Well -- What can i say that you haven't already said! It is true that as I watched the trial I would think ... get him ... and think ... poor Michael!

His music and legacy have left so much goodness in the world, but I must admit I do not know just how innocent of the charges he really is. It will be interesting to see the next lawsuit in his life unfold after his life has ended.

I don't really give a damn about MJ, having lived my life well separated from his drama and the world of which he was apparently "king." But still, I admire your thoughts, and the context from which they spring. Compassion and understanding are expensive qualities and, as William Blake wrote, "sold in the desolate market where none come to buy."

to see the world in a non-judgmental manner. There are the blogs screaming about how MJ wasted his life, how he was a perverted so-and-so, or how he was the next greatest thing to white bread (which he tried to resemble), but to see him through the lens of a compassionate adult who has shared a similarly abused childhood is helpful in cutting through the hullaballoo. Thanks.

How did he "try to resemble" white bread?

Are you aware, Anonymous, above, that Michael Jackson had a skin disease called vitiligo that kills the pigment in the skin - and THAT is what caused him to lose his skin coloring - NOT his "wanting to be white". Michael did NOT "want to be white" - but this disease had become so extensive that it was necessary to whiten what little dark skin was left on him so that his skin tone would appear even.

THAT, in turn, is what caused him to have to wear such heavy make-up and sunblocks, and to also use an umbrella to stay out of the sun, since his skin had no color in it anymore - no normal protection from sun like most of us have. Even minimal protection for a few minutes.

This was a DISEASE that Michael COULD NOT HELP and he dealt with it in the best way he could, being a very, very public figure.

IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS "WANTING TO BE WHITE" OR "TRYING TO RESEMBLE WHITE BREAD".

Jeeeze. CAN you possibly be more CRUEL? What is the matter with you?

TELL THE TRUTH.

HAVE RESPECT.

SHOW SOME COMPASSION.

And for GOD's sake, PLEASE find out the facts about the man before perpetuating the rediculous, vicious rumours about him.

ENOUGH!

Thank you.

Thank you so much for clarifying your stance. Life is complex so I see what you mean by not condoning his behavior while maintaining compassion for him. When I had read the first article on him I was a little hurt that you may be blind to his culpablity. It seemed like you were letting his personal responsiblity slide. You clearly and plainly teased out the truth. Thanks, again.

even if that person or persons is still alive i don't think we will ever know who abused mj during his childhood, but it is tempting to speculate about their gender, was mj forced to encounter this person repeatedly ie: a showbiz person. so many yesman on his payroll yet all of them either too greedy or too scared for their jobs to suggest therapy to him.

speaking of therapy during his second trial wasn't there a court appointed doc who meet with him (& his accuser) who said he had a mind of a ten year old (maybe when the abuse started?) yet didn't uncover the extent of his childhood abuse. good grief

Have you considered the possibility that Michael Jackson was framed by nefarious people who he naively trusted. There is a tape recorded phone conversation from the first accuser's father posted on youtube where he proclaims: "I will get everything I want, I will bring him down, he will not sell one more record." Jackson's insurance company paid the $20 million to the first accuser, Jackson had nothing to do with the payout.

The second accuser made a tape saying that nothing happened, then when the Bashir documentary came out they(the family) and the accuser changed their story. There were no corroborating witnesses. There are now books out on the court case, and how the media witch hunt proclaimed Michael's guilt by spinning the story. One book written since the trial is by Aphrodite Jones. Also, GQ had an article back in 1994, "Was Michael Jackson Framed?" by Mary Fischer. (it is online somewhere). It looks like he may well have been framed by these greedy people, he was too damn nice and trusted people he shouldn't have trusted. All information is available online on youtube, court documents, etc. Do some research. If he didn't do it isn't it time his name was cleared once and for all??