<p>Based only on the interaction between the kids and the Jackson family during the televised memorial, the kids seemed to look for comfort from Janet and Grandma. Hopefully, these 2 women will step in and protect the children. </p>
<p>On a side note: 11 year old Paris seems to be trying very hard to comfort her siblings. That’s quite a burden for a little girl to carry.</p>
<p>I wonder if 11-year-old Paris has had to be the surrogate mom for her siblings and her father. She may have been the Wendy to the brood. Sad.</p>
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<p>I haven’t read or heard anything, but I would suspect there was a contingent of nannies caring for the kids.</p>
<p>I can’t believe these comments. Michael Jackson deserves a national holiday (maybe a world holiday considering he was a global brand that touched everyone). You did not have to like his music to appreciate his amazing talents. He made the impossible seem natural to him. He even stated he had role models (who doesn’t?) and he perfected those skills to the next level. The moment you heard his voice, you instantly knew it was him. </p>
<p>**Many artists have sampled his works and even sought his advice because he was truly a genius. **Only TWO GROUPS sold more records than him (The Beatles and Elvis Presley). He’s even in the Guinness Book of World Records for his humanitarian efforts (did you know he donated a lot of his money towards college scholarships??) </p>
<p>Michael Jackson never went to college, but he made sure other African Americans could have access to higher education. </p>
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<p>Then he went out of his way to visit impoverished children, attend fundraisers, help victims from severe floods, etc. I don’t even think half of current artists today are as involved as Michael Jackson. He was not a selfish person; he was truly a gifted and special person.</p>
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<p>He wasn’t a monster the media and those crooked families falsely claimed him to be; he was a kind, gentle soul who loved his work and was always concerned about the welfare of others. Wicked people took advantage of his gentleness because they thought they could get rich easily. He never believed he was perfect, in fact NO ONE is perfect. All this hatred towards him needs to stop.</p>
<p>No doubt MJ was a great performer. However, he was also quite eccentric, to say the least. In addition to his charitable endeavors, he also made some “private donations” which didn’t help his image.</p>
<p>The sad part is the world appreciates him better than those in the United States.</p>
<p>The list posted by tenisghs included a few donated jackets and some hand painted plates but neglected the $150,000 to Baba an African Voodoo priest to slaughter cows in order to put a curse on Steven Spielberg and David Geffen. (see Vanity Fair)
Tensisghs–we dont HATE him, we just don’t understand the worship of him. A national holiday? wuh?</p>
<p>^ I take that back. I just re read the Vanity Fair article.
I do hate him.</p>
<p>food for thought:
[A</a> Life Lost Out of the Spotlight - CBS Sunday Morning - CBS News](<a href=“http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/12/sunday/main5153229.shtml?tag=cbsnewsLeadStoriesAreaMain;cbsnewsLeadStoriesHeadlines]A”>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/12/sunday/main5153229.shtml?tag=cbsnewsLeadStoriesAreaMain;cbsnewsLeadStoriesHeadlines)</p>
<p>play the video—it’s worth watching</p>
<p>“I can’t believe these comments. Michael Jackson deserves a national holiday (maybe a world holiday considering he was a global brand that touched everyone)”</p>
<p>???He was a great performer and sold a lot of records. I don’t think those accomplishments were at all equivalent to, for instance, Martin Luther King, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln or to the many military veterans who fought in our wars.</p>
<p>What’s next? A national holiday for Elvis Presley or Duke Ellington?</p>
<p>I think MJ deserves all possible credit for his musical and performance achievements. For those things, he deserves honor. </p>
<p>But he is not a great humanitarian in my book, nor is he the African-American icon of civil rights that Al Sharpton implied at the memorial. Yes, he broke color barriers in music and to some degree this had an effect on people’s perceptions and acceptance of African-Americans. Yes, he gave scholarships, etc- but I doubt his charitable contributions were more significant than those of any other celebrity of his stature. What % did Elvis or the Beatles or Sinatra give to charity as compared to MJ? </p>
<p>Excessive plastic surgery, general weirdness, drug abuse and turning white are not exactly the finest examples of the African American spirit in the US. And inviting sick children to your home under the guise of granting their last wishes just rings hollow in the humanitarian dept. in the light of accusations against him.</p>
<p>"Michael Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, is lining up the King of Pop’s children for a world tour as The Jackson Three — despite family members accusing him of trying to “exploit them like Jacko.”</p>
<p>Former Jackson Five manager Joe is said to have approached Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year old Prince Michael II — known as Blanket — to hit the stage next year.</p>
<p>But one of Jacko’s familymembers is said to be “livid” at the scheme, which will add fuel to the bitter custody battle for the youngsters."</p>
<p>[Joe</a> Jackson Wants Michael’s Kids to Tour as ‘Jackson 3’ - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment - FOXNews.com](<a href=“http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,531940,00.html?mrp]Joe”>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,531940,00.html?mrp)</p>
<p>Joe Jackson is a horrible person who apparently doesn’t learn from his mistakes.</p>
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<p>Oh, right. Someone who created a huge charitable organization and donated millions to underprivileged children and supported countless causes around the world wasn’t a “great” humanitarian. Honestly. You don’t like him, fine. But why deny his charity work? That’s just wrong.</p>
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<p>Doubtful. The kids had a nanny.</p>
<p>I don’t deny that MJ gave money to charities. Yes, he did. I question whether the amount he gave throughout his life is sufficient to warrant a label of “great” humanitarian.</p>
<p>^^ According to the Guiness Book of Words, he deserves the label.</p>
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<p>Michael Jackson was all about world unity. You may think “he just gave money away” but people around the world were able to use his money to help their causes and crises. Remember, he didn’t have to give his money away. So many people (especially in the United States) misunderstood him because of false allegations. He deserves every bit a national (and international) honor for his accomplishments.</p>
<p>Seriously, what have YOU done to help the world???</p>
<p>Here’s more information about Jackson’s Heal the World Foundation when it was still in existence: [Jackson’s</a> foundation now virtually defunct - Michael Jackson Trial- msnbc.com](<a href=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4601265]Jackson’s”>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4601265)</p>
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<p>Although Heal the World is no longer in existence, it has a symbolic meaning. Michael Jackson made it possible for other artists to support humanitarian causes and establish their own foundations. Many artists today participate in community service and reach out to their own communities.</p>
<p>You can do amazing charitable things and still do other really awful things. They don’t cancel each other out. I think that MJ was probably exposed to some very unhealthy sexual situations early on in his life and was also probably molested. He saw his older brothers take full advantage of the groupies and he saw his father cheat relentlessly and flagrantly on his beloved mother. I think given the abuse and dysfunction and unhealthy nature of his childhood it’s actually surprising things didn’t turn out even worse for him.</p>
<p>I think things did turn out really badly for him. Much of his life seemed to be truly tortured. I wonder if he was ever really happy. He appeared to be the emotional equivalent of a 10 year old. He didn’t have close friends who were of much use to him. I wouldn’t wish his life on anyone.</p>
<p>Wow. The man is dead. Can’t we just let it go? Agree to disagree. Let’s not go back and tear apart every aspect of his life -good or bad. I’m glad I’m not famous. How many of us would like to have our life torn apart and dissected like this?</p>