It is without question that Brother Michael Joseph Jackson will be larger in death than in his passing for he leaves behind a blood family and a family of humanity committed to his legacy and philosophy “We Are The World.”
We are the world and indeed we are the children as he and fellow collaborator Lionel Richie compelled us to pay the utmost attention to be problem solvers so that all God’s children may have sustenance and a better life.
For sure, Michael was and is a rich man and he made a lot of people and whole industries fortunes now and far into to the future.But is the measure of the man how many cash receipts or ratings he can claim or how many lives he touched; how many souls were moved by his extraordinary talent to give to the last of his human energy and then fall dead to this life.
His true treasure is the command and call that came to him in a song which would become an instrument to get many of like mind to sing for others succor and supper; to solve hunger…hunger for food and yes, hunger for righteousness.
“Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.”
Remember what Jesus said as we are tempted to more and more weigh in on his shortcomings as a flesh and blood human.“He who is without sin let him cast the first stone.”
The wise know we are Spirit first and foremost.
His was a gracious and calming Spirit…Just listen to his voice, even in anger.
As the right Reverend Al Sharpton said at MJ’s memorial service his life changed the trajectory of culture and open wide a door for throngs of the unaccepted and untouchable to be welcomed and copied by the world over.Reverend Sharpton said, “Thank you Michael Joseph Jackson for not giving up.”
The question is have we given up? Have we given in?
Have we done the most with our lives?Have we made a difference?Have we looked in the mirror lately; truly looked beyond primping?
Rest in peace Brother Michael. Emaciated some will say because they are tied to earth’s vision and man’s trappings.
Men and women of Spirit know assuredly Michael that you gave the last drop.
You answered the call…
“If you love me, feed my sheep.”He did that in music verse and execution.We will play your music long after and remember the time, when….
Thank you Brother Michael for the courage to be “the difference.”
What were we mad at Michael Jackson about? Too big, too bold, too artsy, too child hearted and too different, too free, with a deepening cross over appeal–black to white to brown to red to yellow; he could touch the hearts of the world’s children. A brown teen out of Gary, Indiana could do that.
Exciting and scary to some.
But, he was accused of ….? He was among the accused and that was enough and because of it many who were not his fans feared even more his status, appeal and daring to be really good, to be really great, and step beyond the pale, which he no doubt did.
“Man in the Mirror,” is a bold epitaph in this regard.
Suspicion and accusation took their toll on his career. So what about his health? A week after his death a video was released of MJ in fine form as he rehearsed on stage days before.
Apparently his conditioning was not a mystery to members of his crew…Dance, sing, dance; dance some more.
And…
What is becoming clear is Brother Michael dearly loved his children, his mother, the agency that represents his image, and that he had the utmost respect and trust for Diana Ross; this surmised from his Will.
I digress.
Michael’s concert came to Atlanta. “I took my daughter when she was a little girl, 12 years old. Tonight, at age 37, my daughter told me dad I am glad you took me. It was awesome. He died too soon,” she said.
For the score keepers…it’s reported in death he remains larger than life.
Brother Michael transitioned from the body, but not before leaving a catalogue of his own music scores, which anyway you cut it is resurrecting as a king’s ransom of love and fortune; which his business enterprise will know doubt continue to market and grow, as evident in this March 2010 report.
Brother Michael’s image is guided by the best in the music world.
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)
(Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah)
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)
I’m Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I’m Asking Him To Change His
Ways
(Change His Ways-Ooh!)
And No Message Could’ve
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 That . . .
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make That . . .)
Change!
I’m Starting With The Man In
The Mirror,
(Man In The Mirror-Oh
Yeah!)
I’m Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Better Change!)
No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make The Change)
(You Gotta Get It Right, While
You Got The Time)
(‘Cause When You Close Your
Heart)
You Can’t Close Your . . .Your
Mind!
(Then You Close Your . . .
Mind!)
That Man, That Man, That
Man, That Man
With That Man In The Mirror
(Man In The Mirror, Oh Yeah!)
That Man, That Man, That Man
I’m Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Better Change!)
You Know . . .That Man
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)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah
(Oh Yeah!)
Gonna Feel Real Good Now!
Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah!
Yeah Yeah!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah
(Ooooh . . .)
Oh No, No No . . .
I’m Gonna Make A Change
It’s Gonna Feel Real Good!
Come On!
(Change . . .)
Just Lift Yourself
You Know
You’ve Got To Stop It.
Yourself!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
I’ve Got To Make That Change,
Today!
Hoo!
(Man In The Mirror)
You Got To
You Got To Not Let Yourself . . .
Brother . . .
Hoo!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
You Know-I’ve Got To Get
That Man, That Man . . .
(Man In The Mirror)
You’ve Got To
You’ve Got To Move! Come
On! Come On!
You Got To . . .
Stand Up! Stand Up!
Stand Up!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Stand Up And Lift
Yourself, Now!
(Man In The Mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Aaow!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Gonna Make That Change . . .
Come On!
(Man In The Mirror)
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know . . .
(Change . . .)
Make That Change.
Olmstead 10th Anniversary Observance at the Georgia Capitol
Disability civil rights advocates were undaunted by Georgia’s blistering heat and an occasional shower that produced a sauna effect while they commemorated the 10th Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court Decision, Olmstead v. L.C. (Lois Curtis).
The Olmstead decision handed down in 1999 emphatically states that “unjustified institutional isolation of persons with disabilities is a form of discrimination.”
Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary, Health and Human Services (HHS)
In recognizing this key/landmark civil rights decision U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebilius joined President Obama in designating the 10th Anniversary as a “Year of Community Living.” Sebilius said, “I recognize that to put an end to injustice and carry the direction of the Olmstead decision into all programs of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), we create new partnerships.
And so today [June 22, 2009], we invite all of our public and private partners — other federal agencies, states, consumers, advocates, providers and others to join us in embracing the Supreme Court’s vision of equal opportunity and an end to unjustified institutionalization for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses and older Americans.”
One of two of the principals in the case Lois Curtis was on hand at the Atlanta celebration. Elaine Wilson, also a principal in the case is deceased. Curtis, now living in the community, expressed hope of getting married some day.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, left, greets U.S. President Barack Obama upon his arrival at Qubba
A New Beginning is how President Obama framed his much awaited speech to the Muslim world, given this 4th day of June 2009, in Cairo, Egypt.
In an hour long address Mr. Obama sought to challenge every Middle East player, past and present, to move forward on the notion of finding “common ground,” in pursuing God’s vision for peace between his children – the second great commandment, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Some called his speech “grand,” others “brilliant,” “powerful” and French President Nicolas Sarkozy termed it “remarkable,” yet it wasn’t a high wire act or out of reach and beyond understanding, but it was heartfelt and direct.
His words will no doubt have impact in a region far too long in turmoil.
President Obama’s words, poignant and poetic, are seeds and will take a measure of patients to open under the noon sun of reason.
This June day President Obama offered more than hope. He unequivocally provided the much needed light for a new beginning.
President Obama recieved High Law Honor and Rev. John Jenkins presented picture of Notre Dame President Emeritus Father Theodore Hesburgh and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (The Priest and The Minister) to the 2009 commencement speaker.
Exacting speech through example, metaphor and fair minded words is how President Barack Obama addressed the Notre Dame class of 2009 at its South Bend, Indiana storied campus.
Some will say the President ventured into the fire of doctrine to find common ground on the perplexing issue of a woman’s right to her body; an issue so perplexing and irreconcilable that people have maimed and killed in the name of deep moral conviction; a spiritual paradox made into caricature by some for political gain.
The President applauded the Notre Dame graduates for their maturity and appealed to the next generation to explore thought and to not be afraid to step into the flame of debate on moral, ethical, and scientific issues of our day, to seek understanding, to find that which is common in all of us; God’s love.
News J Review
