Michael Jackson: What We See Is What We Look Like

[shondradawson]

There is no end to the commentary concerning the death of Michael Jackson and mine certainly warrants no special attention: nevertheless, I am slightly embarrassed to say how much his death has affected me. I have been a great admirer of his talent since I was a child; as most of us, I grew up listening and watching him evolve as an artist and reach the heights of stardom that I believe will never be surpassed…we no longer have a culture (or an attention span) to allow even the most deserving of talents rise and remain at the top of their fields. Our standards in so many respects have declined to even expect mediocrity: we are relieved to see it, as most of the talent now falls so far below it…

I have taken it upon myself to observe the collection of interviews, appearances, photographs, and other media on Michael Jackson during the course of his forty-five year career. What has struck me most about his personality (if, indeed, it can serve as insight to his character) is the alarming consistency of it. I say alarming only because most of us grow out of our childlike wonder at the world and the idealism in helping those in need, and making the world and its future better and brighter for others as well as ourselves. Mr. Jackson’s interviews as a child serve to show the influence of his family’s religion; as a Jehovah’s Witness, the strict beliefs that denied him holidays, birthdays, and the many forms of amusement such as television and movies and games that most children take for granted as their province. Being fully employed by the age of nine, Mr. Jackson had only his family, a large one, granted, but still a small cramped corner to grow up and cultivate a sense of self from: meanwhile, his exposure to the outside world of other people was distorted by fame, and the outrageous expectations that come with anxious and adoring crowds…how, indeed, does this shape the perspective of a child? I don’t wonder ever of his love for children and animals, undoubtedly the only company that never wanted or expected anything from him. I daresay it gave him a liberty from a repressive religion, suffocating family bond, a grueling work schedule, and a unruly mob of fans that held no end of comfort for him, even into his aging years…

Michael Jackson’s battle with vitiligo and lupus has been confirmed: suffering from gradual de-pigmentation and joint inflammation in front of the world must have taken a great deal of confidence from him as a performer: it made him a public spectacle in a way he never wished to be seen and shown. Why after thirty years of being born and raised into unprecedented stardom as a Black man, Mr. Jackson would decide to “become White,“ has been accused, but never explained. Alas, heavy makeup, ornate dress to completely cover his body took more than a physical toll; it took an emotional one, as his appearance was ridiculed even as he made desperate attempts to prevent it. Mr. Jackson directed our attention to his performance, more singing, dancing, fireworks, all the glitter and glamour and sparkle he could muster until we didn’t believe what we saw, but we loved it…therein lies the real magic of his talent, I believe, he convinced us he was beauty and grace even as his skin spotted and his limbs crippled behind the curtain…

Michael Jackson’s ordeal with accusations of child molestation are sad….I worked as a voluntary on three psych wards and have some indirect experience with pedophiles. He is certainly uncharacteristic of any I have spoken and dealt with outside of his love for children. A pedophile surrounded by children for four decades: two allegations surfaced with a nearly ten-year interval: the illogical sequence in the course of events should have been comical…should have been. The real argument is how many have allegations have not surfaced in the forty years….What will strike you about any repeat offender of such sex-related crimes is cunning: building an amusement park for thousands of children to run and play in; to openly admit you share your bed with them, to spend no less than twenty years of your life expressing how much children motivate and inspire you is no show of cunning, I can tell you. A pedophile would immediately open himself to suspicion under such candor. I believe Michael Jackson’s lack of exposure to our socially accepted hypocrisy failed to learn the rules of the games we play with one another. There is something pathetic about Michael Jackson’s statements and arguments: he seems to be genuinely telling the truth and expecting it to matter…the rest of us in the real world know better.

You are not innocent before proven guilty; if acquitted, it doesn’t mean you cannot be condemned…individuality can only be expressed if it is in accordance to what everybody else would do and be…if you are a man, be “how all men are,” or you will be labeled a homosexual, and you know what that means: a freak of nature, which will open you up to all sorts of allegations and assumptions, particularly when it comes to your relations with children and the paternity of your own.

The biggest star the world was beaten by a windfall of public scorn, a far more powerful weapon than any military force could wield…we pride ourselves on being able to say and do what we want, live and believe how we want: we indulge our delusions, don’t we? Try living in this world and this society where your love for nature, animals, children, family and friends made you a suspect; where your abstinence from drugs, alcohol, and sexual promiscuity made you a freak; where your compassion for the sick and the suffering, your aspirations for world peace and justice made you pathetic; where forgiving those who manipulated, exploited and wronged you made you deserving of being dragged through courts and drugged to keep the money-making machine oiled…in short, made you Michael Jackson.

I don’t pretend to know the truth of this man’s life…I can only seek to know it. I have sought it through his own words and the words of those who knew him. I have sought it in his art, his music and performances. I believe Michael Jackson’s life and death have much to say about what our society has become, clouded in delusions of freedom and liberty, in our aberrations of what it means to be good and decent.

Was Michael Jackson a good and decent man? I don’t know for certain; what I do know is, the qualities he was most ridiculed for are the ones we as a people are supposed to honor and celebrate in a human being, and his battles were something for which we are supposed to show compassion and understanding…

I believe Michael Jackson’s decade-span give a baleful testimony of American society.

We saw Michael Jackson through the years from our own eyes…

What we see is what we look like...

Thank you for taking the time to read.

[CatWoman]

1. and thank you for taking the time to write this.

[Hansel]

29. +1

[keepCAblue]

49. +2. Thank you. n/t

[myrna minx]

62. Yes, thank you.

:thumbsup:

[xultar]

2. Thank you for taking the time to write this post.

Seeing those pictures and the sores on his feet....what pain he must have felt.

[Karenina]

3. THIS is the kind of reflection I've so longed for...

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[maglatinavi]

4. michael jackson

i could not disagree more ... mj was an aberration ... as a human being maybe he was exploited and he became maybe the exploiter in turn ...

[CatWoman]

5. is that you in the avatar?

[Raine1967]

20. There are none so blind that will not comprehend.

Thank you for your opinion. Have a nice day.

[Raine]

6. THANK YOU ...

nice post! :thumbsup:

[Surya Gayatri]

7. K & R

Thanks for taking the trouble to honor this brilliant but tragically flawed genius. His childlike

vision and arrested development informed his art, but led ultimately to his destruction. Like many

geniuses before him, he was able to transcend his thwarted life and to enthrall the world. The pure joy

he brought to millions will survive long after the scandals have subsided. SG

[goclark]

8. Beautiful post and millions of people agree with you

txs

[Aramchek]

9. We are the Man in the Mirror

The arms of Jesus are the Cross of Lorraine.
Both the blood in the artery and the blood in the vein.
Both the source of grace and the clear fountain;

The arms of Satan are the Cross of Lorraine,
And the same artery and the same vein,
And the same blood and the troubled fountain…

[KittyWampus]

48. very profound.

[lunatica]

10. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. You write very well

It's thoughtful and even soulful on many levels, and you've added a new point of view to encourage us to reflect. His life has certainly impacted our society, our culture and ultimately our national identity. He will always be an enigma and a phenomenon.

[reflection]

11. I never thought I would rec a MJ post,

but I recommended this one. Thanks for a thoughtful, well-written piece.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. Thanks for writing this

[Catherine Vincent]

13. Great post!

Thank you!

[lildreamer316]

14. Thank you.

Excellently put. I am proud to recommend.

[Fire1]

15. Beautifully written and I agree.

I also believe what his brother, Jermaine, said in a recent interview. He said, "the world was not ready for Michael and that's why God brought him home." I also have every reason NOT to believe the rumors and accusations of pedophilia. I never believed it and never will.

[devilgrrl]

22. I don't think he hurt children either and there's nothing that will convince me otherwise.

Great OP btw.

[Number23]

31. I know people made a big deal when his daughter spoke at the memorial

But the thing that damn near brought me to tears during that entire ceremony was when Marlon said "Michael, maybe now they will finally leave you alone."

It STILL hurts me to think about it, even now...

[magellan]

32. I teared up when the Rev. Sharpton spoke to his kids from the stage

"Wasn't nothin' strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with."

[Fire1]

63. I applauded when he said it. Amen Rev. Sharpton. n/t

[Myrina]

51. Same here: my thought is that ...

... as he was a child-star who had his childhood essentially robbed from him -- intense fame, in combination with the abuse from his father -- likely stunted his emotional growth as well, and perhaps he really didn't know there was something (supposedly) wrong with him spending so much time with young kids.

Ask a 6 year old boy if there's anything wrong with a camping trip with other 6 year old boys, and he's almost certain to say 'no'.

:shrug:

I have felt really bad for him, for a long time. I sure wouldn't have wanted his life.

[DonCoquixote]

16. K and R

Thank YOU for having the guts to speak.

It's also nice to hear from someone who, unlike many of the amateur experts here, actually worked with Paedophiles and could say that his behavior is NOT fit into well-established, well documented patterns!

[lunatica]

17. kick

[shondradawson]

18. Thank You All So Very Much

for your warm and generous response...I thought I might share my thoughts and give another perspective than the ones we are currently given in the press and from the public: it seems to me there are dots that are not being connected. I'm under no illusion that my connections are correct; but perhaps drawing a fairer and gentler portrait of the man: something I believe, in death, we all deserved to be judged by. (smile) Thank you again for your time.

[BonnieJW]

55. I had no ides about the lupus.

Can you share your source about that? I wonder how he ever managed all the physical demands of this final tour he was rehersing.

[tblue37]

66. One of his doctors gave an interview on _Larry King Live_ in which he

said he treated MJ for lupus and also that he really did have severe vitiligo. (Of course, he was almost certainly violating HIPPAA rules when he provided such information.)

[goclark]

69. I was shocked about Larry King's guests

MJ's and Larry's "good friend" and "THE Dermatologist for the stars" would never get a visit from me!

It made me furious to hear him giving confidential Dr.- Patient information on world wide TV!

I had never heard that MJ had Lupus but it explains a lot if he did.

I try to make it a habit to not bash someone until you can walk in their shoes.

Well ~ other that GW Bush and those criminals.

[Laelth]

19. Lovely. I enjoyed reading the OP very much. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Raine1967]

21. Thank you. His death ought to make us take pause.

A pause in how we judge and perceive those that look different from us, but also by how we we think people should live their lives.

I chose a long time ago to not look at his life as I do mine. (and in others -- This is the bigger issue here)
If I didn't make that choice -- to live and let live -- as it were, it that would make me no different from what I am seeing from the likes of (as a very current example) Senator Sessions. I cannot judge another persons life.

Thank you SO very much for putting into words what I have not been able to.

[ColbertWatcher]

23. Well said. k+r, n/t

[Jeanette in FL]

24. Thank you for writing this

Excellent analysis of Michael Jackson and of us.

I have not been able to understand my fascination with this story. I enjoyed his music throughout the years, but didn't go out of my way to acquire any of it. Yet since MJ death I can't get enough of his story.

I think that you captured it for me.

Thank you for writing it and welcome to DU.

Proud to recommend and give it a kick.

[harmonicon]

25. TLDR

[musicblind]

26. Very nice post and very insightful

I wish it could be published in a magazine somewhere.

[Triana]

27. Thank you. I wrote something similar myself recently but not as well-put

You have touched on all the relevant points about Michael's life and what it says about US, more than him.

Thanks.

[Triana]

28. another thing....

...I have been thinking about the plastic surgery.

We know that Michael was verbally and physically abused by his father. He was called "ugly" and "big nose" when he was a child and young man (he had really bad acne too). He got NO compassion from his family or the public about his health problems and what it did to his appearance. This was utter cruelty.

We know that anorexics, when they look in the mirror at themselves, no matter how thin they are, all they see is a fat body.

When Michael did look at himself in the mirror (he said once that he used to wash his face in the dark so he didn't have to), I wonder if all he saw was "ugly" - since that's what he'd been told he was. I wonder if, no matter how handsome the face in the mirror, he just didn't see it. So he kept on trying to "fix" what was already perfect.

We'll never know. But if that is even partially why he did all that, (and I'm fairly certain there is something to it) then it is heartbreaking the lack of compassion and the utter cruelty with which this gentle soul was treated.

:(

As you said so well Shandra - what's ugly was US - our society and culture. Not Michael.

[OneBlueSky]

40. I have to believe that, in recent years at least, every time Michael looked in the mirror . . .

he cringed and asked himself "What have I done?" . . .

[MrScorpio]

30. Excellent piece

Recced!

[magellan]

33. Very well written.

K&R, thank you, and welcome to DU.

[Uzybone]

34. Post More Often

this was great.

[DeschutesRiver]

35. Thanks for posting that - I reached a very similar conclusion

I heard the gossip, but when I added up everything I'd read and every interviw I'd seen, I had the exact same thoughts that you expressed. That phrase "what we see is what we look like" is perfect. My thought had been "what people are thinking about him/assuming about him says more about them than about him." I esp. listened to Mr. Jackson himself, and I realized the tragic part of his life must have been more than he could bear at times.

The whole thing makes me feel bad when I reflect upon it.

[Oilwellian]

36. I've heard the phrase a little differently

"What you see in others is a reflection of yourself."

Great piece. K&R

[Judi Lynn]

37. Certainly glad to see your comments. You're not alone in your belief.

Welcome to D.U. :hi:

[Pooka Fey]

38. What a beautiful tribute. Thank you.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

39. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU

:yourock: :thumbsup:

You said all that needs to be said and much better than I could have done

[raccoon]

41. “We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.”

Anais Nin (French born American Author of novels and short stories, 1903-1977)


Good post.

[TahitiNut]

61. Interesting how that quote keeps popping up.

:-)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6073424

[malaise]

42. Thoughtful

Thanks

[WinkyDink]

43. Wonderful post. Would have read more, even.

[jules1962]

44. Thank you so much.

I have nothing but empathy for him. Great humanitarian and great person.

[shaniqua6392]

45. I am proud to recommend such a beautiful post.

Thank you for writing it. He was my first crush as a little girl and I can't wait to see him in Heaven.

[cbdo2007]

46. Thanks for the post...

I think you and I are coming from about the same places in our minds about all of this, though, although I was surprised at how much MJ's death affected me I wouldn't in any way say I'm embarrassed by it. There are probably only a couple of musical artists who have had as much influence on my life as Michael Jackson, and there was pretty much a good 5-6 years where he's all there was.

For the past 5 years or so though it's been hard to listen to MJ's music just because I didn't know about the personal stuff. It wasn't that I thought he was guilty or thought he was innocent. I just didn't know and there was plenty more in my life to worry about. Now though that he's been in the news again because of his death, and the barrage of his great music on the airwaves have helped to remind me why I liked MJ so much all along. What an unbelieveable performer/songwriter/singer. The likes of which we dont' really see anymore.

RIP MJ...at the very least it's comforting to know you're more peaceful on the other side.

[TuxedoKat]

47. Thanks

You put into words some thoughts I've had for years about MJ. Especially about him being honest with us but society
being unable to accept that and read other motives in it. When he bared his soul to try and explain the allegations
the first time just didn't seem like the actions of a guilty person.

Welcome to DU. :)

[Kajsa]

50. Thank you, Shondra.

This is very well written and points out
how vulnerable MJ was to being exploited,
starting with his own father.

Your OP is light years ahead of the infamous Martin Bashir
interviews,who tried to appear credible and sympathetic,
only to exploit MJ himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Bashir

( read the last past under controversies, speaks volumes
about ABC News, doesn't it?)

Michael Jackson was an incredibly talented man.

You have a great understanding of him.
:)

Thank you, again.

[fascisthunter]

52. very well written and thought out

[hiphopnation]

53. excellent post

great read & thanks

here's another perspective, curious to know your thoughts on this...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124762029798042603.html

[zalinda]

60. It was a hit piece

Here's some of the truth that this guy "missed". http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/MichaelJackson/story?id=8083809&page=1 You would think that these are autopsy photos, the way that the article read, but looking within the comment section, you find the real truth. Now, they do say they are pics from 2002, but that's certainly glossed over. Their "experts" say that there are puncture marks around the wound, leading to the conclusion that MJ was having drugs put in by IV. The truth was in the comment section, these were pics of MJ, taken by MJ's camp of a brown recluse spider bite, to explain why he couldn't make it to a hearing.

And again their "experts" say, why yes indeed MJ had Vitiligo, but he also used skin lightening cream because no one's hands could be that white. While in the comment section, a number of people said that either their hands were that white without lightening cream, or their relatives were.

MJ was hit with every accusation possible to try to bring him down. ABSOLUTELY NO ONE in the press believe he had Vitiligo, and continued their attack on him "trying to be white". Maybe "Black or White" was an answer to all his critics. As for his nose, did anyone take a look at his mother's nose? Maybe, just maybe he wanted to look more like her than his father. Did he really have as much plastic surgery as "everyone" claims? Or did just changing his nose make everything on his face look different. I don't know, but look at Jennifer Grey and how just changing her nose, made her almost unrecognizable.

zalinda

[noiretextatique]

68. really vicious, nasty piece

full of lies. snoop dogg, among others, praised michael jackson and his influence on him.
the author seems to have a person vendetta and doesn't seem well-informed.

[Richd506]

54. Kick and Recomend

[road2000]

56. Very moving.

[pacalo]

57. Beautifully said.

I love the "alarming consistency" phrase you use in describing Michael's life-long "childlike wonder" of the world & his idealism.

As for the child-molestation charges against him, I always suspected that he was a naive Peter Pan character who wanted to experience the childhood he missed, that he was being sued by opportunists. I always thought that the parents suing Michael should have been defendants, as well; if not for their judgment & permission, their children would not have been in the position to claim anything against Jackson.

Great post!

[blondeatlast]

58. I've had many of those thoughts for years. Such a magnificent talent, such a tragic life.

Great post; recommended.

[noiretextatique]

59. great read

very compassionate and honest. you spoke for me too. thanks :hi:

[99 Percent Sure]

64. Excellent read, Shondra. Thank you. n/t

[tblue37]

65. ?? The evidence suggests that he really did *not* abstain

from drugs and alcohol. (The IV stand in his home for administering hispital level drugs; the "Jesus" juice in soda cans.)

[On the Road]

67. Glad to Hear Your Experience with Pedophiles

I have none. But watching Jackson's answers to interview questions on the charge, I just can't fathom a real child molester saying some of those things. He did indeed seem to just tell the truth and expect it to matter.

[Chulanowa]

70. Excellent post. K&R

[stuntcat]

71. I wanna forward what you wrote to my friend.

If it's okay. He's far away in CA, never been to DU.

I got mad lately seeing people FREAKING OUT about this being covered on the news. I mean, yes it pisses me off bad as anyone that the real horror stories are being ignored but that did not start with Jackson's death.
I only watch TV news for disasters & terror attacks & stuff, but I watched it every day last week. He IS important, and anyone who can hold a thought or wants to fuss over this needs to try to understand why.
Some old acquaintance of mine on facebook was saying over and over why "he doesn't matter, he was just a performer" but he actually helped people.. many people. And he helped bring performers together to sing those songs that make me cry almost every time I hear them now :cry:

Anyway my best friend was a MJ freak back when we were teenagers, he and I have been talking about this on the phone every day.

[Autumn Colors]

72. Thank you for writing this

You may want to read what former Monkee, Peter Tork, recently wrote for the Hartford Courant on the subject of Michael Jackson (and dealing with fame in general).

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-commentarytork0712.artjul12,0,1993988.story

[CatWoman]

74. wow!!

Tork's op ed was deep!

[blonndee]

73. Beautiful, very thoughtful and moving.

Already rec'd but here's a kick.