Michael Jackson: King Of Pop Was Also King Of Compassion

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Michael Jackson: King of Pop Was Also King of Compassion
Posted on Friday, June 24, 2011 (EST)
Michael Jackson, who left us for his heavenly abode two years back, was publicly the King of Pop, but privately, he was the King of Compassion.



By Dee Pfeiffer

June 24, 2011, (Sawf News) - The accomplishments of Michael Jackson in the field of music, dance and entertainment have been documented worldwide. He was an innovator who changed the face of modern dance, captivated and influenced generations of music lovers and produced ground-breaking videos that were ahead of their time. What is lesser known, however, is how much he gave of himself, his time and his finances in order to help the suffering and those in need.

Quietly and without the need or desire for recognition, Jackson visited orphanages and schools across the globe, paid the cost of funerals for those who could ill afford the expense, and supported so many charities and good causes that he was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most charities donated to by a pop star.

Indeed, the entire proceeds of his 1992/1993 Dangerous Tour went to charity, as well as his cut from the 1984 Victory Tour. Whilst the tabloid media busied themselves in tearing him down, Jackson was using his time to give to the needy, sick or deprived, visiting as many orphanages and hospitals as he did concerts.

From a very early age, Jackson was moved to tears by the suffering of others, and especially the plight of children. As a child watching images of starving African children, he told his mother he was going to 'do something about that one day'. And, he kept to his word.

On the second anniversary of his death, we look at just a few instances which give us a glimpse into the singer's heart for the suffering:

In 1985, Jackson co-wrote the song 'We Are The World' together with Lionel Richie in order to combat poverty in the Third World. The record sold over ten million copies worldwide and raised a staggering $63 million plus for humanitarian aid in Africa and the US.

On February 6th, 1988, the inspirational and spiritually uplifting single, 'Man in The Mirror' entered the pop charts. Jackson donated all of his royalties from the single to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a camp for children who have cancer.

In December 1988, Jackson paid a visit to 12 year old David Rothenburg, who was hospitalised after being doused with kerosene and seriously burned by his father five years previously. Despite an estimated fifty operations, Rothenburg remained disfigured. The star paid for all necessary further operations and the pair remained lifelong friends.


Michael Jackson at 'This is It' concert tour press conference.. Photo Credit: PR Photos
On 7 February, 1989, Jackson visited the Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton, California. Three weeks earlier, a gunman had open fired 100 bullets in the school playground, killing five children and wounding 39 others before turning the gun on himself. Jackson spent time comforting the children and helping them to think positively again.

On May 6th 1992, Jackson paid the funeral costs for young Ramon Sanchez. Sanchez was killed by a stray bullet during the Rodney King violent riots in California and the boy's parents could not afford to bury him.

On November 25th, 1992, Jackson granted the wish of young David Sonnet, who he met through the Make A Wish Foundation, an organisation that grants wishes to terminally ill children. Sonnet had suffered a brain aneurysm at the age of 8, leaving him unable to talk or walk. Jackson invited the boy and his mother to his Neverland home and later, his mother credited the singer's music for helping her son to recover from a coma.

In December 1993, Jackson and his newly formed 'Heal the World Foundation'supported the UK's 'Operation Christmas Child' in airlifting over 100,000 gifts, toys, sweets, pictures and school items to needy children in Sarajevo.

In February 1995, the star made a private request to attend the funeral of Craig Fleming, a two year old boy whose mother threw him over the side of a Los Angeles bridge along with his four year old brother before jumping to her death. The mother and four year old survived. Jackson contributed towards the surviving youngster's medical expenses and founded a special trust fund for his ongoing care.


Michael Jackson. Photo Credit: Splash News
On November 1, 1996, Jackson donated most of the proceeds from his HIStory concert in Bombay, India, to the poor. When travelling from the airport, he stopped the car several times to dance with, pick up and hug poor urchins from the streets. On the day of his show in India, he invited around 50 children from local orphanages to his hotel room where they were treated to games, cakes and burgers. Later this same month, the star visited an orphanage and a school for blind children in Thailand. At the orphanage, he distributed toys and gifts to the children before leaving a donation of $100,000. An orphanage spokeswoman at the time said, "They don't know him as a pop star. To them he is just a very nice man who came here to offer hope."

New stories of Jackson's compassion for those less fortunate are surfacing regularly, and his humanitarian legacy continues through the stipulation in his will that the Jackson Family Trust donate 20% of its earnings to a number of undisclosed charities.

Only now that he is gone are we truly realizing what a legacy Jackson left. Yes, his performances left people mesmerized, and his music captivated music lovers worldwide. But perhaps his most lasting legacy will be his humanitarian work which has left an indelible mark on the countless hearts of those whose lives he touched.


http://www.sawfnews.com/Entertainment/67141.aspx
 
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Whilst the tabloid media busied themselves in tearing him down, Jackson was using his time to give to the needy, sick or deprived, visiting as many orphanages and hospitals as he did concerts.

Exactly. Great way of saying it. Thanks for posting this.
 
Thankyou. Great. Can you please post the link to the article.
 
Just makes me want to cry. I am. I just wish people could have given him a chance and the benefit of the doubt when he was still here.
 
This is an absolutely beautiful article. Michael had such a good heart which is invaluable.
 
You know, the astounding thing is, the media have more power than Michael Jackson. They are a whole network of television stations, production staff, etc. etc. etc., while he is just one man. One very famous and talented man, true, but one man nonetheless.

Yet...despite all the power and potential they hold in the palm of their collective hand, those who compose and support the national [and international] media so very often choose to do wrong, to squander the massive power of their technology, etc. on stupid trifles or mean-spirited gossip [as in the case with Michael] instead of using it to achieve good in this world. Even the networks and programs which cover celebrity affairs have this power to change the world--for example, instead of focusing on stupid things like how many surgeries x person got, or who's dating who [as if it's any of our business anyway], they could turn the lens of that camera towards stories such as these, which seldom get attention, but have importance which surpasses that of any stupid gossip story.

They could truly do so much without moving a finger, with just pointing the lens of that camera, spreading awareness instead of creating animosity. Despite the use for which he put it to work, Joseph Goebbels [perhaps the most talented manipulator of media, whether one likes it or not, his tactics are still studied and used in modern times even for simple things like commercials] was right in saying that the press [and by default all forms of media, whether in visual, or auditory format] is akin to a great keyboard, upon which the composer can deliver whichever tune he pleases [that is great paraphrasing right there]. Those who operate behind the scenes in the telecommunications world are the players of this great keyboard, this much is true, they are the ones who hold the technical power of this great media machine. However, we are the composers. If not for us, they would have no reason to perform in the manner they do.

Aside from being the King of Compassion, Michael Jackson was a wise man, I am sure you all agree. Although he did not write the song, the message found within the lyrics of "Man in the Mirror" resonated within his heart, as he himself said he doesn't sing a song if he doesn't mean it. The message of the song is that change begins with oneself, and if we hope to change the world, we have to send that message to the world. Therefore, how can we expect the media to change if we do not force it to change ourselves? These mindless gossip shows and tabloid newspapers would not exist if there was no clientele, if people didn't financially support them, if people weren't interested in them. However, more and more of these vile things are spawning in television, on the Internet, in the form of popular magazines because of popular support, so that we can only blame the "media" to a degree, but in truth the only real bearers of the blame are ourselves.

It is us as a society who call the shots, we are the reflection in that media mirror. It's ugly, isn't it? All the collective idiocy and venom which is daily spewed by these magazines/programs/etc. exist by popular demand. I know we as Michael Jackson fans are well-aware of these things, but the real poison in this world is not the media, they're only doing what they're told. It is our society, the master puppeteer who controls the strings from which these reporters and writers hang. It may sound extreme, but every time you tune in to a gossip show or pick up a celebrity magazine at the store, you are giving them your support. Even if done sparingly, it all eventually adds up and collectively composes the ratings/earnings these people receive, further encouraging them to do more of the same.

With that said, the point I was originally going to state before I temporarily digressed was that, despite his power being less than that of the collective media [and by default society as a whole], Michael Jackson did more than most others to change the world he lived in for the better, for no other reason than his own understanding of and compassion for human suffering. No recognition was needed or wanted, no tax cuts, no motivation for his ego. It was all clearly and sincerely done from the heart, and by god if he, one man, could succeed in creating so much good change around him, who are we to say we're powerless?

Yes, this article is inspiring and beautiful, but at the same time it makes me angry at the fact that those who collectively possess so much more power than a single man are so lazy and selfish, preferring to squander the possibilities on their own trifles rather than help change the world. Look what lasts, people! [I know I'm kinda preaching to the choir here, but anyway...] Which are we bound to remember more next year, Lindsay Lohan's drug troubles, or truly inspiring stories which change at least one person's life for the better? Unfortunately, due to popular demand, it will probably be the former. However, we have the power to change this, in our remotes and in our wallets, literally, in our very own fingertips, without having to embark to the ends of the world, or donate millions of dollars to various charities. Yet, so very often, we choose to self-gratify. Why?

Yeah, I love to hear about Michael's legacy, and how kind-hearted he was, but what about the rest of us? He would have told you himself, he's just a man. He was no superman, no great phenomenon, despite his talent and genius, he was in the very end just one man. So, if one man can do this much to move such mountains, why can't we? Makes no sense, does it?
 
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