The L.O.V.E. continues for Michael Jackson

I arrived at Forest Lawn Glendale with my dearest friend on June 25, 2012. As we made our way towards The Great Mausoleum, the peacefulness began to set in. As my car winded up the road, the pine trees and green grass all around quieted my thoughts. I saw a sea of nearly 10,500 red long stem roses hugging the perimeter of the entrance.  I saw posters, paintings, hand made cards from Japan, Germany, Italy and all around the world in a makeshift memorial.

Michael Jackson is still gone too soon. “Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight. Here one day, gone one night.”  I always loved his music but didn’t see the complete story of who he was until he died and I, like many others, saw the grief of the world and felt it in my soul. I began to research his life and was astounded at the lies, completely fabricated untruths about this amazing man. I watched videos, read books and saw how he loved children purely and innocently.  For anyone who stills believes the lies the media sold the public, I recommend reading Conspiracy by Aphrodite Jones and Redemption by Geraldine Hughes.  I think the trial in 2005 killed a part of him that never came back and wonder if real justice will ever be served for his murder.  My childhood died on June 25, 2009.

Michael Jackson was an angel that flew above everyone else. He spread joy wherever he went. He helped people in need, he gave us music and thrills with his videos. He showed us what passion truly is. I wish I could have been his friend and helped him learn to breath so he could sleep. While he walked this earth in physical form, he changed it.  He changed the game of music forever. And then he was gone. He was a remarkable man who was and is loved by billions not just because he was a rare artist but he was a good, caring, compassionate, kind human being.

The emotional connectivity of his love is palpable.Robyn Starkand organized One Rose For Michael Jackson. Fans around the globe donated money so they could feel part of the memorial.  Michael’s example of light continues to grow with his army of L.O.V.E.

I met a group of women who had flown from Japan to pay their respects to Michael with their hand made cards and gifts.

Hiromi Sasakawa & friends from Tokyo

People may judge me as strange for loving a man I never knew but I did know him.When I saw him on stage during the Victory tour, I could feel his magic. So magical that sometimes I wondered if he was real. I never met him yet I cried when he was gone like he was one of my closest friends. I knew him through his songs, his dance. He did in 50 years what most people can never do in a lifetime.

His story is the classic rags to riches. From Gary, Indiana, a simple Midwest city where hard living and hard working and simple basic values were taught to him by a father who worked in a steel mill and a mother raised her children while working part time at Sears. Michael learned that hard work could make your dreams come true.  The work ethic instilled in Michael was simple: dance and sing like your life depended on it.  Every dream has costs and consequences.

How did America go from being the land of the free to the home of a 20^th century lynching with injustice that was downright shameful? Michael Jackson’s reputation was destroyed by American journalism that feasted on him,  crushing and devastating a human being so they could sell papers. Yes, media is an act of democracy and succeeds with the greatest number of “hits” but when it’s spin generated, inaccurate, sensational and provocative, it’s just plain wrong.

It’s easy to judge another person when we haven’t walked in their shoes. Michael’s life was upside down. Performing at the age of five at three in the morning in night clubs when most kids are in kindergarten having water balloon fights. As an adult, he wanted to go back to his childhood. He wanted to be carefree and just play. He was judged for reliving the joys of childhood with children. Even though he was harassed for over 20 years he was still filled with love and never turned to bitterness and hate. Ultimately the truth prevailed. He was crucified, then vindicated. I miss him and will defend him by honoring his memory and his message of peace and love.

Part of the reason I still fight for justice for him is Michael Jackson did not even register happiness when his name was cleared in 2005 after being subjected to an unjust trial for crimes he never committed. He had become a shell of himself and told his mother that “they won’t stop until I’m dead.” I’m afraid he was right.

Mark Twain said that a lie could get around the world before the truth had its shoes on. Michael’s feathers got badly burned but he was still an angel. All he ever wanted to do was be love and spread love.  He lives on through millions of hearts and I’m happy he is resting peaceful and not under the heat of the media, which he endured most of his life. He was a bright star and has gone to a place where the judgements can no longer break his beautiful heart. He’ll always be in my heart.  El siempre va a estar en mi corazon.

I leave you with Michael Jackson’s words from a sign he had made at Neverland:

Kingdoms topple

Lose their glass

Civilizations grumble

Ages pass.

Turbulent tempests

Ravage the seas

Violent killings

Despite our pleas

But dew drops sparkle

When children play

Tyrants cry

There is nothing to slay.

Fairies dance and goblins sing.

In the garden we frolic a while

Those are the moments when babies smile.

Michael Jackson