackson was at the top of the list of entertainers for number and amount of his charitable contributions.

Like most people, I was shocked to hear the news that he was dead. It didn’t seem real, and though I knew it was indeed possible, it didn’t hit home until today, watching his memorial service on TV at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. When I first heard he’d died, I realized that I didn’t know Michael at all—and I suddenly wanted to know him. It was important.

I went to iTunes and downloaded a few more songs: “Man in the Mirror,” “Bad,” and “They Don’t Really Care About Us”—the song he was performing in the last rehearsal clip shown over and over on TV. I wasn’t ready to commit to the entire iTunes Essential playlist, but those were the songs that reached out to me. During the past week I watched a couple of specials devoted to his life and career on CNN and NBC, and I went to On Demand and watched a number of his music videos. I must say that I was completely blown away, watching Michael perform and listening to his music. I was touched by what a very caring person he was; and I realized that, if nothing else, his passing reminded me of my own obligations to be a better person—to be the best “me” I possibly could. “The Man in the Mirror” video was perhaps the most moving of them all. If you have not seen it, you should.

So, I watched the memorial service today with my husband Sam (who hadn’t planned on watching but realized that he should). Today I knew who Michael Jackson was, that I mourned losing him and would personally miss his presence, and I cried along with everybody else. Like his daughter Paris, I know what it’s like to lose your Dad at a tender age, when you most need him, because I’ve been there, too. My heart goes out to all of his family and friends who will miss him even more, but I know they will be comforted by the fact that Michael DID care about others and did a great deal to show it. He became the best he could be. At the least, he certainly deserves to be remembered for the good that he did in the world. Listening to the lyrics of “The Man in the Mirror,” I have to say I got the message:



I’ve been a victim of
A selfish kind of love.
It’s time that I realize
That there are some with no home,
Not a nickel to loan—
Could it be really me,
Pretending that they’re not alone?

I’m starting with the man in the mirror.
I’m asking him to change his ways.
And, no message could have been any clearer:
If you want to make the world a better place,
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change! *



I had to take what he said to heart. One thing I sincerely believe, as the Bible promises, is that “all things work together for good,” and even though I’m sorry Michael Jackson left us far too soon, his death will affect as many people as his life did. If only a few of us “make a change,” I’m certain he will be happy knowing that his career counted for even more in his passing.

I will miss you Michael. I’m sorry I didn’t get acquainted sooner—if more of us had, maybe things might have turned out differently for you. Maybe you can rest easier knowing that you DID make a positive difference in the world you left behind. Rest in peace, my friend, and God bless you.



*(--excerpted from “The Man in the Mirror” by Sieday Garrett and Glen Ballard as performed by Michael Jackson on his seventh career album Bad, released in 1988. It was the number one song on Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, and was nominated for the Grammy Record of the Year)