» Michael Jackson ~ Thrilled or Chilled? Clever Betsy blog: Bright Green Living

My first memory of Michael Jackson is of watching the “Thriller” video at a slumber party when I was about 8 years old. I was one of the youngest kids there and very sheltered. My parents didn’t let me watch much tv at all, let alone anything scary! I remember being totally terrified of the music video. I was further disturbed when the girls at the party started telling me the rumors they’d heard about Jackson, that he was changing from a man to a woman and that he was changing his skin from black to white. I had nightmares for weeks after that party.

As I researched for this blog entry, I was saddened to find out that Jackson said his father entered his room one night when he was a child wearing a scary mask to teach him that he should always close that window before going to sleep. Jackson said he had nightmares for years after that about being abducted from his room. I find it sad and ironic that he later used his art to terrify other children.

Today when I think about Jackson’s life and death I’m saddened by the obsession our culture has with addicts and their selfish behavior. Despite Jackson’s unique abilities as a performer, I’m unimpressed with the totality of his life. He was unsatisfied with himself attempting to change the color of his skin, aspects of his gender, his weight and the appearance of his face.

Jackson left 3 children without a father. He didn’t even create guidelines as far as where his children should go in the event of his untimely demise. He set a terrible example for the many children who idolized him. His eating disorder, drug abuse and fiscal irresponsibility are examples of his selfishness.

While Jackson supposedly raised millions for charity, the tax records of his donations are nebulous at best.

The most upsetting scandal surrounding Jackson is, of course, the allegations that he molested children. This is too horrific even to imagine. And yet, so many people seem willing to overlook the probability that he “purchased” children from two different mothers for God knows what purpose for the novelty of a moonwalk…

I’m sure I’m coming across as judgmental. I don’t mean to. My heart does go out to Jackson’s family, especially his kids. I just wish though that we’d stop paying so much attention to the sad and bizarre and watch more closely those who are trying to do right in this world. For example, Coldplay and U2 are both bands that do a lot for environmental and humanitarian causes. I’d like to hear more about all that good work. And I don’t want to hear the media bashing U2 for the carbon footprint they leave when they tour. It frustrates me that the media doesn’t present the fact that U2 is careful to offset emissions and that most other bands of their size have the same carbon footprint if not far more and don’t bother to offset it at all… Similarly with Coldplay, they planted some seeds of green thought, literally and figuratively. Unfortunately, the literal seeds or saplings withered. However, their attempts remain as does the awareness they initiated. They are trying!

My point is, let’s stop ogling at and idolizing the weak and addicted and start celebrating those who work hard to better this world… at least they are trying. I feel like Jackson gave up on himself, on his family and on the many fans who adored him. I don’t know whether it will be determined that Jackson’s death was a homicide or a suicide but in my mind, he killed himself. He gave up on himself a long time before he actually died.