I know a lot of people are hyping over the Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson demise... I'm not going to deny that I'm not really all bummed out over it but I am kind of suprised at how people are taking the news. Usually when someone passes on, people mourn his/her loss and rave about how wonderful the person truly was(forget the fact that these people were probably the person's biggest detractors of all!) but in the case of Michael Jackson, a lot of people seemed nonchalant, devastated or seemingly glad( which I have to say takes evil to a whole new level-he died people! A lot show of respect here!)
I was having a chat with my parents and to be frank I found it quite shocking really that both of them seemed to think that he had "wasted" his life or "thrown it away" as he seemed to have had all the talent in the world and yet lived an "unfulfilling life". Though I said nothing to dispute this fact, I had this tiny nagging voice in my head that kept wheedling, who are we to judge? This is a man who had been robbed of a childhood, thrust into the spotlight at a tender age, exploited for fame and money so to speak, endured child molestation charges, lived an eccentric and luxurious lifestyle, somehow managed to change the color of his skin, gone through so many plastic surgeries Elizabeth Taylor would be put to shame, opened his very own fairytale theme park which amazingly and horrifyingly was free, had two divorces and children by surrogacy and gone through bankcruptcy and finally an untimely death. Lets not forget the number of various illnesses he contracted through his numerous plastic surgeries and his addiction to prescription medication.
The man was often seen as an oddball. No one could fathom his moves, his thoughts or his actions. He had a strange and almost bizzare attachment to children which could be psychologically explained away with his own childhood. He endured severe physical, emotional and mental abuse from his father when he was young. I shall not go into the details as it is all merely hearsay and I have neither evidence nor fact to back this up. But from Michael's perspective, this trauma did him a lot of damage. His father's need for fame for the boys, the Jackson 5, was driven by barbaric and cruel acts of whipping, name-calling and beating. Michael was forced to abandon the joys of childhood and think of performing as a means of earning a life. He was robbed of the innocence that children possess and he was literally forced to grow up. Assuming responsibilities is not easy, but honestly, I do know the pain of growing up before your time. To be frank, I never really felt like much of a child. Forever having to be mature and grown-up, I can't really recall my childhood and I do know what it feels like to look back and wonder what it must have truly been like. And in my case, its so much less severe in comparison to Michael's but I suppose I can empathize to a certain extent. His fondness for children can almost be explained to the notions that speak of nothing but innocence.
Upon having to relinquish one's childhood, it becomes really endearing to have another child experience joy at our own expense. I love children and it gives me great joy in spending time with children. The innocence in their eyes and the way the look at you with unbiased, unfragmented love is something that cannot be attained elsewhere. No matter who or what a person is or claims, it is impossible that people will not judge. But when you look into the eyes of children that have not yet been tainted by social norms, expectations, pressure or life itself, you feel serenity and peace and love. That is what Michael felt and that is what he had hoped to feel which explains his profound doting on children. I am not trying to justify what could have happened or explain away what did, but this is a mere possibility that I feel deserves a fraction of our attention.
A lot of people call me naive or plain ignorant. May be I am. I'm not at liberty to deny anything but I would like to believe in the good of people. I believe that every human being deserves a chance as everybody has good in them. Situations and influences make people who they are but deep down, every person has some good in their souls. Of course, I'm not as ignorant as to say that a person is not responsible for his/her actions. They definitely are and in no way are they exempt from being held responsible for their wrongdoings in my eyes but I do feel and truly believe that people make mistakes and they make the most horrendous ones but that gives us no right to deem this person's soul as being forever unredeemable. Innocent until proven guitly seems to have lost its hold on people these days. Skepticim and cynicism in the name of reality and practicality have robbed us of our rights to looking at individuals without a strain of biasness or prejudice. What about heinous murderers, rapists and child abusers? I'm not stupid. My blood boils as much as the next person upon hearing such news but it does not mean that I would subject myself to judging these people. I don't know them and I would never say that these people were the offspring of Satan himself, but the work (or wrongs they have committed) are the work of evil itself. These people should be held responsible for their actions but it is never in our graces to deny the chance at repenting their sins. Who are we to look down on a person and deny them penitence?
Forgive me if I had offended anyone. I know that my words may be strongly disagreed by many and there will be many conflicts on my ideas and my beliefs.
But it is something within me that says that people are essentially good. Somewhere in them is a piece of untainted goodwill. Scoff all you like and shake your head in disbelief but one day when the time comes that you need someone to look your way with trust and confidence, I will be there. Not to remind you of this reproachful moment, but to tell you that I essentially believe you are indeed a good person.
