Worshiping Michael Jackson

[billyworld99]

Worshiping Michael Jackson
Linda Higgins Tue, Feb 28, 2012


I recently had an interesting conversation with someone about the fact that some people think fans deify Michael Jackson. The conversation was spurred on by a comment I posted on Twitter. This person feels that fans can sometimes come off as worshipful of Michael. Some people think we only acknowledge the good in him and refuse to see “the dark side.” I’ve read comments from writers who perceive that fans see him as some kind of God. I can only speak for myself when I say that is not the case.

Referencing the book The Michael Jackson Tapes, this person cited the author’s point of view that there were two sides to Michael: the man who was extremely talented, generous, loving and giving, and the superstar who “liked his ego stroked, spent too much money, was ruthless in business and took drugs to cover physical and emotional pain.”

Were any of those things true? Perhaps. Does it make me love him any less? No. I don’t care if he spent too much money. That’s his business. I don’t care if he liked his ego stroked every now and then. Who doesn’t? That’s human nature. Do I think he was ruthless in business? He certainly was when it came to acquiring his catalog of music, but after reading Frank Cascio’s book, My Friend Michael, it’s clear to me that there were many times he was taken advantage of in business, some of which may have been avoided had he been more ruthless.

On the other hand, Michael Jackson gave away millions of dollars to charitable foundations and to people in need. Prior to his passing, how many people knew he visited orphanages before every concert? How many stories about people he helped came to light only after he was gone? There were many. Why didn’t we know about them before he passed? Because he didn’t do those things to have his ego stroked. He did them because that’s what his heart told him to do. There are always two sides to every coin.

When you look through the eyes of judgment, your heart closes. When you look through the eyes of love, your heart opens, and I’ve discovered that I would much rather live with an open heart because it feels so good. What does that feel like? It feels like non-judgment of the other side of the coin. It feels like profound joy. It feels like grace. It feels like unconditional love. If you believe that God is love, and I do, it feels like God expressing love through you.

When I focus on the things I love about Michael and allow myself to appreciate them fully, I feel that loving energy being expressed through me, causing me to feel joyful, loving, healthy and strong. Those feelings keep my heart open, compelling me to be more loving. This same energy creates through me, inspiring all of the things I write.

When I look through the eyes of judgment, the loving energy stops expressing through me and that makes me feel weak, anxious, angry and depressed. It causes me to close off my heart and the inspiration stops.

I love Michael for the perfect human being he was, which is someone who had strengths and weaknesses, failures and accomplishments, mistakes and understandings, ego and spirit. I am extremely grateful to him for helping me experience what unconditional love actually feels like.

I’ve said many times that I want to ensure Michael’s life has meaning beyond his passing. When something tragic like this happens, the only way to make sense of it for those people it affected so deeply is to find some sort of meaning in it. Otherwise, the pain can be unbearable. In my opinion, the meaning behind it has to do with love.

What was the comment I made that spurred a conversation with this person? I said that Michael Jackson has the power to create a critical mass of people who could transform the world. That comment was in response to something I read in Marianne Williamson’s book, A Return to Love. She wrote, “When love reaches a critical mass, when enough people become miracle-minded, the world will experience a radical shift.”

Upon reflection, I can see how using the word power could be misconstrued. It not about power; it’s about influence. I watched a video clip in which Marianne talked about how social scientists have indicated it would only take 11% of people living from a vision of love to transform the world. That got me thinking…Michael Jackson’s influence was far-reaching because he touched millions of people and he had that vision of love.

Could it be that part of his purpose in living at that point in time was to help heal the world? His life has much to teach humanity about how to become better, and not just through his songs and videos. The way he was treated while he was living reveals a society that had lost its way, a society in which love was no longer important.

If even a fraction of the people whose lives he touched would unite and live from that vision of love, we could be the 11% transforming the world. Now that would give his life meaning beyond his passing.

For me, it’s not that I don’t acknowledge Michael Jackson had his faults. It’s that I don’t judge him negatively for them. It’s not about deifying him. It’s about loving him…unconditionally.

Linda Higgins
http://thejamcafe-mjtpmagazine.com/issue/occupy-michael-jackson/article/worshiping-michael-jackson

 

[HIStory]

So if anyone is less than perfect, but we focus on his good qualities - which far outweight the bad ones, then that's "worship"? Thing is no other celebrity has been attacked as malciously, as constantly by the media as Michael was. Forgive us if we are tired of focusing the malice against him. None of those things (stroking his ego, taking drugs etc.) make him evil. They just show he was human and vulnerable.

 

[LiberianGhost]

Thank u Linda, and all the other wonderful writers that leave their wise expressions and profound reflections concerning Michael. I often find myself hesitant to talk about him to some folk for the very reason that Linda cited...accusations of deifying him. I know that Michael was very much human, but still, there was something very special about him that the general public did not get. I feel that that is slowly changing since his passing, and in a good & special way :

 

[Dangerous21]

Wonderful article! I really related to the part about looking through the eyes of love. Beautiful!

I too am hesitant to talk about Michael at times but it's not always because of fear. It's also the fact that I love him so much and think he was such a special being that I can't just briefly speak of him to someone who doesn't "get it." It's that feeling of "where do I begin..." and that need to explain all his greatness at once. Sometimes there just isn't enough time to do it. And at other times, certain people make me feel like I have to explain the "why" to my feelings for him, and then I decide they aren't worth my time/effort.

Regardless, great article.

 

[HIStory]

Referencing the book The Michael Jackson Tapes, this person cited the author’s point of view that there were two sides to Michael: the man who was extremely talented, generous, loving and giving, and the superstar who “liked his ego stroked, spent too much money, was ruthless in business and took drugs to cover physical and emotional pain.”

There's a charming irony in it when morally corrupt people, like Rabbi Shmuley (or Diane Dimond, or Tom Sneddon or Ray Chandler and so on and on) accuse Michael of having a "dark side". And also there's irony in it when people refer to such sources in judging Michael. And I guess these critics are all perfect.

 

[Ben]

I dont think Michael had a "dark" side. He had a side he didnt show, like we all do. Any individual is very complex, and is multi faceted. Some of these facets we will never show to anyone. There are things about us even our closest ones will never know.
Loving someone doesnt mean being blind when it comes to their flaws, it means loving them with these flaws. I, personally, dont ignore these in Michael. There are many things he did I totally disagree with. But these flaws, or "disagreements" dont make him less special. Who focuses on the flaws of their loved ones anyway?
The fact is, despite these flaws, Michael still was more respectable and admirable, more an extraordinary role model, than anyone I know.

 

[thrillerchild]

Very good piece :yes:

 

[PoP]

Honestly I don't believe in worship. There is a difference between worship and love and I chose love. Because I don't like the idea of people saying I worship Michael and that it's unhealthy to worship a celebrity like Michael. I just don't like that, it's just insulting to me. I only love Michael. L-O-V-E is more important to me.

If people say I worship Michael and it's unhealthy, I just tell them shut the hell up, I don't believe in worship and that has nothing to do with my health. I love Michael and love is all I do.

 

[Holly Rock]

I was hurt when I was told that I was worshipping Michael. It made me feel ashamed of loving him. People who think we are worshipping Michael just don't get it and they won't get it until this level of grief visits their heart. I love Michael and I make no apologies for it. It's none of their business anyway.

 

[Victory22]

For me the reason I don’t dwell on Michael’s personal struggles is because the press and his critics bashed him to hell while he was alive and continue to do so in death. I don’t think he had a dark side he was simply HUMAN like the rest of us with flaws and weaknesses just like every body else. Many of the ones who accuse MJ’s fans of deifying him are the same ones who have gone out of their way to dehumanize and vilify him. I am beyond caring that some may think I worship MJ. If you attack him in my presence you are going to get blasted. I’m sickened by what was done to this beautiful, unique, extraordinary man!

 

[jaydom7]

For me the reason I don’t dwell on Michael’s personal struggles is because the press and his critics bashed him to hell while he was alive and continue to do so in death. I don’t think he had a dark side he was simply HUMAN like the rest of us with flaws and weaknesses just like every body else. Many of the ones who accuse MJ’s fans of deifying him are the same ones who have gone out of their way to dehumanize and vilify him. I am beyond caring that some may think I worship MJ. If you attack him in my presence you are going to get blasted. I’m sickened by what was done to this beautiful, unique, extraordinary man!

me too! and the part I am sad most about is that those who should've been close to him and those that should've been protecting him abandoned him.

 

[Bonnie Blue]

For me the reason I don’t dwell on Michael’s personal struggles is because the press and his critics bashed him to hell while he was alive and continue to do so in death. I don’t think he had a dark side he was simply HUMAN like the rest of us with flaws and weaknesses just like every body else. Many of the ones who accuse MJ’s fans of deifying him are the same ones who have gone out of their way to dehumanize and vilify him. I am beyond caring that some may think I worship MJ. If you attack him in my presence you are going to get blasted. I’m sickened by what was done to this beautiful, unique, extraordinary man!

Totally agree. I remember after 25 june, someone in the media like ddimond or maureen orth, was commenting disapprovingly on how they had watched some this is it footage and that all the dancers and crew were all in rapt attendance on mj watching his every move and paying huge respect to him. They were saying bitterly this admiration is what he was used to all his life. The complete fallacy of that viewpoint made my jaw drop - no one in modern times has been more crucified and demonised in the mass media. Yet that wasn't enough for these haters - they wanted the entire world to shun him, affording him no respect whatsoever. It really was pathalogical this need to destroy mj and they will do their best to defame mj fans and portray us as crazy, hence the term worshipping often being used.

 

[Arklove]

For me, it's not worship. Like Pop said, it's love.

Michael inspires me. I admire him deeply. He makes me want to become a better person. I think he was an incredible, unique, compassionate human being. Who wouldn't be inspired by that? We should all strive to be a little more like him, especially where love is concerned and the way he blanketed everything he did in love. THAT is inspiring.

For those who don't understand what Michael Jackson was really about, maybe they should focus on his above attributes instead of simplifying it all down to worship. Take a look at at those admirable qualities that Michael had that, no doubt, a lot of people wish they had.

 

[PoP]

For me, it's not worship. Like Pop said, it's love.

Michael inspires me. I admire him deeply. He makes me want to become a better person. I think he was an incredible, unique, compassionate human being. Who wouldn't be inspired by that? We should all strive to be a little more like him, especially where love is concerned and the way he blanketed everything he did in love. THAT is inspiring.

For those who don't understand what Michael Jackson was really about, maybe they should focus on his above attributes instead of simplifying it all down to worship. Take a look at at those admirable qualities that Michael had that, no doubt, a lot of people wish they had.

Very well said.

 

[CaptainEoLove85]

Wonderful article! I really related to the part about looking through the eyes of love. Beautiful!

I too am hesitant to talk about Michael at times but it's not always because of fear. It's also the fact that I love him so much and think he was such a special being that I can't just briefly speak of him to someone who doesn't "get it." It's that feeling of "where do I begin..." and that need to explain all his greatness at once. Sometimes there just isn't enough time to do it. And at other times, certain people make me feel like I have to explain the "why" to my feelings for him, and then I decide they aren't worth my time/effort.

Regardless, great article.

Yeah, I know what you mean. It's hard to explain why love him (it's hard to put into words), maybe because he loved everyone unconditionally. How can you not at least admire someone like that? I don't consider it worship, just values of his that are worth adopting for the betterment of humankind. You don't have to bow before him to do that and it doesn't mean that's what you're doing either. Good article.

 

[kissybissy]

It's true there are fans that worship their idol to the extreme to the point of seeing only the positive side of their personality. In Michael's case, maybe because he always conveyed the image of the generous, loving and giving person and managed to cover up the negative part of his personality the worship tend to happen a little more amongst MJ fans than for example amongst Madonna's fans who never really cared much about what ppl think about her. Everyone has a dark side, no matter who they are. Everyone. And I saw many fans defending Michael, finding excuses to deny what was evident, such as his dependence on pres drugs, which was later confirmed during the trial and by Dr. Shaffer in an interview for this forum. Another example is his marriage's break, where the blame is always put on Lisa's and Debbie's shoulders. Not every fan feel this way. I know there are many fan who enjoy his music and do not sanctify him.

 

[Victory22]

Well if people are expecting me to prove I don’t worship Michael by blaming him for his failed marriages and for becoming addicted to pain killers after suffering second and third degree burns to his scalp they can just call me a worshiper. I’m never going to criticize him that way because he made mistakes that cost him dearly like we all have. I love MJ mistakes, flaws and all and I’m not ashamed to say so.

 

[kissybissy]

It's not about blaming him for his broke up marriages, it's about blaming his ex-wives only when we do not know anything about his private life. Also it's not about stop liking him for his mistakes, it's about accepting him with flaws, instead of denying he has made mistakes.

 

[Victory22]

I said I love Michael Jackson flaws, mistakes and all but it’s true I can’t stand HIS EX-WIFE Lisa Marie and I’m not ashamed of that either. I respect Debbie. I just don’t think it’s necessary to point out every flaw and mistake about MJ on a fan message board. He was human and he's gone. I miss and love him too much to pick him apart in a negative way.

 

[PaceMioDolceCuore]

I think there are a lot people largely take great offense to his entire 'but he has his dark sides that we NEED to talk about in excess until our ears bleed collectively'.

Just the term 'dark side' is already quite offensive- because it's such relativism to what 'dark' could actually entail.

Yes, every being is made up different facets- but holy smokes, to refer to two divorces and whatever else may have been a sore spot in his life as 'acknowledging his dark side' is an insult.
Because it is an incredible insult to what 'dark' really means. The guy wrote himself sticky notes on violence not being acceptable EVER etc- I recommend checking out local courts if you wanna see someone's 'dark side'.
Some fans do take offense to such relativism because they of all people know what Michael accomplished.

It is not Michael's fault that people have this need to see everyone in the public eye either as faultless angel, or demon evil.

Of course there are those seem to hate everyone in his surroundings- but don't mistake the loudest haters as speaking for everyone. I don't hate xyz, nor do I have any need to portray him as infallible- I simply love him.

If I say that I love Michael- that is that. End of story. I don't 'love him with his faults and shiny aspects'- I love him, period. Going the roundabout way of "I love him as the faulty being that he is, just as I am" implies love on conditions, judgement and a whole lot else that is all sorts of things- but not love.

And maybe it is that attempt (and even actually lived and made true) at love in some that freaks out those that will want you to love on conditions. The famous "warts and all'.
And it is exactly that love that some have for Michael that freaks out those wish to label it 'worship' etc. So what- think outside the box.

Take Boteach for example who had the nerve to pervert this love for Michael and degrade him to his face by telling him that people only love him for his dance moves etc. Totally, I have nothing more in my brain and at the essence of my very being than to love someone for his sparkly socks. *sarcasm*
His gold pants are very nice (whom am I kidding??????). But that is not what keeps me here, years after his physical departure.
You FEEL Michael. And so you love Michael. End of story. And it is beautiful. And people who feel entitled to judge like that can go take a hike, the mountains will be cramped. I will laugh and fall asleep in the knowledge that that love can't be killed off by some insecure people shoving me his bathroom pictures into my face. Who cares? You love- you're rich beyond measure simply because you know better.

Other people's inability to either grasp or confirm does not change your experience of the reality of love.

So what, if it is an 'imperfect' Michael Jackson who pushed people to examine love and love tied to conditions- he spoke a lot about loving children unconditionally when he spoke about children. He said "I love you more" countless times. And what if he does help people to grow toward that universal love that he showed people every single time he said "I love you more'? What if this personal love that some see as 'worship' is the stepping stone toward that universal love? What could possibly be wrong with that?

If someone is holding you back from loving with 'all you've got'- that is their problem, NOT YOURS. If you love someone even once and don't have to tell yourself that it's quite alright to love ("despite their faults")- than you already shown something else. You can love. And that's a whole lot more love than those who want to caution you about your love... :doh: How scary must someone else's love be if someone else feels the need to tell you you shouldn't love so much, because it's 'worship'?

And what if it takes an 'imperfect being' to help countless people over that pitfall off "oh, I cannot possibly love an imperfect being so much". Yes, you can. And you should. You loved Michael and you'll do it again.
I think a big "thank you, Michael" is in order, not the reassurance that he isn't as 'perfect, as you think he is." His imperfection is not the point- the love is.

If thinking along those lines is 'wrong', than it shall be my ultimate pleasure in my existence to have loved- and to have been 'wrong'.

 

[kissybissy]

you may not agree with me, but the truth is there are healthy love and unhealthy love, those that are on the edge of being an obsession. Also, mistakes are not to be confused with the negative side of one's personality. When I was citing his marriages I didn't mean to include it as a negative part of his personality. It was just an example of how many fans rush to blame his ex-wives only, when no one knows anything about their private life. It's not about measuring one's love. It's about being able to see the good and bad side of their personality and acknowledge when they are wrong.

 

[HIStory]

Great post, Pace,MioDolceCuore!

I think when people say we "worship" MJ instead of loving him, that's a way to try to make us feel ashamed of our love for him. Because worship has a negative connotation to it. It's the same that the media did with LMP: try to make her feel ashamed of her love for Michael. She was weak enough to let that work on her and let other people tell her what is "normal" and what is "abnormal" to feel. Now she lives forever in regret.

Also the term "dark side" is indeed offensive and let's not forget Michael has been accused of evil things in his life so his fans might react to such terms defensively - understandably. For the last 20 years all we got in the media was talk about Michael's "dark side" (more often than not a made up "dark side"). This guy was publicly criticized, judged, dissected like no one else, so why do these critics expect us to keep on harping on his real or (very often) made up "dark side" forever? Why can't we give him a break and just love him without being accused of "worship"?
I don't consider his prescription drug use or failed marriages a "dark side". They are just human fallibilities and vulnerabilities that everybody has (if not these thing then something else).

 

[Victory22]

Great post, Pace,MioDolceCuore!

I think when people say we "worship" MJ instead of loving him, that's a way to try to make us feel ashamed of our love for him. Because worship has a negative connotation to it. It's the same that the media did with LMP: try to make her feel ashamed of her love for Michael. She was weak enough to let that work on her and let other people tell her what is "normal" and what is "abnormal" to feel. Now she lives forever in regret.

Also the term "dark side" is indeed offensive and let's not forget Michael has been accused of evil things in his life so his fans might react to such terms defensively - understandably. For the last 20 years all we got in the media was talk about Michael's "dark side" (more often than not a made up "dark side"). This guy was publicly criticized, judged, dissected like no one else, so why do these critics expect us to keep on harping on his real or (very often) made up "dark side" forever? Why can't we give him a break and just love him without being accused of "worship"?
I don't consider his prescription drug use or failed marriages a "dark side". They are just human fallibilities and vulnerabilities that everybody has (if not these thing then something else).

Very well said you expressed my sentiments exactly.

 

[Marissa87]

That was powerful, Pace,MioDolceCuore!

I agree with all who are saying it's about the Love. Plain and simple. I don't worship anyone, I'm not going to start with Michael.

Michael makes me want to be a better person. When I find myself acting too judgemental, quick to jump to conclusions or just flat out rude - I try and stop and think. I ask myself - why am I acting like this, is my behavior fair?
It's probably not all of us but for those of you like me, I have a hard time being the kind open hearted person I envision myself to be. But then I think of Michael and the person he was and the way he tried to bring people together in L.O.V.E. and I can calm myself. Take a breather and re-evaluate a situation with an open mind and heart.

I love him. And the people who knew him have said it best:

I loved Michael with all my soul and I can’t imagine life without him. I don’t think anyone knew how much we loved each other. The purest most giving love I’ve ever known. - Liz

And that, right there is the key to the 11% the author is talking about.

 

[Ashtanga]

I dont think Michael had a "dark" side. He had a side he didnt show, like we all do. Any individual is very complex, and is multi faceted. Some of these facets we will never show to anyone. There are things about us even our closest ones will never know.

:agree:

I love MJ mistakes, flaws and all and I’m not ashamed to say so.

Me too. :girl_sigh: :wub:

 

[Quench]

Totally agree. I remember after 25 june, someone in the media like ddimond or maureen orth, was commenting disapprovingly on how they had watched some this is it footage and that all the dancers and crew were all in rapt attendance on mj watching his every move and paying huge respect to him. They were saying bitterly this admiration is what he was used to all his life. The complete fallacy of that viewpoint made my jaw drop - no one in modern times has been more crucified and demonised in the mass media. Yet that wasn't enough for these haters - they wanted the entire world to shun him, affording him no respect whatsoever. It really was pathalogical this need to destroy mj and they will do their best to defame mj fans and portray us as crazy, hence the term worshipping often being used.

Either way that's stupid considering they're just admiring him as the King of the Dancefloor not the world or a country or something like that.

Personally MJ inspires me because of his talent and some elements of his personality. I love him because of the happiness his talents give me. He had his faults and they might be or look bigger because his life was bigger and more complex than the average person's. The issues he had are probably the same as the average person's in ratio to his life if you scale it to how much bigger his life was. Either way the eccentrics are also the geniuses. His faults were highlighted all his life so why dwell on it?

 

[Mister_Jay_Tee]

I don't worship MJ, and I hope no one else does.

 

[Agonum]

No worshipping here.

 

[4YOU]

I think it Is impossible not to love Michael after getting to know his person - through his art, interviews, spechoes and other sources available where you finally see how he really was and not a media created image. MJ was a rare person who was able to give people unconditional love. He was himself lacking love and his way attain it was giving it to others. Most people are able to give love to the closest - family, kids, etc. and even that not in all cases. Michael was able to stream love towards everybody, his talent gave him publicity and he was using it to heal others. that Is I think what many people feel and this is why they become so involved with his person. From outside, though for those who only know media image of MJ it seems like he is being worshipped.

 

[wendijane]

No. & even "oh he's an angel !" stuff i never got. Beloved i got, because his personality was one of a kind. He was a man , a very intelligent and beloved man who , through his artistry taught unconditional love and tried to bring about unity. And who is painfully missed. End of story.