Another MJ post..

[ellelelle]

I don't know about everyone else, but this Michael Jackson thing is still bringing up stuff for me.

Comments

[blueserenity22]

*hugs*

The media treats Michael Jackson like a hungry dog treats steak, and I'm so sick of turning on the TV to hear about the court cases, and his drug usage, etc.

I have a lot of unpopular feelings about Michael Jackson, but I just want to say that I can relate to your frustrations.

[ellelelle]

*hugs back*

I wonder how many people mourning him also disowned him when the allegations emerged. I'm pretty sure that most of the journalists/editor/publications heralding him now are the same ones who tore him apart over the last 2 decades.

I don't know who to be angry at.

Do people forget so easily?

[blueserenity22]

People will do anything for ratings and attention. They'll slander or salute you depending on which will get them farther.

[ellelelle]

Sad, but true.

[joonzmoon]

I think what you wrote is about spot-on with how I feel, for the most part. I especially agreed with this part:

I worry that because the interactions were strange or, we'll say, unconventional, the young participants may have processed them negatively. They may look back on them negatively, or even have experienced it negatively at the time.

Like you, I'm not qualified to charge Michael Jackson, or say with any certainty whether or not he actually abused children. But I do think that what he was doing definitely had the potential to be very confusing, especially to boys who are battling the throes of puberty and are already unsure of the changes going on physically and psychologically with themselves.

I'm also really amazed by society's ability to deify human beings in film and music.

Thanks for posting. I enjoyed reading your opinion, plus the links you posted.

[ellelelle]

Thanks for reading and commenting.

I think I kind of had to get that off my chest.

[briar_witch]

"this public bias towards Jackson godliness is hard to stomach."
No kidding. I hate how it's nothing but MJ, MJ, MJ, ad nauseum right now. I think it very likely he did abuse those children, and even though I like some of his music, I don't agree, as one person put it, that "The world has lost a hero". The man was seriously messed up.

[smoothiefreak]

This is an unpopular opinion for this community, but I don't think he did that stuff to those kids. He himself was horribly abused as a child, but he was the one with the unchanging story when it came down to it. I think that those kids (god bless em) who put up allegations against him, didn't feel nearly half the backlash most individuals who make these allegations do. I think that he had a really sad life, and that in his death, it is disrespectful to completely forget the INCOMPARABLE impact he had culturally on music, fashion, and race relations. I don't think he's guilty, but I think it is a shame that someone so talented is still (even in death) being called a horrible person, even AFTER being proven innocent twice.

[sistahraven]

So you know, my abuser - who abused me for nineteen years, who's tried to kill me?

Proven not-guilty twice. And not guilty for threatening neighbors with a gun. Guilt is difficult to prove, no matter what the situation.

People say my abuser's a great man, contributed a lot to his community, and that any "indiscretions" at home were just misunderstandings. Doesn't mean that the abuse I survived wasn't real.

If those allegations the kids made were true, they're still almost impossible to prove in court. People have a right, to feel the allegations merited investigation, and to express that. This poster is not saying to forget all the good things - she's saying to acknowledge them alongside each other. One does not need to be forgotten for the sake of the other.

[smoothiefreak]

I agree, however, I think he has had to live with being seen that way, and having it ruin his career, so now that he's dead, I think we can (pardon the pun) give it a rest. I completely empathize with you, but what does your situation have to do with this one? Aside from making you biased, very little. I can relate, so much to all of the issues brought up in this community, but no one here has ever met Michael Jackson so everyone who is against him in all of this, is against him based on what happened to them, and not based on the actual case at all. There were no abnormalities in the case. He was already bankrupt when the trial took place, so a pay off is unlikely. I am not doubting any of your abuse, but in terms of Michael Jackson, it is simply irrelevant.

Safe hugs (I know you're a great person outside of this minor disagreement, please don't think that I'm super shallow or anything)

[sistahraven]

Since you implied being found not guilty proved his innocence, and meant people should stop thinking bad things about him, I pointed out a not guilty charge does not mean "innocent" - it means they couldn't prove guilt. Many abusers receive not guilty verdicts, including one who had 50 pages of evidence against him (my main abuser). A not-guilty verdict does not mean innocence in the minds of many; I cited an example from my experience. Looking back, I'd have used more general wording, as it would be more appropriate to my point. Hindsight being 20/20, and all that

[sistahraven]

Very well said: I think those allegations needed to be investigated, fully. I despise the public bashing of people who come forward. Child sexual abuse is very difficult to prove in a court of law, very difficult, and I don't care how publicity-seeking it may seem to bring a celebrity before a judge - if it's an allegation of child abuse, it needs to be taken seriously.

[ellelelle]

And that would be exactly my point if I had the presence of mind to condense it properly!

To my mind Jackson was never cleared, I wish people would give some thought to the families of all those involved and respectfully and delicately leave this to rest.

The people being judged are possible abuse victims, and human beings.

No one should be persecuted for seeking justice.