A short reflection on Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson. Where do I start? It took me a couple of days for his death to sink in. I don't have any of his albums but I admired his great talent as a singer, dancer, musician and showman. It's hard to separate fact from fiction. All the rumours, all the speculation, the lost childhood, the weird behaviour, the physical transformation, the constant media spotlight. After his untimely death it did'nt take long for the tasteless jokes to circulate via email. He was never actually found guilty of child abuse, but I guess we'll never really know the whole truth. Maybe there was child abuse, maybe there was'nt. Maybe he just loved the company of children in a totally innocent way because he was denied his own childhood. I think it's a sad reflection of the society that we live in. I'm sure there are many adults, especially men, who are afraid to show physical affection to a child because, in the back of their mind, there is the worry that people might misinterpret it as something more sinister and perverted. He was rich and famous and liked the company of children - he left himself wide open to be taken advantage of and it was something the media could get their claws into. He was probably naive in that sense. My friend Alan reckons he faked his own death and it won't be long till there are 'Jacko sightings'. I would disagree with him there. If you saw the touching and tearful words spoken by his daughter Paris at the memorial service then I don't think a loving father would willingly put his children through all the trauma and pain of grief. Anyway, the man will always remain a mystery, he will always be an icon and his talents will always be admired and celebrated. Rest in peace Michael.