London~June 23, 1992

~greeted by speeches given by children from Turkey, Spain, Italy and the UK, Michael delivered the following:

“Our children are the most beautiful, most sweet, and 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.  Please join with me and the children to help heal the world together.  Parents, communities, governments, all people of the world, we must put our children first.

FINALLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO TELL THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD, YOU ARE ALL OUR CHILDREN, EACH ONE OF YOU IS MY CHILD AND I LOVE YOU ALL.  Thank you very much.”

Michael Jackson

~protagonist…leading character in a literary work, spokesperson for an idea or social program, principle person in a movement, CHAMPION OF A CAUSE

“Sometimes I want to take all the children of the world into my arms.  I would love to adopt children.  I think that’s what I’ve always wanted to do.  But, children of all races.  Arab children.  Jewish children.  Black children…all races.”

Michael Jackson

The privilege of being able to reach out and give, with unconditional abandon, wherever and whenever, empowers our sense of worth.  Our heavy hearts feel lightened and we are truly alive.  With the absence of qualifiers such as:  oh, there are so many people wanting me to give, where do I begin, or, the problems are just too big, why bother, or we must take care of our own…the spirit of giving comes with blissfulness.  Oh, but there is more.  Knowing what we know, how we feel…touched by a sense of urgency, we are compelled to deliver the message of giving and healing to the world.

“We have to get the message of the need to heal our children and heal the world…to recognize that we need each other and must care for one another, helps inspire us to develop this relief effort for children.  TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE, WE MUST ALL CARE AND COMMIT TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION.”

~ from…Super Bowl XXVII News Conference Speech

Michael Jackson believed with all his heart that he was chosen to use his gifts and talents, fame and fortune, to bring change and healing to the planet.  His fertile mind and creative genius found immediate remedies leading to solutions for the suffering and pain he witnessed.  One could argue that there are many philanthropic endeavors reaching for similar goals.  For that fact, we are profoundly grateful.  But, for Michael, his choices, his actions carried personal blankets of love, for his soulful nature brought with it a unique understanding:  He embraced parenthood.  To Michael, being a father carried with it an unconditional love and responsibility for his own children, Paris, Prince and Blanket…AND, an unconditional love and RESPONSIBILITY for EVERY CHILD ON THE PLANET.

What we say and what we do together paints a portrait of who we are.  Michael’s portrait reveals a protagonist at work, inspiring the people, striving to heal a wounded planet.  At the center of that cause we see the beautiful faces of all children.  This week marked the eighteen birthday of Michael’s oldest son, Prince.  With his father’s spirit, this young man, now reaching manhood, offered these words:  “Before I turn 18 tomorrow, I really want to thank a few people.  First is obviously my Dad.  He was and is an incredible human being.  Not only did he give me the gift of life, he gave me an incredible opportunity to make something of myself.  Secondly, my cousin/guardian, T.J.  He has made so many sacrifices to help me along, and he’s been there when I needed him and helped shape who I am.  Finally, my grandmother/guardian.  She has been through so much. She’s an inspiration to keep going no matter what, and has always been there for us.  I love them all.”

HE RAISED US RIGHT

~reflecting on his Dad…”We wrote a lot of screenplays, my dad taught me how to write scripts, helped me unlock thinking with the right side of my brain.  We watched the sound afterwards and he would show how the sound actually can make or break a film.  He wanted to know how we were doing in school, how we could better the world.  My dad was always optimistic.  I don’t think he ever sat and did nothing.  We were always running, exercising.  He would teach me how to drive.  He was always the best father anybody could have.  He raised us the right way and there is nothing anyone can do to make us forget about him.  He was always concerned about humanity.  He helped many charities.  In his songs his message was simple-LOVE.  We will continue to spread his message.”

Prince

~reflections on Michael as a father~

“I used to go to Neverland before the trial, and a few times during it, and I had a very unique opportunity to watch Michael with his children.  And even though he wanted to shield them from that dreadful experience he was going through, it was obvious to me that they sensed something was going on with their father.  The day of the acquittals, I went to Neverland.  I was invited to a world press conference and decided not to go.  I felt I really belonged at Neverland with Michael.  I went to Neverland and was in his house and saw his children just hugging all over him.  He told them who I was and they came over and each one gave me a hug.  It was a very unique day.  I always had the very strong belief based on my observations and my feelings about Michael, that he was the greatest father that ever lived.  He lived for his children.  He wanted them to be protected from any possibility of danger or kidnapping or anything like that.  He did the very best he could have done.  He wanted them highly educated.  He made sure they were well read, that they understood that he had an enormous book collection.  He wanted them to know about every subject.  He took them around the world to expose them to other cultures.  He wanted them to be accepting towards all ethnic groups, religious groups, races, cultures.  He wanted them to be humane and kind and sincere like he was.  And, my impression of his children was that they had the greatest father on the planet…sensitive, kind, honorable.  He disciplined them as well.  He was not going to let them run amok.  But, he wanted them to appreciate the world as it is, and to be very well read and well educated.  He did the very best he could do given the pressures on him.  He was a wonderful father.  And, I think those kids are just fabulous.”

Tom Mesereau  February 2015

~responsibility for all children

“They would tie the babies to the beds or chain the children down.  We’d go and unchain them.  We’d free all these babies.  I hated seeing it…in countries like Romania, Prague, Czechoslovakia, Russia.  You should see what they do to the children.  You’d be shocked.  They chain them to the walls like they’re animals and they would be naked, sleeping in their own feces.  It made me sick.  So, we brought clothes and toys and just loved, loved, loved them.  I went back everyday, visiting them and hugging them, wanting to take them back with me to Neverland.”

~when Michael found establishments with desolate, enchained children, he made sure the conditions there improved…IMMEDIATELY.

“When I go to a country like in the Philippines and in Trinidad and in Africa, I really like to talk to the people.  I sit in their little huts, their cardboard houses and I make myself at home.  I think it’s important to know how different people feel, especially in my field of endeavor.”

Michael Jackson

1988…Great Ormond Street Hospital, London

Caring star, Michael Jackson wiped away the tears of some of Britain’s most tragic youngsters, replacing them with smiles of joy.  He toured the wards, tenderly kissing deformed babies on the feet.  He even sat some of the hospital’s sickest children on his knee and told them stories.  Michael then beamed with joy as he handed out dozens of presents.  When a cruelly deformed youngster, waiting for a face operation, tearfully told Michael of his fears about getting surgery, Michael squeezed his hand and assured him he had no need to worry.  A fan, named Joanne, who could hardly speak after a throat operation, struggled and uttered the word ‘THRILLER’  to a delighted Jackson.  He told the staff how inspired he was by the bravery of these sick children.  ‘Some of them are very ill, but they manage to put on a smile.’  One of the aides remarked that Michael was very moved and obviously loves children.  ‘He has given our patients a day they will always remember.’

The divine spirit within Michael led to outward divinity, always surrendering to a higher octave.  Within his deep well of creativity, Michael pulled a strength that saw beyond suffering and tragedy, revealing instead the optimism of hopeful joy, empowered by his pervasive love for all.  Parenthood to Michael meant an everlasting devotion to Paris, Prince and Blanket and, an inexhaustible commitment to every child.  “YOU ARE ALL OUR CHILDREN…EACH ONE OF YOU IS MY CHILD.”

“When you have been through such hard times, you never forget events like this.  If you speak to anyone who was in Addis Ababa at that time, they will all know what ‘MICHAEL BREAD’ is.  And, I know I will remember it for the rest of my life.”

Ethiopian Elias Bessene 2009

Michael Jackson changed lives one heart at a time.  We feel ourselves this decade’s freedom riders, in the sense that our inspiration comes from a protagonist who continues to inspire us toward a better world for our most precious treasure…the children.  Michael wore an armband on his jackets which symbolized this truth…it would remain with him until every child on the planet was rescued from suffering and pain.  We embrace Paris, Prince and Blanket with our unconditional love and support.  We embrace each and every child living on this planet with our unconditional love and support.  This is a life of devotion to love and responsibility which we honor, respecting and preserving the legacy of Michael Jackson.

Jude