HEAL THE WORLD…an immersion into INNOCENCE

“Straightaway the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God.”

Johannes BrahmsHEAL THE WORLD PERFORMANCE TWO

“The music of this opera (Madame Butterfly) was dictated to me by God.  I was merely instrumental in putting it on paper and communicating to the public.”

Giancomo Puccini

The material itself dictates how it should be written.”ANIMAL LOVER

William Faulkner

“I hate to say it, but it’s true, it’s like all songwriters say, it’s true, it’s like you don’t write  the song, the song writes itself, it just kind of falls into your lap and you say, ‘Gee, did I do this?’…it’s that sort of thing.”

Michael Jackson MTV Interview 1999

“WHEN I CREATE MY MUSIC, I FEEL LIKE AN INSTRUMENT OF NATURE.”

Michael Jackson

When composing world anthems, Michael Jackson shared a sense of wonder and divine spirit, woven together with cathartic and therapeutic sustained creativity.  During an interview with Molly Meldrum in 1987, Michael talked about how most of his dreams humanitarian like no otherseemed to come true, and how very thankful he was for that.  However, dreams demand our faith in them…coupling divinity both within and without, and while Michael’s kindness of spirit drove humanitarian themes, he both believed in and lived out “WORDS MUST MOVE  INTO ACTIONS”.  Michael wanted his anthems to have thechildrenn in russia melodic simplicity where a child of 5 years old could sing them and like them, but also embrace the opportunity to light the fuse for collective actions…leading to change.  What Michael SAW in the world, others merely LOOKED at.  Attuned to the language of innocence and nature, Michael’s compositions created an interconnected culture of change-seekers.  Some have said that our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments (Joseph Addison)…if that be true, Michael was truly Seneca’s view of a great man struggling against adversity.  I often read articles describing Michael’s life as tragic.  Instead, I seeHUMANITARIAN FOUR Michael’s genius working tirelessly, chosen for a higher purpose while being challenged and threatened.  God spoke to Michael in the language of music and dance, and Michael understood.  His happiness came from devotion to a purpose.  Optimism was a trained response, having an inner life reflecting his world vision and setting his imagination in motion, leading to a nurturing of dreams on behalf of the children.  He personified the change he offered in his music.  In my lifetime, I have never before met anyone who so completely WALKED THE TALK.

“When you come right down to it, survival means seeing things the way they SUPER BOWL FIVEreally are and responding.  It means being open.  And that’s what innocence is.  It’s simple and trusting like a child, not judgmental and committed to one narrow point of view.  If you are locked into a pattern of thinking and responding, your creativity gets blocked.  You miss the freshness and magic of the moment.  Learn to be innocent again, and that freshness never fades.”

Michael Jackson DANCING THE DREAM

Jean Sibelius captured wisdom when stating, “Remember, a statue has never been set up in honor of a critic.”  Cynicism seeks to destroy whatever it is incapable of understanding.  Take that a step further, locked in a pattern of thinking and responding, mass media judged HEAL THE WORLD to be “sticky sweet and banal…middle-class soft.”  New York Times.  Whether incapable or calculating, the layers of meaning woven into the tapestry of HEAL THE WORLD met with tabloid cut and paste routine…non-thinking at its finest.

“Beauty is truth, truth beauty.”INJURED

John Keats

Classic in every sense of the word, Michael ‘s HEAL THE WORLD never finishes what it has to say.  “…for Jackson the point of a humanitarian anthem was pretty straightforward.  He wanted a song with a simple message and a simple melody:  something the whole world could sing, regardless of language, race, or culture, in particular, he wanted children to enjoy and benefit from it.  HEAL THE WORLD was the vehicle for these social aims.”  Joseph Vogel

“When an audience lights candles and sways to HEAL THE WORLD,  a space is created where nobody is unholy, no religion can exercise its imaginary exclusive patent be still my heart again fouron the true God.  To the extent that Michael inspired such a feeling, he healed his own demons, and ours, if only for an hour.”

Deepak Chopra

The fatality for prejudice is travel.  HEAL THE WORLD  touched lives across the entire planet as Michael performed it on every continent.  During Michael’s performance in the Rose Bowl for  Super Bowl XXVII in 1993, an entire stadium joined in celebrating its message while displaying L.A. children’s drawings in huge card sections.  Michael deeply felt a parent’s love and a parent’s responsibility for every child in the world.  His persistence and determination guided masses of people with an omnipotence.  “He was highly intuitive and sensitive to the human condition.  He tried with all his power to convey through his work what needed to be changed, and if he could not identify the answers right away, he would not stop until he found them.”  Donna Massa-Chappee

Achieving an innocence of lyrics and melody which, when looking beneath, convey complexities leading to a greater knowledge, a greater truth.  “When I create my music, I feel I am an instrument of nature.”  Michael Jackson  HEAL THE WORLD greetingspollenates the flowers within, and, although the media poisonous “insecticide”  sought to destroy it, its beautiful bounty can be seen all around the world.

Michael’s performance art and theatre for HEAL THE WORLD  included a global representation…children of all ages, colors and cultures onstage, joining in unison and harmonies with audiences holding candles…light reflecting off tear-stained, smiling faces.  The DANGEROUS WORLD TOUR represented HEAL THE WORLD’S essence giving Michael an opportunity to earn $100,000,000 for charities including his newly founded HEAL THE WORLD FOUNDATION.

The complexities of HEAL THE WORLD are revealed to those who chose to find them.  It is an anthem we happily join in singing, a message to which we devotedly give our attention, visuals that inspire us to PAY MICHAEL FORWARD in deed.  Embedded in htw twelveits genius is Michael’s light, showing the way to innocence.

HEAL THE WORLD

MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE

FOR YOU AND FOR ME AND THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE

THERE ARE PEOPLE DYING

IF WE CARE ENOUGH FOR THE LIVING

MAKE A BETTER PLACE

FOR YOU AND FOR ME.super bowl three

“With just a little love and a little caring, I have seen kids totally turn around, where you can’t find any cancer at all anymore in their body.  We should just give a little more attention to the power of love and caring and faith and prayer.”

Michael Jackson

“In Michael Jackson’s poetry, we can see his usage of the word ‘children’ as both a direct reference to children, and a metaphor for our inner child.  Much has been said about Michael  Jackson, his relationship with the inner child, and the purity of the children twentysevenmessage he was bringing through his work.  We have touched on the hero’s journey and the American Dream.”

Michael Jackson MAN BEHIND THE MIRROR

Raamayan Ananda

Michael’s  creation of HEAL THE WORLD has seen grand triumphs.  People all over the world join in singing it, all the while embracing their inner child.  Children perform it the very way Michael imagined it to be sung.  A beautiful thought found words, created from Michael’s soul, mediating its music spiritually and sensually…never to be forgotten.  MAKE A LITTLE SPACE TO MAKE A BETTER PLACE…HEAL THE WORLD.healing the world for children two

I love you, Michael.  THANK YOU!

I love you all.

Jude

With love, for Samuel

 

 

 

PROBLEMS ARE MESSAGES

“HEAL THE WORLD is one of my favorites of anything that I have recorded because it is a public awareness song.  It is something that I think will live in the hearts of people for a long time.”FEELING

Michael Jackson

“To whatever degree you listen and follow your intuition, you become a creative channel for the higher power of the universe.”

Shakti Gawainstunning six

Allowing creativity to reveal our humanity, setting in motion dreams that envision a better world, leads to immortality.  The clearer the passion, the better our connections to one another.  Learning to see connectedness offers us a healing force that is shaped and fashioned by love.  It is how we use our lives that determines who we are.  We who PAY MICHAEL FORWARD passionately take to our hearts Theodore Roethke’s words, “What we need is more people who specialize in the impossible.”  The history of Michael Jackson’s humanitarian work around the globe magically reveals the art of BOWHITEmaking dreams come true.  The foundation of courage, drawn from wanting something so badly you achieve it, sustains us.  Michael drew on a higher power, dreaming and fantasizing idea into truth…being shaped and fashioned by what he loved.  We attempt to do the same. It is when we take pleasure from the commitment that the true gift is revealed, becoming as little children in our glee.  And, although the will that guides us may be shaken from time to time, we are determined enthusiastically.  Michael asked us to be responsible caretakers of our natural world…and so, some of us put our energies into environmental projects.  He asked us to heighten our sensitivity toward mankind.  And, he pleaded for the lives of all the children around the world.  Because our love for him has nothing to do with idol-worship and everything to do with a deep and well-earned loyalty, we are activists to protect  Michael’s life, legacy and I LOVE YOUchildren.  Each of us brings our unique gifts and talents, offering diversity and innovation.  Many talented writers use words to inspire.  In her efforts to educate future generations, Brenda Jenkyns has written a beautiful story called FOREVER LOVED.  Illustrated by Kathy Garren, the story gently and lovingly paints a stunning picture of Michael’s ascension.

“Suddenly he realized what Jesus was saying.  Come home with him, to heaven, and rest.  Oh, how wonderful that sounded.  To always feel the complete love and  joy he felt now. brenda jenkyns

I have a surprise for you, Michael, I know your fondest wish is to help ALL children to enjoy their childhood and allow the wisdom of childhood to heal the conflict in the world.  What if I told you, that by coming home with me now, you will make an impact on the world that you could never imagine.  People everywhere will feel the love that flows from you, entering their hearts to awaken them to their part to play in the healing of the world.”heaven four

“HEAL THE WORLD organization is formulated to heal, really, be it the children, the ecology, people in general, and it’s a non-profit organization and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do; it’s what inspired the song, HEAL THE WORLD.  Our goal is to change the world and change world consciousness about children, the ecology and the planet, to make it a better place for everybody starting with the children.  That’s the future we live and I will stick with it forever until it’s done.  It’s forever.  It’s not a publicity stunt, it’s not something trying to use a vehicle to launch a single or an album.  It’s something that’s directly from my heart.  I’m doing it as I sincerely care and love them and want to help out.  I really feel bad for these kids.  I guess you feel the pain just hearing about the things we see on television or hear about on the radio, you know, the statistics about kids, I mean, I’ve heard this year 2.6 million children die from preventable diseases and millions of children die from child abuse, just violence that doesn’t have to be…and, I just feel so bad about things like that.  You know, sometimes I feel so guilty when I haveHEAL THE WORLD FIVE dinner or breakfast because I realize how  so many people don’t have those simple things that we so much take for granted.  And people, they sit at the table and they pray and all that, which is beautiful, but, to do something is the thing, you know, you have to act.  It’s important to  help out as much as you can.  IF ONE PERSON JUST HELPED ONE CHILD, JUST HELPED ONE CHILD, THEY’VE DONE SO MUCH.  You can do that.  It would be beautiful, just to help one person would be a lot.  It’s a big step forward because there’s a lot to be done.  Children all over the world are in such need.  I feel so pure when I can do this.  I feel God applauding, I really do.  I feel that I’ve done what I’mHTW EIGHTsupposed to do, and, I’m compelled to do these things.  I feel it.  Kids are the best.  They are wonderful.”  Michael Jackson 1992

HEAL THE WORLD FOUNDATION

THREE MAIN GOALS

1.  TO MAKE THE SAFETY, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN THE dangerous twenty fiveWORLD’S HIGHEST PRIORITY.

2.  TO BE THE VOICE OF THE VOICELESS BY FOCUSING WORLD-WIDE ATTENTION ON THE NEEDS AND RIGHTS OF ALL CHILDREN AND BY PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH A FORUM TO EXPRESS THEIR UNIQUE VISION FOR THE HEALING OF THE WORLD.

3.  TO HELP CREATE A WORLD WHERE CHILDREN WILL LIVE WITHOUT VIOLENCE, WHERE CHILDREN WILL BE FREE OF DISEASE AND HAVE HEALTHY LIVES, AND WHERE EACH GENERATION WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW INTO FULLY PARTICIPATING MEMBERS OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY.

“I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS TOUR BECAUSE IT WILL ALLOW ME TO DEVOTE TIME TO VISITING CHILDREN ALL AROUND THE WORLD, AS WELL ASchildren thirty three TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF GLOBAL LOVE, IN HOPES THAT OTHERS, TOO, WILL BE MOVED TO DO THEIR SHARE TO HEAL THE WORLD.  THANK YOU FOR COMING…I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.  THANK YOU ALL.

Michael Jackson February 3, 1992true beauty

We, in the Michael Jackson Community of Love, have been profoundly moved…moved to continue Michael’s tireless efforts, moved to offer our talents and gifts and energies, attempting to do our share to heal this world.  Michael Jackson’s ability to turn problems into message and message into action, INSPIRES ACTION.  Loyalty to his legacy propels Fans to co-create a future where every person, every child, every animal is blessed with their divine birthright.  We endure with right attitude, following our intuition toward creatively channeling Michael Jackson’s LOVE.performance eight

I love you,

Jude

HIS tory

MYstory

YOURstory

OURstory

 

 

 

EMPOWERED BY MICHAEL JACKSON

“IT HAS BEEN MY PASSION FOR A LONG, LONG TIME TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD.”  Michael Jacksonhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu2pADzptiMheaven two

I am honored to devote this article to a project that has deeply touched my heart…  HEAL YOUR WORLD BOOK FOR CHILDREN…Artwork and Wisdom from Children created by Heaven Leigh.  To really grasp the enormity of this upcoming creation, I want to revisit Michael Jackson Truisms.  Michael placed teachable moments everywhere in his artistry.  Channeling the music of the spheres into twirling energy, luscious sound, and magical language, he has empowered a global humanitarian surge of ceaseless ripples emanating from diverse souls.  Traversing flames of abuse which touched on every aspect of human injustice, Michael reached inside the hearts of masses of people depositing seeds that continue to germinate. The fires of injustice, greed, in love threejealousy and racism illuminate the man’s character, burning  a bond so strong that Fans actively search to continue his message almost five years after his passing.  So, what truisms are honored in Heaven’s upcoming book?  As always, I turn to Michael for the answer, saying, “What would Michael do?”

“Our children are the most beautiful, most sweet, most treasured of our creations.  And yet, every minute at least 28 children die.  Today our children are at risk of being killed by diseases and by the violence of war, guns, abuse and neglect.  Children have few rights and no one to speak for them.  They have no voice in our world.  God and nature have blessed me with a voice.  Now I want to use it to help children speak for themselves.  I have founded the Heal the World Foundation to be the voice of the voiceless:  the children.”  Michael Jackson June 23, 1992children at neverland

HEAL THE WORLD

The Foundation has three main goals:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC49th-Jf0s

1. To make the safety, health and development of children the world’s highest priority.

2. To be the voice of the voiceless by focusing worldwide attention on the needs and rights of all children and by providing children with a forum to express their unique vision for healing the world.

3.To help create a world where children will live without violence, where children will be free of disease and have healthy lives, and where each generation will have the opportunity to grow into fully participating members of the world community.

November 30, 2000you are my life

G&P Foundation Award for work fighting cancer

“I’m honored, Mr. President Clinton, to receive this award in your presence and I thank you for the years of dedication and service you’ve rendered to the American people, you’ve been an incredible President and I love you.  Cancer is the number one killer of children and it is only when we join together on evenings like this, that we can summon the courage and determination to stop it from ever robbing another child of the precious gift of life, or a parent of the joy of watching their child grow.”  Michael Jacksonhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPoVq7ruRQ

Washington, D.C. RFK Stadium Sold-out Eight Hour Marathon for “WHAT MORE CAN I GIVE” October 21, 2001 (a month after 9/11…proceeds to go to the victims of 9/11)estow

“Join hands and reach to the heavens…don’t do it because I’m asking you to, do it because it’s the right thing to do.  Now I ask you for a moment of love and silence…And tonight we all stand united and ask WHAT MORE CAN I GIVE? and when we leave here tonight let us take this love and give it to all the people everywhere in every corner of the Earth…To the families of the victims of September 11th that are here with us tonight, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.  You are in our hearts, you are in our thoughts and you are in our prayers.”

CHILDREN

DANCING THE DREAMhug

“What we need to learn from children isn’t childish.  Being with them connects us to the deep wisdom of life, which is ever present and only asks to be lived.  Now, when the world is so confused and its problems so complicated, I feel we need our children more than ever.  Their natural wisdom points the way to solutions that lie waiting to be recognized within our own hearts.”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuDsmqEp5GE

WISE LITTLE GIRL

DANCING THE DREAMbaby girl

“She took my heart in her hands and made it weightless as a cotton puff, so that it was impossible for me to even begin to think…WHAT A TERRIBLE THING.  All I saw was light and love.  In their innocence, very young children know themselves to be light and love.  If we will allow them, they can teach us to see ourselves the same way.”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRzBgFg76fI

INNOCENCE

DANCING THE DREAMkellie

“When you get right down to it, survival means seeing things the way they really are and responding.  It means being open.  And that’s what innocence is.  It’s simple and trusting like a child, not judgmental and committed to one narrow point of view.  If you are locked into a pattern of thinking and responding, your creativity gets blocked.  You miss the freshness and magic of the moment.  Learn to be innocent again, and that freshness never fades.”

As J.K. Rowlings said in Harry Potter, “It is not our abilities that show us who we truly are, but it’s our choices.”  Michael Jackson had unparalleled abilities and talents…gifts he freely shared and continues to share.  Greatness is measured by what we create and who we include…Michael created every minute he walked the planet and, everyone on earth was and is included.BE STILL MY HEART

Heaven Leigh’s choices for this new project reflect all of the Michael Truisms mentioned here.  Of course, I could continue to write from Michael’s life for his teachings are unending, putting language to every human condition in need of help.  Instead, I want to shine a light on the purposes for HEAL YOUR WORLD FOR CHILDREN.  This is an opportunity for children to have that voice Michael spoke about…a chance to reach out to all the children around the world, sharing pictures and words that give their wisdom when searching for peace, harmony and love.  It is an opportunity to donate to WORLD CHILD CANCER CHARITY helping children have a better life with their cancer.  It is a project that empowers children as they offer us their wisdom… informing a better world.  And, it gives adults hope in an effort to rediscover their own childhood.  Michael said he wanted to help adults rediscover the child hiding in them…any adult that is open to that idea will find energy for it here.bubbles two

David Nordahl, the artist that created masterpieces for Neverland Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, has graciously given a beautiful piece of his art to be used for the cover of this wonderful book.  The piece Heaven has chosen is entitled, THE STORYTELLER.  Michael opened his autobiography, MOONWALK, with this…”I’ve always wanted to be able to tell stories, you know, stories that came from my soul…”  He did that with every facet of his artistry…from lyrics to songs, concepts and stories for his short films, choreography, as each of his dances were interpretations of the music.  The children’s drawings and languages in this book will do the same.  MICHAEL IS CERTAINLY SMILING!cover

My Dear Friends, I would encourage you to view each of the embedded videos in this article.  They provide a richness for Michael’s truisms.

I am truly honored to have been able to write this article in an effort to reveal the magic that is taking place.  I can hardly wait to see how it will all turn out.  CONGRATULATIONS TO HEAVEN LEIGH AND LEANN FICKES AND DAVID NORDAHL.  You are continuing Michael’s loving messages in a beautiful way.  I love you.

And, Dear Friends…thank you for all YOU do to spread Michael’s message around the world.  Each of us is sharing our gifts…and, as Michael said…”If you share your gift, and I share my gift, we can help others find their gifts.”   WE ARE DOING THAT AS WE PAY MICHAEL AND HIS TEACHINGS FORWARD.  I love you!welcome to neverland

Jude http://bit.ly/WCCHealYourWorldChildren

HIS tory

MYstory

YOURstory

OURstory

 

 

HEAL THE KID…OXFORD UNION ADDRESS

Oxford Union Address

Oxford University, England

Heal the Kid Initiative

Michael Jackson  2001peter pan

     Thank you, Dear Friends, from the bottom of my heart for such a lovely and spirited welcome and thank you, Mr. President, for your invitation to me.  I am so honored to accept.  Thank you, Rabbi Shumuley, who served here as rabbi for eleven years.  You and I have been working so hard to start HEAL THE KIDS and our book about childlike qualities.  Through all of our efforts, you have been such a supportive and loving friend.  I also want to thank Toba Freidman, our director of operations at HEAL THE KIDS, for returning tonight to her alma mater where she served as a Marshal Scholar…as well as Marilyn Piels, another central member of our HEAL THE KIDS team.

I’m humbled to be lecturing in a place that has previously been filled by such notable figures as Mother Theresa, Albert Einstein, Ronald Reagan, Robert Kennedy and Malcolm X.  I even heard that Kermit the Frog made an appearance here.  I’ve always felt a kinship with Kermit’s message that it’s not easy being green.  I’m sure he didn’t find it any easier being up here than I do.  As I look around Oxford, I can’t help but be aware of the majesty and grandeur of this institution, not to mention the brilliance of the great and gifted minds that have roamed these streets for centuries.  The walls of Oxford have not only housed the greatest philosophical and scientific geniuses, they have also ushered forth some of the most cherished creators of children’s literature from JRRTolkien, to CS Lewis.  Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” is immortalized in the stained glass windows of Christ’s Church, and, even one of my fellow Americans, the beloved Dr. Suess.  He graced these halls and then went on to leave his mark on the imaginations of young children throughout the world.ebony two

I suppose I should start by listing my qualifications to speak before you this evening.  Friends, I do not have, to claim, an academic expertise of other speakers who have addressed this hall.  Just as they could lay little claim at being adept at the moonwalk.  And, you know, Albert Einstein, particularly, was really terrible at that.  But, I do have a claim to having experienced more cultures than most people will ever see.  Human knowledge, not only consists of libraries of parchments and ink, but it’s also comprised of the volumes of knowledge that are written on the human heart…on the human soul and engraved on the human psyche.  And Friends, I have encountered so much in this short lifetime of mine, that I still cannot believe I am only 42.  I often tell Shmuley that in SOUL years, I’m sure I’m at least 80.  And tonight, I even walk like I’m 80.  So please harken to my message, because what I have to tell you tonight can bring healing to humanity and healing to the planet.

Through the Grace of God, I have been fortunate to have achieved many of my artistic and professional aspirations early in my lifetime.  But, these accomplishments alone are not who I am.  Indeed, the cheery five-year-old who belted out “Rockin Robin” and “Ben” to adoring fans was not indicative of the boy behind the smile.  Tonight, I come before you, less an icon of pop (whatever that means anyway), and more as an icon of a generation…a generation that no longer knows what it means to be children.rescuer

All of us are products of our childhood.  But, I am a product of the lack of childhood…an absence of that precious and wondrous age when we frolic playfully without a care in the world, basking in the adoration of parents and relatives, where our biggest concern is studying for that big spelling test on Monday morning.  Those of you who are familiar with the Jackson Five know that I began performing at the tender age of five and that ever since then, I haven’t stopped dancing and singing.  But, while performing and making music undoubtedly remain as many of my greatest joys, when I was young I wanted more than anything else to be a typical little boy.  I wanted to build tree houses, have water balloon fights and play hide-and-seek with my friends.  But, fate had it otherwise and all I could do was envy the laughter and playtime that seemed to be going on all around me.  There was no rest from my professional lifestyle, for on Sundays, I would gobaby boy Pioneering…work that Jehovah’s Witnesses do.  And it was then that I was able to see the magic of other people’s childhood.  Since I was already a celebrity, I would have to put on a disguise…a fat suit, a wig, a beard and glasses, and we would spend the day in the suburbs of Southern California going door to door or making the rounds of shopping malls, distributing our Watchtower magazines.  I loved to set foot in all those regular suburban houses and catch sight of the fireplaces and Lay Z Boy armchairs with kids playing Monopoly and Grandmas babysitting…all those wonderful, ordinary starry scenes of everyday life.  Many, I know, would argue that these things seem like no big deal.  But, to Me they were mesmerizing.  I used to think that I was unique that I was without a childhood.  I believed that indeed there were only a handful of people with whom I could share those feelings.  When I recently met with Shirley Temple Black, the great child star of the 1930’s and 40’s, we said nothing to each other at first, we simply handsome sevencried together…for she could share the pain with me that only others like my close friends Elizabeth Taylor and McCauley Culkin could.  I do not tell you this to gain your sympathy, but, to impress upon you my important point…it is not just Hollywood child stars that have suffered from a non-existent childhood.  Today, it’s a universal calamity, a global catastrophe.

Childhood has become the great catastrophe of modern day living.  All around us we are producing scores of kids who have not had joy, who have not been accorded the right, who have not been allowed the freedom of knowing what it’s like to be a kid.  Today’s children are constantly encouraged to grow up faster, as if this period known as childhood is a burdensome stage to be endured and ushered through as swiftly as possible.  And on that subject, I am certainly one of the world’s greatest experts  Ours is a generation that has witnessed the abrogation of the PARENT/CHILD COVENANT.  Psychologists are publishing libraries of books detailing the destructive effects of denying one’s children the unconditional love that is so necessary to their healthy development of their mind and character.  And because of all the neglect, too many of our kids essentially have to raise themselves.  They are growing more distant from their parents and grandparents and other family members as all around us the indestructible bond that once glued together generations unravels. This violation bred a new generation…GENERATION O…let’s call it Generation O that has now picked up the torch from Generation X.  The O stands for a generation that has everyting on the minnieOUTSIDE…wealth, success, fancy clothing and fancy cars, but an aching emptiness on the INSIDE.  That cavity in our chests, that barronness at our core, that void in our center is the place where the heart once beat and which love once occupied.  It’s not just the kids who are suffering.  It’s the parents as well.  For, the more we cultivate little adults in kids’ bodies, the more removed we ourselves become from our own child-like qualities, and there is so much about being a child that is worth retaining in adult life.

LOVE-Ladies and Gentlemen-LOVE is the human family’s most precious legacy, its richest bequest, it’s golden inheritance that is handed down from one generation to the other.  Previous ages may not have had the wealth we enjoy.  Their houses may have lacked electricity and they squeezed their many kids into small homes with no central heating.  But those homes had no darkness nor were they cold.  They were lit bright with the glow of love and they were warmed snugly with the very heat of the human heart.  Parents, undistracted by the lust for luxury and status, accorded their children primacy in their lives.  As you all know, our two countries broke from each other over what Thomas Jefferson referred to as “certain inalienable rights.”  And, while wehandsome six Americans and British might dispute the justice of his claims, what is never in dispute is that children have certain obvious rights, and the gradual erosion of those rights has led to scores of children worldwide being denied the joys and security of childhood.  I would therefore like to propose tonight that we install in every home a CHILDREN’S UNIVERSAL BILL OF RIGHTS, the tenets of which are these:sharing and receiving love

THE RIGHT TO BE LOVED WITHOUT HAVING TO EARN IT.

THE RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED WITHOUT HAVING TO DESERVE IT.

THE RIGHT TO FEEL VALUABLE EVEN IF YOU COME INTO THE WORLD WITH NOTHING.

THE RIGHT TO BE LISTENED TO WITHOUT HAVING TO BE INTERESTING.

THE RIGHT TO BE READ A BEDTIME STORY WITHOUT HAVING TO COMPETE WITH THE EVENING NEWS OR EAST ENDERS.

THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION WITHOUT HAVING TO DODGE BULLETS AT SCHOOL.

THE RIGHT TO BE THOUGHT OF AS ADORABLE (EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE.)

     Friends, the foundation of all human knowledge, the beginning of humantiitwelve consciousness must be that each and every one of us is an object of love.  BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, BEFORE YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE RED HAIR OR BROWN…BEFORE YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE BLACK OR WHITE, BEFORE YOU KNOW WHAT RELIGION YOU ARE A PART OF…YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOVED!

About 12 years ago, when I was just about to start my BAD TOUR, a little boy came with his parents to my California home.  He was dying of cancer and he told me how much he loved me and my music.  His parents told me that he wasn’t going to live…that any day he could just go.  I said to him, “Look, I am going to be coming to your hometown in Kansas to start my tour in 3 months.  I want you to come to the show.  I am going to give you this jacket that I wore in one of my videos.”  His eyes lit up and he said, “YOU’RE GOING TO GIVE ME YOUR JACKET?”  I said, “YES!  I’m going to givechildren seven you the jacket, but, you have to promise that you will wear it to the show!”

I was trying to make him hold on.  I said, “When you come to the show, I want to see you in this jacket and in this glove.”  I gave him one of my rhinestone gloves which I never give to anyone.  He was in heaven.

But, maybe he was too close to heaven, because when I came to his town, he had already died and they had buried him in the glove and jacket.  He was just 10 years old.  God knows and I know that he tried his best to hold on.  But, at least when he died, he knew he was loved, not only by his parents, but, even by me, as a near stranger.  I also loved him.  He knew with all that love that he didn’t come into the world alone and certainly didn’t leave it alone. IF YOU ENTER THE WORLD KNOWING YOU ARE LOVED, AND YOU LEAVE KNOWING THE SAME, THEN, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN BETWEEN CAN BE DEALT WITH.to be

A professor may degrade you, but you will not feel degraded.  A boss may crush you but you will not feel crushed.  A corporate gladiator might vanquish you but you will still triumph.  How could any of them truly prevail in pulling you down.  For you know that you are the object worthy of love.  The rest is packaging.

If you don’t have that memory of being loved, you are condemned to search the world for something to fill you up.  But, no matter how much money you make or how famous you become, you will still feel empty.  What you are searching for is unconditional love, unqualified acceptance.  And, that was the one thing that was denied you at birth.

Friends, let me paint a picture for you.  Here is a typical day in America…6 youths under the age of 20 will commit suicide…12 children under the age of 20 will die from firearms…REMEMBER, THIS IS A DAY, NOT A YEAR…399 kids will be arrested for drug abuse…1,352 babies will be born to teen mothers.  THIS IS HAPPENING IN ONE OF THE RICHEST, MOST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.  YES!  In my country there is an epidemic of violence that parallels no other industrial nation.  These are the ways young people in America express their hurts, theirwbss anger.  But, don’t think that there is not the same pain and anguish among their counterparts in the UK.  Studies in this country show that every single hour, 3 teens in the UK inflict harm upon themselves often cutting or burning themselves, burning their bodies or taking an overdose.  This is how they have chosen to cope with the pain of neglect and emotional agony.  In Britain, 20% of families will only sit down and have dinner together once a year.  ONCE A YEAR!  And what about the time-honored tradition of reading your kids a bedtime story.  Research from the 1980’s showed that children who are read to had far greater literacy and significantly outperformed their peers at school.  And yet, less than 33% of British children ages 2-8 have a regular bedtime story read to them. You may not think much of that until you take into account that 75% of their parents DID have a bedtime story when they were that age.hug

Clearly, we do not have to ask ourselves where all of this pain, anger and violent behavior comes from.  It is self-evident that children are thundering against neglect, quaking against indifference and crying just to be noticed.

The various child-protection agencies in the US say that millions of children are victims of maltreatment in the form of neglect.  In rich homes, privileged homes, wired to the hilt with every electronic gadget…homes where parents come home, but they’re really still at the office.  And, the kids…well, their kids just make do with whatever emotional crumbs they get.  And, you don’t get much from watching a lot of television and computer games and videos.  These hard, cold numbers which for me wrench the soul and shake the spirit, should indicate to you why I have developed so much of my time and resources into making our new HEAL THE KIDS INITIATIVE a colossal success.  Our goal is simple…to recreate the parent/child bond…to renew its promise and light the way forward for all the beautiful children who are destined one day to walk this earth. But, since this is my first public lecture, and you have so warmly welcomed me into your hearts, I feel that I want to tell you more.  We each have our own story and in that sense statistics can become personal.

They say that parenting is like dancing.  You take one step and your child takes another.  I have discovered that getting parents to rededicate themselves to their children is only half the story.  The other half is preparing the children to reaccept the parents.  When I was very young, I remember that we had this crazy mutt dog named Black Girl.  She was a mix of wolf and retriever.  Not only wasn’t she much of a guard dog, she was such a scared and nervous thing that it is a wonder that she did not pass out every time a truck rumbled by or a thunderstorm swept into Indiana.  My sister, Janet and I gave that dog so much love, but we never really won back the sense of trust that had been stolen by her previous owner.  We knew he used to beat her.  We didn’t know with what, but, whatever it was, it was enough to suck the spirit right out of that dog.  A lot of kids today are hurt puppies who have weaned themselves off the need for love.  They couldn’t care less about their parents.  Left to their own devices, they cherish their independence.  They have moved on in life and have left their parents behind.  Then there are the far worse cases of children who harbour animosity and resentment toward their parents so that any overature that their parents might undertake would be thrown forcefully back in their faces.h the world

Tonight, I don’t want any of us to make this mistake.  That’s why I’m calling upon all the world’s children-beginning with all of us here tonight-to forgive our parents.  If we felt neglected…FORGIVE.  Forgive them and teach them how to love again.  You probably weren’t surprised to hear that I did not have an idyllic childhood.  The strain and tension that exists in my relationship with my father is well documented.  My father is a tough man and he pushed my brothers and me hard, really hard from the earliest age…for the best.  He wanted us to be the best performers we could possibly be.  He had great difficulty showing affection.  He never really told me he loved me.  And, he never really complimented me either.  If I did a great show, he would tell me it was a good show.  If I did an OK show, he would say nothing.  He seemed intent, above all else, (I need a tissue, I’m sorry) he seemed intent, above all else, on making us a commercial success.  At that he was more than adept.  My father was a managerial genius and my brothers and I owe our professional success, in no small measure, to the forceful way that he pushed us.  He trained me as a showman and under his guidance I couldn’t miss a step.  But, what I really wanted was a DAD.  I wanted a father who showed me love and my father never did that.  He never said, “I love you!” while looking me straight in the eye.  He never played a game with me.  He never gave me a piggyback ride.  He never threw a pillow at me or a water balloon.  But, I remember once when I was about 4 years old, there was a little carnival and he picked me up and put me on a pony.  It was a tiny gesture, probably something he forgot five minutes later.  But, because of that moment, I have a special place in my heart for him.  Because, that’s how kids are…the little things mean so much.  THEY MEAN SO MUCH!  To me, that moment meant everything.  I only experienced it one time, but that one time made me feel good about him and about the world.wonder

But, now I am a father myself and one day I was thinking about my own children, Prince and Paris, and how I wanted them to think of me when they grow up.  To be sure, I would like them to remember how I always wanted them with me wherever I went.  How I always tried to put them before anything else.  But, there are also challenges in their lives.  Because my kids are stalked by paparazzi, they can’t always go to the park or to the movies with me.  So, what if they resent me when they grow older.  What if they resent how my choices impacted their youth?  Why weren’t we given an average childhood like the other kids, they might ask.  And, at the moment, I pray that my children will give me the benefit of the doubt.  That they would say to themselves, “Our Daddy did the best he could given the unique circumstances that he faced.  He may not have been perfect, but he was a warm and decent man who tried to give us all the love in the world.”  I hope that they will always focus on the positive things, on the sacrifices I willingly made for them and not criticize the things they had to give up or the errors I’ve made and will certainly continue to make in raising them.forgiveness

For we have all been someone’s child and we know that despite the very best of plans and efforts, mistakes will always occur.  That’s just being human.  And when I think about this, how I hope that my children will not judge me unkindly and will forgive me, forgive my shortcomings, I am forced to think of my own father and despite my earlier denial, I am forced to admit that he must have loved me.  He did love me and I know that.  There were little things that showed that…I was a kid and I had a real sweet tooth.  We all did.  My father knew that, so every few weeks, I would come downstairs in the morning and there on the kitchen counter was a bag of glazed donuts.  No note, no explanation…just the donuts.  It was like Santa Claus.  Sometimes, I would think about staying up late at night so I could see him leave them there, but just like Santa Claus, I didn’t want to ruin the magic for fear he would never do it again.  My father had to leave them secretly at night so as no one would catch him with his guard down.  He was scared of human emotion.  He didn’t understand it or know how to deal with it.  BUT, HE DID KNOW GLAZED DONUTS. And, when I allow the flood gates to open up, there are other memories that come rushing back…memories of other tiny gestures, however imperfect, that showed that he did what he could.  So tonight, rather than focusing on what my father did not do…I want to focus on all the things he did do and on his own personal challenges.angel boy

I just started reflecting on the fact that my father grew up in the South in a very poor family.  He came of age during the Depression and his own father struggled to feed his children, showed little affection towards his family and raised him…he raised my father and his siblings with an iron fist.  Who could have imagined what it was like to grow up a poor, black man in the South, robbed of dignity, bereft of hope, struggling to become a man in a world that saw my father as subordinate. I was the first Black artist to be played on MTV and I remember how big a deal that was even then…and, that was in the 1980’s!

My father moved to Indiana and had a large family of his own, working long hours in the steel mills…work that kills the lungs and humbles the spirit…all to support his family.  Is it any wonder that he found it difficult to expose his feelings.  Is it a mystery that he hardened his heart…that he raised his emotional ramparts and, most of all, is it any wonder why he pushed his sons so hard to succeed as performers so that they could be saved from what he knew to be a life of indignity and poverty.  I have begun to see that even my father’s harshness was a kind of love, an imperfect love to be sure, but love nonetheless.  He pushed me because he loved me, because he wanted no man to ever look down at his offspring, and now, with time, rather than bitterness, I feel blessing.  In the place of anger, I have found absolution and in the place of revenge, I have found reconcilliation.  And my initial fury has slowly given way to forgiveness.cub

Almost a decade ago, I founded a children’s charity called HEAL THE WORLD.  The title was something I felt inside me.  Little did I know, as Shmuley later pointed out, that those two words form the cornerstone of Old Testament prophecy.

DO I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN HEAL THE WORLD THAT IS RIDDLED WITH WAR AND HATE AND GENOCIDE EVEN TODAY?  And, do I really think that we can heal our children who, as the papers reported this morning, can walk into a high school in San Diego and shoot down two beautiful students just at the beginning of their lives?  A horrifying reminder of the guns and hatred that shot through Columbine almost 2 years ago.  Or, children who can beat a defenseless toddler to death like the tragic story of Jamie Bulger.ryan

OF COURSE I DO!  OF COURSE I DO!  Or, I wouldn’t be here tonight.  But, it all begins with FORGIVENESS because to Heal the World, we first have to heal ourselves.  And to Heal the Kids, we first have to heal the child within each and every one of us.  As an adult, and as a parent, I realize that I cannot be a whole human being, nor a parent capable of unconditional love, until I put to rest the ghosts of my own childhood.  And that’s what I’m asking all of us to do tonight.  Live up to the fifth of the Ten Commandments.  Honor your parents by not judging them.  Give them the benefit of the doubt.  That is why I want to forgive my father and to stop judging him.  I want to forgive my father because I want a father and this is the only one I got.  I want the weight of the past lifted from my shoulders and I want to be free to step into a new relationship with my father for the rest of my life, unhindered by the goblins of the past.

     IN A WORLD FILLED WITH HATE, WE MUST STILL DARE TO HOPE.  KEEP HOPE ALIVE.  IN A WORLD FILLED WITH ANGER, WE MUST STILL DARE TO COMFORT.  IN A WORLD FILLED WITH DESPAIR, WE MUST STILL DARE TO DREAM.  IN A WORLD FILLED WITH DISTRUST, WE MUST STILL DARE TO BELIEVE.

     To all of you tonight who feel let down by your parents, I ask you to let down your disappointment.  To all of you tonight who feel cheated by your fathers and mothers, I ask you not to cheat yourselves further.  And to all of you who wish to push your parents away, I ask you to extend your hand to them instead.  I am asking you, I am asking myself, to give our parents the gift of unconditional love, so that they, too, may learn how to love from us, their children.  So that love will finally be restored to a desolate and lonely world.Africa two

Shumley once mentioned to me an ancient Biblical prophecy which says that a new world and a new time would come when “the hearts of the people would be restored through the hearts of their children.”  MY FRIENDS, WE ARE THAT WORLD, WE ARE THOSE CHILDREN.  Mahatma Ghandhi said, ” The weak can never forgive.  Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”  Tonight, be strong.  Beyond being strong, risk to the greatest challenge of all, TO RESTORE THAT COVENANT.  We must all overcome whatever crippling effects our childhood may have had on our lives and in the words of Jesse Jackson, “Forgive each other, redeem each other and MOVE ON.”  This call for forgiveness may not result in Oprah moments the world over with thousands of children making up with their parents, but it will at least be a start, and we’ll be so much happier as a result.

And so, Ladies and Gentlemen, I conclude my remarks tonight with faith, with joy and excitement.

FROM THIS DAY FORWARD…

LET A NEW SONG BE HEARD

LET A NEW SONG BE THE SOUND OF CHILDREN LAUGHING

LET THAT NEW SONG BE THE SOUND OF CHILDREN PLAYING

LET THAT NEW SONG BE THE SOUND OF CHILDREN SINGING

AND, LET THAT NEW SONG BE THE SOUND OF PARENTS LISTENING.hospital boy

.     TOGETHER, LET US CREATE A SYMPHONY OF HEARTS MARVELLING AT THE MIRACLES OF OUR CHILDREN AND BASKING IN THE BEAUTY OF LOVE.  LET US HEAL THE WORLD AND BLIGHT ITS PAIN AND MAY WE ALL MAKE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC TOGETHER.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnkzSb7DoDo

God bless you and I love you.Jude 002

TAKING A MEASURE OF THE LOSS AND A MEASURE OF THE LEGACY

voiceless“PEOPLE ASK ME HOW I MAKE MUSIC.  I TELL THEM I JUST STEP INTO IT.  IT’S LIKE STEPPING INTO A RIVER AND JOINING THE FLOW.  EVERY MOMENT IN THE RIVER HAS ITS SONG.  SO I STAY IN THE MOMENT AND LISTEN.

WHAT I HEAR IS NEVER THE SAME.  A WALK THROUGH THE WOODS BRINGS A LIGHT, CRACKLING SONG: LEAVES RUSTLE IN THE WIND, BIRDS CHATTER AND SQUIRRELS SCOLD, TWIGS CRUNCH UNDERFOOT, AND THE BEAT OF MY HEART HOLDS IT ALL TOGETHER.  WHEN YOU JOIN THE FLOW, THE MUSIC IS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, AND BOTH ARE THE SAME.  AS LONG AS I CAN LISTEN TO THE MOMENT, I’LL ALWAYS HAVE MUSIC.”

MICHAEL JACKSON DANCING THE DREAM 1992

You must get to know someone, to know their heart and soul before you can even attempt to judge their character.

“PREJUDICE IS IGNORANCE” … MICHAEL JACKSONbeat it

     Innocence of spirit, looking at the world unencumbered by color, race, religion, borders or boundaries, freed Michael Jackson’s imagination.  That imagination knew no limits.  Present every day of his life, the magic and wonder and mystery of life informed themes.  They are found in every facet of Michael’s creativity, his body of work, his humanitarian efforts.  These pervasive themes received their life’s blood from the values Michael lived out on a world stage.  He shared them all with millions.  In a career spanning 45 years, great and sustained energy produced the threads of themes to the tenth power.

To get closer to an understanding of who Michael Jackson is, one fact becomes clear…in a world filled with lies, Michael is the truth.  His character, personality, persona, whether before thousands or in private, remains the same having roots deep inside his values and a belief in the power of the people.  All have their basis in a belief in God.rock

“Many in the media have suggested that Michael Jackson’s legendary humanitarian works were undertaken to further publicize the most famous human being on the planet or for tax write-off purposes.  Such suggestions are laughable as well as irrelevant.  Although Michael has opened his wallet and his home to deprived, disadvantaged and ill children the world over, his most significant contribution, and one that remains an inspiration to millions of fans, is his time and his attention…a much more valuable commodity than money. 

His genuine delight in the presence of children can be experienced by watching his visits-caressing the bald head of a young cancer victim gently-watching his timid smile as he approaches-the way his face lights up, as if from within, when children are present providing evidence to his open-hearted sincerity.  Such reactions cannot be faked nor can they be hidden.heal the world

During the peak of his career, Michael did more for people and the world than any other super star, his contributions so great they would have put many governments in big industrial countries to shame.”  Journalist Frederic Taddei 2008

“MICHAEL JACKSON’S WORLD TOURS HAVE BEEN MORE LIKE GLOBAL LOVE-INS THAN CONCERTS.  HE’S TAKEN ALL THIS LOVE AND HIS OWN DEEP FEELINGS AND CHANNELED THEM INTO DOZENS OF HUMANITARIAN CAUSES.  ON BEHALF OF VH1, WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THIS AWARD TO YOU FOR THE WORK YOU’VE DONE OVER THE YEARS FOR SO MANY CHARITIES.  IN ADDITION, VH1 IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL VH1 INTERNATIONAL HONORS AWARD FOR THE KING OF POP WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED IN FUTURE YEARS TO ARTISTS WHOSE WORLD-WIDE CHARITABLE WORK FOLLOWS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF YOURSELF.” Morgan Freeman  VH1 Honors 1995will you be there

“Thank you to all the fans.  You’ve given me so much it’s allowed me to pass it on to those who need and deserve our help.  A perfect example is the recent United Nations announcement that 1 to 3 million lives could be saved if children in third world countries were given a vitamin A pill three times a year…the cost, 6 cents, that’s all.  We must join together in healing the world so we can share this beautiful planet in joy and love.  I love you very much.”  Michael Jackson

“With the untimely passing of an incomparable legend, the 2009 BET Awards will be shifting gears to honor the late Michael Jackson and his contributions to not only the music industry, but to the entire world.  His loss is a difficult one to accept and BET will do its part to ensure that his legend lives on.

The 2009 BET Awards will be dedicated to the life, the legacy and the legend of music icon Michael Jackson.  Jackson’s impact on our lives has been significant.  Whether exhibited by his humanitarian efforts, his ability to reshape the concept of the music video, or his engaging star power, THE KING OF POP is unlike any other artist, defining the very fabric of what popular music is today.  Michael Jackson’s influence is undeniable as traces of his style are prevalent in a number of today’s top artists.  But, his significant impact on this network will also forever be etched into the history tablets of BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION.  Michael’s influence is felt every day in so many ways at BET Network, and it’s been that way throughout our network’s entire 29 year history.  We watched him grow up and he truly feels like a member of the family.moonwalk two

He will be missed more than we can say…but his legend and memory live on in the artists, musicians, producers, dancers, FANS and everyone else who LOOKS TO HIM FOR INSPIRATION.

Who could forget that one of the most memorable milestones in BET history was Michael Jackson’s surprise appearance during the tribute to James Brown at the 2003 BET Awards?  His impromptu performance with the Godfather of Soul left everyone breathless.

Jackson has done more for music and popular culture than any other artist.  His influence crosses generations, races, genders and even continents.  That incredible global reach matched with decades of musical integrity and genius is why Jackson was the very first artist inducted in the BET WALK OF FAME back in 1995.

Taking all his monumental contributions into consideration, the 2009 BET Awards will be dedicated to the unparalleled KING OF POP and will spend the evening paying tribute to the legacy of Michael Jackson.”  2009 BET AWARDS DEDICATED TO MUSIC ICON MICHAEL JACKSON WRITTEN BY CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF BET NETWORK DEBRA LEEsmooth criminal

“THIS SENSE OF WORLD IN ME”  DANCING THE DREAM MJ 1992

“Children show me in their playful smiles the divine in everyone.  This simple goodness shines from their hearts.  Being with them connects us to the deep wisdom of life.  These children are a reminder of the preciousness of all life, especially young lives untouched by hatred, prejudice and greed.  Now, when the world is so confused and its problems so complicated, we need our children more than ever.  Their natural wisdom points the way to solutions that lie waiting to be recognized in our own hearts.  Children are the world’s foremost idealists and optimists.  It is for that reason HEAL THE WORLD is organizing THE WORLD’S CHILDREN’S CONGRESS next year made up exclusively of delegates aged 8-16. The world desperately needs their innocent perspective on the world’s problems.  heal

We have to heal our wounded planet of the chaos, despair and senseless destruction we see today.  THE MISSION OF HEAL THE WORLD, MY MISSION, IS HEALING PURE AND SIMPLE.  To heal the world we must start by healing our children.  Today we come bearing gifts for the children of wartorn Sarejevo.  In 1992, Sarajevo has become a symbol of so much that is tragic but avoidable in our world.  Prejudice and ethnic hatred , the destruction of the environment, the shattering of families and centuries old communities.

We are pleased to announce at this special time of year, that we will turn our efforts home to the plight of our American children.  Towards this end, we are planning Convoy USA.  This will be an effort to help all Americans work together towards a single objective…TO HEAL THE CHILDREN OF OUR INNER CITIES.  This Thanksgiving is particularly special to me with the launch of the single, “Heal the World”.  I wrote this song for everyone in our world to help bring global harmony.  All the proceeds of this song will go to the Foundation”  Inside a hangar at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Michael witnesses the loading of 43 tons of medical supplies, blankets, winter clothing and shoes onto a DC-8 cargo jet bound for the children of Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a war zone in the former Yugoslavia.  The Heal the World Foundation teams up with AmeriCares to fly the $2.1 million worth of aid to the Croatian capital, Zagreb, and then to Sarajevo for distribution under the supervision of the UN High Command for Refugees.  November 24, 1992  ‘Michael Jackson A Visual Documentary 1958-2009’ Adrian Granthistory world tour

BAMBI POP STAR OF THE MILLENIUM 2002 BERLIN, GERMANY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FOR THE BAMBI POP STAR OF THE MILLIENIUM

“WOW!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU VERY MUCH!  DEAR DR. BURDA, DEAR DR. TURNHOFER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN…I HAVE WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF MY VISITS TO GERMANY…TO BERLIN, A CITY FULL OF ENERGY.  IT’S VERY SPECIAL TO ME.  BERLIN, I LOVE YOU.  BERLIN, ICH LIEBE DICH!

SEPTEMBER 11TH HAS CHANGED OUR WORLD.  NOT LONG AGO, THE BERLIN WALL CAME DOWN.  BUT, RECENTLY, NEW WALLS HAVE BEEN BUILT.  1989, PEOPLE IN GERMANY SAID…’WIR SIND EIN VOLK.  WE ARE ONE NATION.’

WE ARE GERMANS, WE ARE ARMENIANS, FRENCH, ITALIAN, RUSSIAN, AMERICAN, ASIAN, AFRICAN AND MANY OTHER NATIONALITIES.  WE ARE CHRISTIANS, JEWISH, MUSLIMS AND OF SO MANY DIFFERENCES, SO COMPLEX AND YET, SO SIMPLE.  WE DO NOT NEED TO HAVE WAR.ijcsly two

AND, TO THE CHILDREN OF GERMANY, I WANT TO SAY THIS…WE NEED YOU.  THE WORLD NEEDS YOU!  PLEASE GO FOR YOUR DREAMS, WHATEVER YOUR IDEALS, YOU CAN BECOME WHATEVER YOU WANT TO ;BECOME.  BECOME AN ASTRONAUT OR A FAMOUS SCIENTIST, A FAMOUS DOCTOR…AND, OF COURSE, BECOME AN ARTIST AND MAYBE YOU GET A BAMBI AWARD LIKE ME.  I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I LOVE GERMANY AND THAT YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.  I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.  REALLY!  ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE GIFT OF LIFE.  BE HAPPY AND HAVE FUN.  I LOVE YOU!  THANK YOU VERY MUCH!”glasses

BERLIN 1989

THEY HATED THE WALL, BUT WHAT COULD THEY DO?  IT WAS TOO STRONG TO BREAK THROUGH.  THEY FEARED THE WALL, BUT DIDN’T THAT MAKE SENSE?  MANY WHO TRIED TO CLIMB OVER IT WERE KILLED.  THEY DISTRUSTED THE WALL, BUT WHO WOULDN’T ?  THEIR ENEMIES REFUSED TO TEAR DOWN ONE BRICK, NO MATTER HOW LONG THE PEACE TALKS DRAGGED ON.  THE WALL LAUGHED GRIMLY, “I’M TEACHING YOU A GOOD LESSON,”  IT BOASTED, “IF YOU WANT TO BUILD FOR ETERNITY, DON’T BOTHER WITH STONES.  HATRED, FEAR, AND DISTRUST ARE SO MUCH STRONGER. ”  THEY KNEW THE WALL WAS RIGHT, AND THEY ALMOST GAVE UP.  ONLY ONE THING STOPPED THEM.  THEY REMEMBERED WHO WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE.  GRANDMOTHER, COUSIN, SISTER, WIFE.  BELOVED FACES THAT YEARNED TO BE SEEN.  “WHAT’S HAPPENING?” THE WALL ASKED, TREMBLING.  WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THEY DID, THEY WERE LOOKING THROUGH THE WALL, TRYING TO FIND THEIR DEAR ONES.  SILENTLY, FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER, LOVE KEPT UP ITS INVISIBLE WORK.  “STOP IT!” THE WALL SHRIEKED.  “I’M FALLING APART.”  BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.  A MILLION HEARTS HAD FOUND EACH OTHER.  THE WALL HAD FALLEN BEFORE IT CAME DOWN. Dancing the Dream 1992 Michael Jackson

     Michael’s perfectionist theme came from his very core and was apparent in all aspects of his life.  His approach was deliberate and measured by these tenets: REVISIT NURTURE DEFINE.  Practicing this philosophy of not being hurried, taking the time to move the vision informed all the gifts Michael shared with the world…vision…seeing the overall, the big picture…working tirelessly to that end…FAITH, TRUST…asking the question, “God, where do you want me to go next?”ibt

“Even the least breath is a gesture of gratitude to the creator.  It smiles to be alive, waiting patiently for ages of ignorance and sorrow to pass away like a mirage.”  Dancing the Dream Michael Jackson 1992japan two

     I will end this brief look at the loss and legacy of Michael Jackson, knowing that there is so much more to say and share.  Really getting to know Michael’s heart and soul, who he was and his committment to his art and to the world is an enormous task and a wonderful labor of love.  The impact he had on popular culture will be the focus for another day.  “Lies run in sprints, the truth runs in marathons.  In the end, the truth always triumphs.”  MJ  Michael’s truth was that his 45 year career never faltered…his success is unparalleled yet today.  Michael’s music is heard across this planet each and every day.  For the fourth year in a row, he has been voted by a global public as the MOST FAMOUS PERSON 2013.  Michael Jackson Immortal Tour continues to be the hottest ticket on the planet.  Thriller Live has drawn huge crowds in London since 2006.  Bad 25 continues to sell millions.  Thriller remains the biggest selling album of all time.  But, there is so much more…another day!

When I want to be inspired, entertained…when I want to escape or fantasize…when I want to be challenged to think and be a better person…all those roads lead to Michael.  I chose to write this Blog because I have a burning desire to share this joy, this beauty, this inspiration with you.  Thank you for taking time from your day!  Whenever you are ready to know the real Michael Jackson, I am excited to introduce him to you!dangerous two

Jude

HIStory

MYstory

OURstory

OURstory

LIES

healLIES RUN IN SPRINTS

THE TRUTH RUNS IN MARATHONS

IN THE END, THE TRUTH ALWAYS TRIUMPHS

MICHAEL JACKSON

     I have never really believed, before now, the far-reaching effect lying has.  Listening to half-truths, fabrications and bald-faced lies about Michael has convinced me of the devastating power of the lie.  I know the statements above were what Michael truly believed, but I am impatient for the lies to be proven lies and the truths to be shouted from rooftops.  I want to see it right now.  Of course, I do not and I cry and scream and even use profanity I have never uttered before, but what I so deeply want to change does not.  This is such a roller-coaster ride I am on.  My body is weary and my mind isn’t.  I want triumph right now!

Where did I miss the acceptance that God has the perfect plan and my will has nothing to do with it?  Why haven’t I taken to my soul the words Michael said to God, ‘What is it you want me to do next, God?’  I am always fighting challenge, looking for the everyday, the ordinary, normal and quiet…that smooth ride.  And now, even more difficult for me is seeing someone I love be unjustly treated yet again.  Often, I cannot stop the tears, the pain, that feeling of being gutted.BE STILL MY HEART

If someone came to me saying all of what I have written here, I would know exactly how to counsel them.  My brain works just fine.  But, my heart and soul override that calm counsel for myself.  I absolutely know that hate doesn’t minimize hate…love minimizes hate.  I absolutely know that Michael lived his values before a world audience and met challenges that make me weak.  He turned any negative into a positive through creating and giving more love.  I know that!  I’ve seen that many, many, MANY times.  It’s who he was.

“MAKE LOVE YOUR WEAPON AGAINST ANY EVIL”  Michael Jackson Japan 1987

     I know he didn’t look at himself as a victim.  His bravery was so deep. When I write my small checks each month for charities…when I help out at Ruby’s Pantry…I feel I am defining just a little bit who I am becoming.  I practice each and every day the idea of gratitude prayers and I really mean it all!  Maybe I have always distrusted God’s motives for me.  Am I just going through the motions and not really and truly being in the moment?  I know about being in the moment.  I undertand it’s importance but I have a long way to go to be good at it.

REVISIT…NURTURE…DEFINE

MICHAEL JACKSONbow two

     I always remember the childlike innocence Michael talked about, wrote about.  Trusting as a child.  I get tripped up by this a bit when I think about Michael’s death.  That is tough to accept.  Do I believe that accidents are just that…untimely, unplanned…Conrad Murray colliding with Michael’s life?  Right now, I am not sure.  Michael’s trust was met with criminal negligence to the tenth power.  Media attention brought about a high-tech lynching never before seen.  The line between tabloid and legitimate news was erased forever.  Media power and greed and unprofessional behaviors were the rule with absolutely no accountability required.  That power has given the right to say anything, print anything and never be held responsible.  To tell the truth, I am appalled and very angry with what I have seen.

     Life lessons, challenges only hit us when they are personal.  Michael’s life is personal to me…to millions.  His death is personal to me..to millions.  Media slander is personal to us all.  Personal gets deep down inside the soul.  I am reminded of two powerful quotes taken from the UK Justice System:  WE ALL HAVE A DUTY OF CARE TO ONE ANOTHER AND NO BREACH SHALL GO UNPUNISHED…EVIL TRIUMPHS WHEN GOOD MEN DO NOTHING

 

“WHAT QUICKLY BECAME APPARENT, HOWEVER, WAS HOW LITTLE INTEREST THERE WAS IN EVIDENCE OR DECENCY, NUANCE OR OBJECTIVITY.  RATINGS AND HEADLINES DEPENDED ON AN INCESSANT STREAM OF SENSATIONALISM, INNUENDO, HEARSAY AND SPECULATION, AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT AUDIENCES RECEIVED.  JACKSON HIMSELF WAS REDUCED TO A CIRCUS FREAK.  HE WAS THE MODERN-DAY ELEPHANT MAN, BEGGING TO BE TREATED LIKE A HUMAN BEING AMIDST A CROWD OF FINGER-POINTING SPECTATORS.  BRITISH JOUNALIST CHARLES THOMSON CALLED IT ONE OF THE MOST SHAMEFUL EPISODES IN JOURNALISTIC HISTORY.  POLITICAL OBSERVER JEFF KOOPERSMITH CHARACTERIZED IT AS A HIGH-TECH LYNCHING. Joseph Vogel MAN IN THE MUSIC 2011http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-8TQADs4bI&feature=relatedangel two

“I heard Deepak saying on CNN that Michael was probably the most spiritual man he had ever met and I can attest to that as well.  He called me up one day back in 1991 after I had written a book called REAL MAGIC,  and asked me if I would like to come out and bring my family which is a whole plane load, so all eight of my children went with me and my wife and we spent 5 days out there in Neverland with him. Just talking to him, I went up on a mountain there, just the two of us talking and his question to me was, ‘Is there such a thing as real magic and what is it and how do I get it and I want to know about it,’ and was just so filled with excitement about this.  What concerns me when I see, particularly about a lot of the messages coming in on the internet, about people making accusations about this man, and that troubles me a great deal because this was the kindest, sweetest, most beautiful human being and I trusted my children with him, obviously.  When he was out there in Santa Maria County at Neverland, the prosecutor there had a real desire to go after him.  I think the statistics were that they had 76 police cars in that county and they sent 74 of them to go to the ranch and look for evidence to support these accusations beautiful sweatthat were made by a woman who had made a career out of going after celebrities and trying to make money.  And, in the same county, there were many priests that had not only been accused but admitted to sexually molesting young boys but they didn’t send any cars out for them.  And then all of the evidence that they acquired was presented to a jury of not his peers but to people who were not even that friendly toward him and they voted 12-0 to acquit him on every single charge.  So I know for absolute certainty that this is a man who could have never have done anything to be harmful to anyone.  He was very much a child himself.  He was as kind and decent and spiritual a human being as I’ve ever had the pleasure of spending any time with.  I dedicated one of my books to him.  When you look at his enormous talent and the committment that he had to ending world hunger for example.  He personally was responsible for cutting the number of people from starving to death on this planet in half back in the 80’s and 90’s with We Are The World and Heal The World and he took no money for it at all. When I spent the time out there at the ranch, the whole thing was organized around the children who were handicapped in one way.  The theatre, amusement park, all of it was set up so that children who were hospitalized and in beds and sick and on crutches and so on could come there and experience the joy of what it meant to be a child.  This was a beautiful, beautiful human being, someone who will go down in history as the greatest entertainer ever…but more than a great entertainer, this was a great man who lived a very tortured life particularly in the last several years of his life.  I think being accused of those kinds of things whensb his heart was so pure, it took a huge toll.  I was telling my children last night you know anybody can make an accusation such as that…these kinds of accusations, these  kinds of things people say…be very careful of that and know in your hearts from me, my time with him and those 5 days back in 1991 solidified for me that this was a transcendant being who had not only enormous talent but a heart as big as the sky.  (transcendent…superior, exceeding, going beyond ordinary limits, exceeding in excellence) Dr. Wayne Dyer on Michael Jackson 2009estow

I am strengthened by the millions of people telling Michael’s truth and I am very proud to be a small part of that triumph…the marathon of truth rigorously continues around the globe.  Yes, some continue twisting and turning reality for their own agenda, but, to my great relief, many, many, MANY are taking on the duty of care for Michael Jackson.  Everything that goes around, comes around…Michael’s truth will not be denied and, in that, I find justice and hope and inspiration.  My gratitude is over-flowing because I am learning that my questions inform my journey and REVISIT…NURTURE…DEFINE who I am.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kmNA22AILsILY

Thank you for taking time to listen.  This is my heart on the line.   IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LOVE.  My prayers tonight are that the likes of WR and others never win by trying to extort Michael…that Michael’s children and family are strong and brave, that all that knew Michael will stand by him and speak out.  That Michael’s love will sustain us all as we face the tidal wave of evil ahead.  I WILL NEVER STOP BELIEVING IN YOU, MICHAEL!

“Unclean minds mislead the pure

The innocent will leave for sure

For them there is a resting place

Michael, they won’t go, they won’t go where you go.”

Stevie Wonder Michael Jackson Memorial Servicefuneral

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