Michael Jackson

[CJ]

Hi all,

Yes, Andrea has a point; we all got sidetracked here. Is Michael Jackson, through the manipulation (surgical or otherwise) of his appearance, attempting to somehow "transcend" certain categories by which we human beings define ourselves? Yes, I think he's trying to do just that. Yet, however much he thinks "it don't matter if you're black or white" (or, by extension, a man or a woman, or rich or poor), the sad truth is, in this world, "it do matter." In this world, people judge books by their covers. In this world, clothes make the man. I give full points to Mr. Jackson for trying to "flesh out" his idealistic view of life by using the raw material that is his own body. However, and even though I'm both an idealist, myself, and a person who occasionally "switches" gender, his path is not for me. Being a "generic human," a "citizen of the cosmos," is something I'd rather achieve (or, at the very least, strive to become) through my attitudes toward myself, toward others, and toward life in general, rather than through the cosmetic modification of my skin and bones (note that wanting to be a "generic human" is vastly different from wanting to be a man or a woman).

In his quest to demarcate, nay, to physically alienate, himself from the greatest possible number of people, Jacko has become a real "Nowhere Man" (and I guess that's sort of appropriate for a resident of "Neverland").

Love,
CJ

[Alexandra]

Jackson botched a real opportunity for progress in the gender bending acceptance catagory in our society. Such a powerful and influencal person could have helped unite our society into becoming gender/race color blind. Instead, with his choices, he became a public spectacle -- a car wreck we just can't help looking at.

However, by being on the front page, his being made an example of DOES benefit children being abused. You can't buy this kind of public awareness of the problem.

[Loretta Ann]

There is a price to pay for someone who is high profile, not only being respectful, but appearing that way also, and it appears that Michael Jackson has, in the past and is now about to pay his dues for not recognizing that.

When one leads a life like he has chosen to, they will know who the vultures are in this un-fair world in which we live. It appears he is about to experience a bit of reality, that money does not have the power change.

Love Darlene.

[Beauty]

I do want him to go to be labeled legally as a sex offender, but not at the risk of nuking the judicial system. My heart totally agrees with Darlene. My hope that justice in the legal sense still resides on the side of the defense. The woman they are using a the plaintiff is really out there. Like psycho'ish out there. Her on the stand just nuked the case. Jurors were said to be shaking their heads and rolling their eyes in disbelief over the things she'd said. During her testimony one reporter wrote that it got so bad he could tell no one in the courtroom believed anything she was saying. He said he saw the DA with his head in his hands at one point. Those are all really good signs for the defense.

I will tell you one thing. My understanding of the DA taking desperate measures to bring him in, that I once hated him for have changed. I can understand this man cares for children and he did a television detective thing to get him arrested and media attention around him being a sex offender. Legally he abused his power, but he also helped the world. If it weren't for this I'd never have thought again about that case. Now I "believe" that he's guilty. It was so hard to believe he would ever to that to a child because of how awesome of an artist he is. Now I believe that what I once thought were ignorant actions by a man who didn't understand about sex, I now believe were ideas that were a perversion.

I kind of am not saying anything in that last paragraph, but the truth of the matter is I don't know. I believe he is guilty, but I'll find out when I make it to the after life for sure.

I'm glad the case happened. The DA saved a lot of children from being put in situations that could have compromised them.

Beauty

[Lorna]

No matter what the outcome, no matter what the verdict, his career is as good as OVER.

Even if by some major miracle he is proven to be innocent, no one will listen to his music ever again without thinking "CHILD MOLESTER".

As a celebrity, you only have to be accused of something in order to be branded for life, even if you're innocent.