An Apology to all those I may have offended in regards to Michael Jackson

[AllentownJake]

I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I just don't see it. I'm not really a big fan of this cult of celebrity in this country.

I'm white, maybe I don't understand. Michael Jackson never really did anything for me to understand that Black people are my equals. My father did and my room mate Phil and Osei did in college.

See when I was about 12, I came home and used the N-word. My father beat the ever living hell out of me. He than told me a story about a black man he went to officer training with when he was in the military in the 60s and how he and 3 other people almost tore up a bar in Georgia over him not being allowed in. That story stood with me. My father wasn't really a popular culture guy. He just had good values.

My father's best friend was also Vietnamese and the man had been sent by this country to Vietnam to kill Vietnamese people.

Than when I was in college, not really having racist feelings but having grown up in a middle class white suburb I had two African American room mates. Both intelligent and hard working great guys.

So, my acceptance of people who are different of me never came from a celebrity. It came from real people in my life.

[masuki bance]

1. Sad that people feel the need to apologize for not bowing

down at the altar of Michael Jackson.

*edit four speleene

[Jennicut]

2. I am white and and grew up in the whitest of white suburbs in CT in the 1980's and was a huge MJ fan

I never even thought about his race, actually and I guess that was a good thing.

[JuniperLea]

3. I am fully able to separate the music from the man...

I used to have political discussions with one of the best guitarists in the world. I love his playing more and more everyday... even though he's a rabid RWer... and we don't discuss politics anymore.

I loved MJ's music... I think he was a very sick man who did horrible things. I refuse to put him, or Picasso, or my pal the guitarist, on any kind of pedestal.

Yes, horrible things. Mostly to himself. I don't think that kind of behavior should be celebrated. I'll celebrate the music, but not the man... or whatever he ended up being.

[AllentownJake]

5. I'm letting some others do the talking

I got flamed pretty bad for pointing out a few things earlier today.

[PretzelWarrior]

4. so you're a child of abusive father. Just like Michael.

It explains his very broken attempts to be an adult, and it certainly explains some of your posts and attitudes.

[AllentownJake]

7. LOL

No, my dad really only smacked me a few times. The times he did it were for what I would call "Capital Offenses" and he would sit down with me afterwards and explain to me why I got my ass beat.

His son being a racist was a capital offense.

I wish more parents would have the courage to do it.

[PretzelWarrior]

8. I'm kind of kidding. thanks for taking it that way

but I received spankings and abusive behavior and determined to call my dad on it later which I did. I have one daughter and managed to raise her to be obedient and kind without spanking or other physical attacks.

Back to Michael Jackson....I'm not sure how old you are. But I am also white male. 40 years old. I was never a club kid or anything resembling cool or whatever. But I and many like me really, really, really liked Michael Jackson's singing, songwriting, and dancing. He was a pure joy to behold.

It saddened us his life went such a crazy direction starting with Bubbles the chimp on through the looking glass.

He is rightfully given some days of our renewed attention as we look back over the length of his life rather than the very gaudy and sad last years.

Elvis deserved such respect when he died. I see nothing wrong with it as long as people wrap it up by August. LOL.

[AllentownJake]

9. My father was a flawed man

I'm pretty sure my mother is the reason why he needed to have a few beers when he got home.

However, like I said there were capital offenses.

Stealing
Lying
Racism
Picking on others weaker than me

[JuniperLea]

11. All parents are flawed...

The best we can hope for is that they are "good enough."

[AllentownJake]

12. He was great

I miss him everyday.

[JuniperLea]

13. The proof is in the pudding...

[Critters2]

10. I know lots of people who were abused by their parents.

None of them have had nose jobs, slept with other people's children, kept pet chimps until they got tired of them, had a private amusement park, or were accused of child molestation. Michael Jackson was wealthy, spoiled, and lacking in self-control. And, as an adult, was the only one responsible for his behavior.

[PretzelWarrior]

14. how many do you know who were beat, pushed into professional career as a toddler

and then had to cope with megafame with no break from fans, media, and complete nutters?

Unless you have a similar case, you don't know what he went through or his pathology.

[butterfly77]

15. Boy,you must really know michael really well...

Did you sleep in his bed too? Here's to you Michael:toast: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[Berry Cool]

16. You are so right there.

Having a private amusement park? Unforgivable. :-(

[Number23]

17. "Having a private amusement park? Unforgivable."

:fistbump:

[RagAss]

6. For many of us...his singing voice was the soundtrack of our lives.

...and celebrities are real people too. Maybe not to you, but to the people they knew and loved.

[BeyondGeography]

18. Sorry I flamed you for it

Cheers, Jake.

[Lilyeye]

19. Thanks for sharing this.