News & Politics - Michael Jackson is dead - Page 7

Dana_Lana · 07-07-2009, 02:23 PM

I was fine until his daughter talked about her daddy.

Broke my heart into a billion pieces.

**vc318** · 07-07-2009, 05:41 PM

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Originally Posted by Dana_Lana (View Post)

I was fine until his daughter talked about her daddy.

Broke my heart into a billion pieces.

I was hit hard by that too. I mean, we never hear the kids talk and the way she just came out and said how much she loved her father - wow. That really brought me to tears.

I loved the memorial. It was very nice - especially when Jennifer Hudson and Usher came out to sing. Plus, everyone was very well behaved. I was expecting someone to be utterly cruel with picket signs or something.

**vc318** · 07-07-2009, 05:44 PM

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Originally Posted by wbjunkie (View Post)

sadly i didn't get to go, i registered but didn't get a ticket.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that but it was probably safer that you stayed home - it was definitely a zoo out there.

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his death has really hit people so deeply....i actually read 12 fans committed suicide because they were so distraught about MJ's passing.

My goodness - how terrible. Like I said on another board - MJ wouldn't have wanted his fans to hurt themselves over him.

**sunnykerr** · 07-07-2009, 07:19 PM

I didn't watch it per se, but I do watch the news and it seems like today must have been the slowest news day of all times (and I mean no offense to Michael Jackson or the size of his legacy when I say that) because it was wall-to-wall coverage of the memorial, so I did catch a few bits myself.

The thing with his daughter... part of me was heartbroken for her and the other part was mentally beating up whomever thought it was a good idea to have that little girl speak in such a public venue as that. Is there a single child in that family that will not be exploited at one point or another?

Three parts did get to me particularly, though. Jermaine Jackson struggling through his beautiful performance of "Smile." Brooke Shields's raw emotion.

But, oddly enough, the part that really, but I mean REALLY sat me on my butt, so to speak, was Shaheen Jafargholi's performance of "Who's Loving You." Because, to me, the real tragedy in all of this is that Michael Jackson never got to have a real life. And seeing that beautiful little boy sing that song really brought to mind the beautiful boy who was robbed of his chance at a normal life.

ursa major · 07-07-2009, 07:40 PM

I thought the services were very well done. I was particularly touched by Stevie Wonder's Performance. It was so beautiful, soulful, and heartbreaking.

Brooke Shield's thoughts about the Michael outside the spotlight was touching as well.

I also thought that John Mayer's performance of Human Nature was understated and tastefully done.

I don't think they could've done a better service.

**vc318** · 07-07-2009, 08:25 PM

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Originally Posted by sunnykerr (View Post)

The thing with his daughter... part of me was heartbroken for her and the other part was mentally beating up whomever thought it was a good idea to have that little girl speak in such a public venue as that. Is there a single child in that family that will not be exploited at one point or another?

But compared to most celeb kids who are "flash-bulbed" to death, MJ did a pretty good job keeping them secluded over the years. What Paris had to say about MJ really hit home - the fact that this was her father and that she loved him no matter what.

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But, oddly enough, the part that really, but I mean REALLY sat me on my butt, so to speak, was Shaheen Jafargholi's performance of "Who's Loving You." Because, to me, the real tragedy in all of this is that Michael Jackson never got to have a real life. And seeing that beautiful little boy sing that song really brought to mind the beautiful boy who was robbed of his chance at a normal life.

Yes, he did a very nice job. I wasn't expecting such a voice out of such a young person but then again, many thought the same about Michael 40 years ago.

**sunnykerr** · 07-08-2009, 04:43 AM

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Originally Posted by vc318 (View Post)

But compared to most celeb kids who are "flash-bulbed" to death, MJ did a pretty good job keeping them secluded over the years. What Paris had to say about MJ really hit home - the fact that this was her father and that she loved him no matter what.

That's precisely my point. Michael did a great job of keeping his kids out of the spotlight. Sometimes, he even went to stupendously weird lenghts to do so, but he did he. And the second he's dead his daughter is front and centre? I thought it was exploitative of her obvious grief.

And it's all over the news this morning that her speech will probably adversely affect her mother's attempt to gain custody of her own children. Which I have nothing to say for or against. It'll be up to the judge to decide what's best for the children. I don't know any of the people involved, so I don't know what's the true here.

I'm just saying a little girl grieving like that (and it's not too surprising that she should grieve for the only parent she got to know) should have been protected, not put in front of a mike in front of millions of people.

But, there you have it, it's not the first time the Jacksons have put self-interest ahead of a child's right to privacy.

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Originally Posted by vc318 (View Post)

Yes, he did a very nice job. I wasn't expecting such a voice out of such a young person but then again, many thought the same about Michael 40 years ago.

Well, I'd heard him before, from his Britain's Got Talent participation, so I was fully expecting it. I wasn't expecting to see him there, though.

SMG_fan · 07-08-2009, 05:07 AM

I think Paris probably wanted to speak, I know that Bindy Irwin chose to at Steve's memorial.

I thought the whole thing was really well done, I thought Brook Shields was good.

I just really hope that Debbie Rowe doesn't get custody of those kids, she wanted nothing to do with them before and she seems like a pretty mean person. And I was thinking how a lot of people are saying that the kids aren't really his, I don't think that that really matters, what matters is that to those kids he was there father and they loved him to death. From the videos they've been showing he seemed to be a devoted father, and I don't think it will do the kids any good to hear people say that he's not really there biological father.

Belinda

**vc318** · 07-08-2009, 02:08 PM

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Originally Posted by sunnykerr (View Post)

I'm just saying a little girl grieving like that (and it's not too surprising that she should grieve for the only parent she got to know) should have been protected, not put in front of a mike in front of millions of people.

It didn't seem like it was something that was rehearsed and I pray that this isn't the case. But I can understand that when someone you love passes away, you want to say something about them. And the way that Paris was embraced by Janet - it just didn't seem that it was all being done for attention. And I hope what Paris said woke Debbie Rowe up and that she will leave them alone.

**sunnykerr** · 07-08-2009, 06:41 PM

Well, it seemed to me like both Janet and Jermaine were trying to get her off the stage ASAP. Obviously, appearances are in the eye of the beholder.

And I get that all the family surrounding her like that was a show of support for her, but it honestly also looked to me like she was their assigned spokesperson, which I thought was an unfair amount of pressure to put on a little girl.

I fully understand that she must have wanted to say something. I get that. But I think any one of the many adults in her life should have stepped in and said that it was too much. She could have spoken at the private memorial they held for family and loved ones.

All I'm saying is, Michael obviously didn't want his kids in the public eye. I never knew the man, but that much seemed to be clear. That little girl had been sheltered from that exposure during her whole entire life.

So I don't think that the moment she face the public should have been in the same week that she lost her dad. And especially, especially not at such a young age.

And, not for nothing, but it seems I'm not the only one who thought that, although very touching, putting that little girl at centre stage like that was fairly inappropriate:

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Sharpton Defends Jacksons Over Paris Speech

Reverend Al Sharpton has defended Michael Jackson's family for allowing the star's daughter Paris to speak at his funeral - because it gave her a chance to vindicate her father.

The 11 year old paid tribute to her dad at the service in Los Angeles on Tuesday, fighting back tears as she said, "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine and I just wanted to say I love him so much."

The Jacksons were later blasted by child psychologists for allowing Paris to take to the stage, insisting the media attention could be "potentially very traumatic" for her.

But Sharpton, a friend of the late King of Pop, has stood up in defence of the speech and praised young Paris for her efforts.

He tells U.S. talk show host Larry King, "That - that touched everyone. And I think you couldn't script that. She's not reading a prompter. This is a young lady - in fact, if you saw it, they had really said they wanted Janet Jackson to speak. And Janet kind of brought her forward. And she spoke from the heart about her father. I think she's worried the whole world understands how human Michael Jackson was."

The Thriller singer's close friend Dionne Warwick also congratulated Paris for her moving tribute: "I think she spoke instead of Janet... it tore my heart out."

Sharpton Defends Jacksons Over Paris Speech

Anyway, hopefully it wasn't traumatic for her. Hopefully she's doing alright.

**vc318** · 07-09-2009, 08:27 AM

It seemed like Paris went to the mic on her own accord to talk about her dad but like you said, it's up for interpretation. Damned if you do - damned if you don't, I guess.

True Daisy lover · 07-09-2009, 08:34 AM

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Originally Posted by vc318 (View Post)

It seemed like Paris went to the mic on her own accord to talk about her dad but like you said, it's up for interpretation. Damned if you do - damned if you don't, I guess.

I mean maybe that was paris way of saying goodbye... I mean some people need to have that closure and to actualy want to show the world what that person meant to them... nothing wrong with that... and those psychiatrist are quick to judge now because they are out in the spotlight

**vc318** · 07-09-2009, 04:40 PM

I don't even know what those psychiatrists are talking about. How about the part in Child Psychology that says that a child should feel free to say what's on their mind and that bottling up emotions is in fact quite damaging? Gee whiz.

Ruby_Slippers · 07-09-2009, 06:48 PM

I can see both points but honestly as soon as she spoke, I noticed a shift in the media. They seemed rather embarassed because prior to this they weren't treating him like a person. Once Paris spoke it forced everyone to remember he was someone's father.

**sunnykerr** · 07-09-2009, 07:52 PM

I totally and whole-heartedly agree that children should be allowed to speak their minds and not be forced to bottle up their emotions.

I just think there must have been a middle ground between speaking out and doing so in front of millions of people for the first time in her young life (and such an emotional time to boot), especially when we all know her dad probably wouldn't have approved anyway.