Michael Jackson. Say this name anywhere in the world and people know whom you are talking about. That says a lot.
Michael Jackson was pronounced dead at 50 years old on June 25, 2009 and his death has impacted people all around the globe including CSUN’s campus. Students share their initial reaction to the news and many were in disbelief and had to see it themselves for it to really sink in. And, for some it still has not.
Kinesiology major Dorian Dorsey explains how in his heart Michael is not dead and is still in shock. Benjamin Imanuel, accounting and finance major, said, “It actually brought a tear to my eye” as he heard the news. Imanuel who grew up in Iran said he remembers when ‘Thriller’ came out and still has all of Michael’s old music.
Jackson’s death has not just impacted the youth of today but people of all ages especially since Michael started at such a young age. Jermanie Rice who is majoring in nursing said, “My mom grew up loving him” adding “She had the jacket, pictures and everything” and said, “I know how his family feels for he was an icon to everybody.” Hope Harlow, communications major, said her aunt is a total fan who was hit hard with the death of Michael Jackson.
Some people are happy that the media has focused on Michael Jackson in a positive light. Andrew Collard, business marketing major, said he is glad to see how people have focused on how he has revolutionized music and his accomplishments including his impact on music and entertainment.
Michael’s music has set the tone for other artists and he has broken down barriers that were once up. Not only is he known for his music but his dancing abilities too. From the white gloves to the moonwalk, people will remember Michael Jackson, a music genius.
| Michael Jackson is truly the King of Pop. i am a die hard fan of him and we are going to miss him now that he is gone.
What I dont get is how come Michael Jackson is being idolised now that he is dead a few months ago the world couldnt wait to see him
hanged and burned at the stake. He was always the butt of the joke
in movies etc. Now that the man is dead everyone even the ones that
hated him are jumping on the band wagon oh Michael this Michael that I suggest the world lets him rest in peace he deserves it after all the bs the world put him through.
Armando Chavez, what part of the world were you living at when you said that Michael was mocked and hated by the world before he passed away? When you make such statement about what the ‘world feels’ for him, you have to back it up. Michael had an ARMY of loyal fans all over the world, and there were many people who deeply respected him for the positive things he had done outside the music entertainment. Unfortunately, the voice of those who mocked him and convicted him in public court of opinion had spoken louder than us. Negative stories sells. I am sure you know that.
Armando Chaves, I don’t know if you were a fan but it is a disservice to Michael’s legacy when you echoed the sentiment of those who don’t like him by asking the same question. How do you know how other countries feel for him before he passed away? Do you know how huge his fame was in Asia and parts of Europe and Middle East even when his star started to dim here in the U.S because of those unproven accusations? You’ll be amazed that there are countries that did not care about the controversial life of Michael. Michael was well known all over the world, and had armies of very loyal fans. People who asked the same question you posed on your comment could never understand the DEEP LOVE AND DEVOTION that many loyal fans all over the world had for him. They could never understand the respect he had received in other countries who do not care about the controversies here in the U.S.
You see, Michael Jackson was not just a well known international singer, but he was also a philanthropist and a humanitarian and that earned him a LOT of RESPECT in other countries. This was the man who was deeply involved in charities since the 80’s and early 2000’s, and did not do it for the media. This was the man who hold a Guinness Record for supporting the most charities by pop star. He also won many humanitarian awards, and the last one he won was a posthumous award granted by the Save The World. One of his songs, for instance, Earth Song became an anthem for Earth Day. You see, Michael was not only deeply concerned for the poor and the sick but also about protecting the environment and animals. Do you know that he was even nominated TWICE for Nobel Peace Prize? One in 1998 and another one in 2003? Since you only know him as a singer (it’s obvious as it shows on your post), perhaps starts researching all his charity works. Try going to jacksonaction.com, thesilencedtruth.com, and healtheworld.us. The last two websites I mentioned, you could even read his poetry and essays about his true feelings for the children of the world, about poverty, about God, etc.
Now, I ask you. If this was the man you said was the butt of joke and hated by the world, then, how can you explained that he won EIGHT GUINNESS RECORD IN ONE YEAR ALONE in 2008 and that’s after his child molestation trial??? This man had won over 10 Guinness Books of Records. I think it was 13 all in all since the ’80s, if I’m not mistaken. Oh, explain to me, please, why his “This Is It Tour” concert SOLD OUT in 2 hours and that happened before he died? Explain to me why his HIStory album became the most selling multi-disk album? Explain to me why his Blood On The Dance Floor cd was the best selling remix album? Explain to me why his Invincible album sold millions more than most current artists? What does it tell you? It should tell you that he still had very loyal fans all over the world who loved him and stood by him.
You know, Armando, I don’t love Michael just for his music but for his philanthropy. I love his compassionate heart more than his talents. Knowing this side of him, I could never make fun of his eccentricities because, once I understood his childhood and the kind of world he lived in, I actually see that he acted very normal on his response. He had problems, yes. However, I am not blind and not cynical to see the depth of his concerns and love for the causes he believed in. Cynical people would say that he just write checks for tax breaks, but if they had read his charity works they would see how very personally involved he was. How compelled he was to make a change in the world. I saw the goodness of his heart through his charity works, through his songs (i.e. Heal The World, Little Susie, Earth Song, etc), his essays and poetry, and his speeches (i.e. the 2001 Oxford). Do you know that when he founded his Heal The World Foundation in 1992, millions of aids had been sent to disadvantaged children and of children from war torn countries? This aid was not even counted on the $300 million charity he had contributed over his lifetime. You see, knowing all these many positive things he had done for years (that the media did not tell you) before he passed away,had helped me tremendously to believe that this man -Michael Jackson- could not and never a child molester. He made bad decisions, but not a child molester. Believing he was one, is too impossible for me to reconcile that it would be the same man who was too compelled to help. The same man I just described earlier.
Yes, there are people who jumped on the bandwagon when he passed away, and it is easy to speculate that this was the same people who bought his CD’s or downloaded his songs after he passed away. But, remember, Michael wouldn’t have had eight Guinness Records in 2008 and would not have had a sold out tickets for his concert if his star had dimmed. And lastly, remember this, Michael Jackson should not be just remembered for his music legacy but for his philanthropy.
Marianna, I agree with 99% of what you say here, just one thing – you say that “there are countries that did not care about the controversial life of Michael.” I would like to say that his loyal fans did care, but were certain that he was not capable of lots of things he was accused of.