Re: Is This Really About Michael?
Just like I expected, there's an overflow of major attitude, tantrums, weeping and wailing, 'woe to Michael' nonsense overflowing on this board. I knew, despite what was reported by Access Hollywood, that Michael Jackson wasn't expected to ATTEND (not just perform) but I repeat ATTEND--last night's Grammy's, there would still be some of the hard-headed, deluded bunch who would ignore that fact and convinced themselves "Michael will be there. He just wants to surprise us". Oh well, 3 1/2 hours past---and no Michael. Now from late last night and all through today has been the same theme:
"HOW DARE HE DOUBLE-CROSS ME!
"AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS I INVESTED IN HIM,HE HAS THE NERVE TO NOT SHOW HIMSELF TO ME!"
"OH, I'M SOOO THROUGH WITH HIM!"
"HE DOESN'T WANT TO PERFORM FOR ME!"
"HE NO LONGER WANTS TO POSE FOR ME!"
"HE MIGHT AS WELL FORGET IT!"
"IT'S SOOO OVER FOR HIM NOW!"
"I INVESTED ALL THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE DEFENDING HIM, YELLING "MIIICHAAAEL!!" WHEN HE LOOKED OUT HIS HOTEL WINDOW AND WHEN HE PAST ME IN HIS SUV!"
"I TOLERATED HIM AND SUPPORTED HIM WHEN MANY OTHER'S DIDN'T!"
"I SPENT MONEY ON HIM!"
"I BOUGHT HIS ALBUMS! I WENT TO HIS CONCERTS"
"I HAD MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS BECAUSE OF HIM!"
"I ATE, SLEPT AND BREATHED HIM FOR SOOO LONG!"
"WHEN I WANT TO SEE HIM, I WANT TO SEE HIM!"
"HE OWES ME!"
"AFTER ALL I'VE DONE FOR HIM AND WENT THROUGH FOR HIM, HE OWES ME!"
"HE'S SUPPOSE TO LIVE TO PLEASE ME!
The more I read through these threads the question came up in my mind, are the moans and whines of disappointment and disgust motivated by truly wanting what's in the best interest of Michael? OR are they motivated by fans wanting to get their 'MJ fix' REGARDLESS of how it will affect Michael personally and professionally?
Is wanting this comeback really for Michael Jackson OR is it for fans to be able to hold their heads 'high' with pride and feel the atmosphere of accecptance by the masses of being a Michael Jackson fan-without having to hide or without having to defend the fandom, without being made fun of for being a Michael Jackson fan, to be identified as 'cool' for being his fan?
I recall the scene in the movie "The Jacksons-An American Dream" when Katherine told Michael "Do not be afraid of the fans AND WHAT THEY EXPECT OF YOU". Even though that quote was part of a movie script, it really rings true and I hope Michael is living by it and not allow a certain bunch in his fan base 'rule' him, nor allow this bunch to cause him to second guess himself.
Continue following your gut, Michael, don't let yourself be run ragged by a barrage of demands of some petty, fickle people in your fanbase. Because in spite of what they want you to believe, and what they believe, THEY DON'T OWN YOU!!
I'm just gonna try and remember what I said and say it again, cause I think its important.
I think what you said about fans voiceing so many complaints, not out of actual concern for Michael or what is best for him, but out of a desire to fulfill their own wants and needs, is a very valid point, and I think its true. Those wants and needs being the ability to "brag" about Michael, to, as you called it, get that fix, to justify their fandom, etc...
This brings me back the point in a speech Michael gave at his 45th birthday party where he told the crowd, "I'm going to me you proud to be my fans again." I was really heartbroken over that statement, and I know some will probably come here and say that I'm just being overally sensitive and regarding Michael as some sort of weakling or as a whimp, but that is
not what I'm doing. It was heartbreaking to me because of what it says about Michael's mind set was at that time. For Michael to feel at that point as though he still had to
prove himself, that all that he had accomplished and done, not only artistically but as a human being, wasn't enough to sustain the fans pride in him, is really a saddening realization for me. Because ever since Michael was a child, he hasn't ever,
ever been shown love unless he was number one, unless he was successful professionally, unless he did this and that. He was never shown love for just being the fine human being that he is and that's wrong. Michael has even said that the reasoning behind his back breaking work ethic is because he fears rejection and longs to be loved. That implys too that he doesn't feel he's worthy of love unless he pleases people with his talent.
I admire and love Michael as much, if not more, for who he is as a person as I do him as an artist. He should be respected and not houded, and he shouldn't feel that in order to be worthy of others love and acceptance, he needs to be number one and on top of his profession. But with the way some fans complain, and with the way many people in his life have complained and pushed him, its easy to see
why Michael feels that way. After Michael has given us his entire life, 44 years spent performing and entertaining us, giving his talent to us, giving his time and energy to make the lives of others better, to brighten their day in any way he knows how, from singing and dancing to visiting hospitals and spending hours on end with the sick, you would hope that his fans at least would have the decency to simply
let him be. We should give Michael some amount of love and appreciation back for what he's given to us. He deserves peace. Because it is the often insane and unrealistic expectations people pile on him which have made his life such a difficult and at times tragic story.
