We will miss you Michael

[Barry]

Michael Jackson passed away today.

I was living in Guadeloupe at the time the this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtyJbIOZjS8

came out. I remember my surprise at how extraordinary the artistry and production was.

One of his songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En-cHBv7UpA
"Billy Jean", was recently redone by a rock star called Chris Cornell:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2MgwAJrfXo

Needless to say Michael's work will live on an on.

Thank you Lord for the gift of Music!
Barry

[Hence the speaker in the right hand of my avatar. Thanks Doug for doing the Avatar for me :) ]

[Me Again]

Michael is finally at peace. I don't think he ever knew peace while alive. His attempt at becoming white; the nagging accusation of being a pedophile; his love-hate relationship with the media; were all "crosses" that he bore while alive. Now he can know that love that his religion promised but never delivered. He can know God's love that is endless and without condition.

Though I liked him better when he was 5 (the Jackson 5 was the bomb), he is a music icon in this world of ours. None did it better than him, for sure.

[Barry]

Yes Ed!

Barry

[~Katherine]

He was such a wonder. I was sad to hear someone say "yay" that he's dead. Happily he's with God. That is a mercy.

[Laren]

"Man In The Mirror"

I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

As I, Turn Up The Collar On My
Favourite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street,
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See
Their Needs
A Summer's Disregard,
A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul
They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya' Know
'Cause They Got Nowhere
To Go
That's Why I Want You To
Know

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change)


I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish
Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not
Alone?

A Willow Deeply Scarred,
Somebody's Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream
(Washed-Out Dream)
They Follow The Pattern Of
The Wind, Ya' See
Cause They Got No Place
To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With
Me
(Starting With Me!)

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Ooh!)
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9lq8oaK5Mw

[Barry]

I've been looking at some of Michael's videos.
"Beat it":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqxo1SKB0z8
is a good example but there are others.

There seemed to be a underlining concept that Music could change the world.
It starts out with like "gangs" and such and in the end every one is dancing to the "beat" so to speak. It functioned as a "commonality" that they all related to and then desired to come in step with.

He also used his music to bring a message of change and hope.

If this was part of your thinking Michael great job!

Barry

[Amie]

Barry,

I wonder what change he was hoping for. I believe that he touched those children inappropriately. I also believed that he believed that he was not touching them in a sexual manner. I don't think that he saw his choices as harmful to them. AND, I don't hate him for being messed up. I hope that he has finally found comfort, and I hope that he finally came to terms with the man in the mirror.

Amie

[~Katherine]

I wonder what change he was hoping for. I believe that he touched those children inappropriately. I also believed that he believed that he was not touching them in a sexual manner. I don't think that he saw his choices as harmful to them. AND, I don't hate him for being messed up. I hope that he has finally found comfort, and I hope that he finally came to terms with the man in the mirror.

If there's no comfort or hope for Michael there's none for any of us.