Inner Michael

“No matter what, the most powerful thing in the world is the human mind and prayer, and belief in yourself and confidence and perseverance. No matter how many times you do it, you do it again until it’s right. And always believe in yourself. And not matter who’s around you that is being negative or thrusting negative energy at you, totally block it off. Because whatever you believe, you become.” ~  Michael Jackson  October 26, 2001

I always come back to wondering how in the world he did it. How did Jackson stay vertical through the massive bullying and beating that he took at the hands of the media? I can’t even imagine combating all that negativity coming at someone. How could one withstand that kind of vicious personal attack? How did he continue? Where did he find the inner strength to go on? How did he show up for life?

Some readers and fans have asked about how to deal with the media and I have been trying to build up to and answer those requests. There are questions from fans and readers that have come up that are important to answer, but right now they detract from the current mission. Readers have asked me to address how to become savvy with media reform. The questions sent recently are important. It’s also important to get back to talking about Michael and “Inner Michael” which is a metaphor for the “inner artist,” “inner superstar,” “inner change agent” and so on, who lives inside us. “Inner Michael” is a metaphor for the inner light and the revealing of that light and one’s life mission in the world. If you tap that deep “inner self” you can change the world. That is Michael Jackson’s greatest message. And we will get back to that. But if we let the dark and selfish forces grab the world’s real estate and rape the planet and its people of their god-given resources, then we fail in our loyalty to people like Michael Jackson and Lady Diana who asked us to help them heal the world by bringing peace to the planet and helping the children.

There are people who interfered with Diana’s mission to heal the world. There are people who interfered with Michael Jackson’s mission to heal the world. Some of these are the same people, the same corporations.

This world is broken in so many ways. There is work to be done. There are changes that need to be made. Michael Jackson is one of those people who asked us to “make that change.”

Instead of doing what’s profitable, what’s expedient, what’s convenient, what’s selfish, we need to get back to, or on to a new incarnation of an enlightened society. We need to get back to truth because telling the truth is the right thing to do.

Fans have the hands and voices to “make that change,” but do they have the hearts for it? Do they have the will for it? The stamina? Determination? There is something happening right now that fans should be aware of. Rupert Murdoch, it is rumored, is interested in the acquisition of U.S. media real estate. You might remember that Murdoch is the billionaire media mogul who came from Australia to Britain and opened up the “Fleet Street” tabloid industry that began mocking the royals and celebrities in the Sun and News of the World British gutter press publications.

After establishing “Fleet Street” he deliberately targeted Madonna and Michael Jackson as fodder for his tabloid headlines and stories. This was a calculated move to capture the youth demographic. He wanted to expand his audience to young people. After all, when you cater to the older generation, when they die off, who is going to buy your newspapers so that you can continue raking in billions as a terroist with words as your weapon of mass destruction? If you want to insure your longevity and be relevant in the future, you must go after young minds to corrupt.

This man single handedly made the world a much darker place while Michael Jackson was at the same time, trying to heal the world. Michael was one of his biggest targets. As was Madonna, Fergie and Lady Diana. Diana was being mocked in the tabloids and that mocking extended to her work with land mines. Who mocks a royal of her stature who is trying to bring attention to land mines hacking off limbs of children? Who is trying to save the lives of children?

That “hacking” word was deliberate. There is hacking and there is hacking. When those who have a bully pulpit are trying to save children and change the world and they are effectively hamstrung and made a laughing stock in headlines, who suffers? The children who didn’t benefit suffer! Lady Diana and Michael Jackson were humanitarians and champions for children. Yet, for the sake of gossip and sadistic thrills in “scandal” and salacious stories, both these champions of humanity were laughed at and mocked for their efforts to save the children and save the planet. Their credibility and their work suffered which means that children who might have been helped weren’t. Children who might have been fed starved. Children who might have felt cherished and cared for were abandoned in favor of selling newspapers to line the pockets of the already obscenely wealthy. Tabloid journalists are sometimes called “hacks.”

And last year saw a new depth of depravity in that word– hacking. You may remember that Rupert Murdoch was taken to task over the practice of phone hacking as a feature of getting the “insider stories” for his tabloids. When it was finally revealed that this was a business-as-usual means of operation at Murdoch’s media holdings, and specifically that his minions had hacked the private voicemails of a murdered teenager to “get the story,” the public was outraged.

Millie Dowler was murdered and Rebekah Brooks, the then CEO of News International gifted the Dowler family with a phone to help in the investigation that was later found to be bugged in order to collect more stories about the dead girl. The NOTW newspaper, while hacking Dowler’s phone deleted some of her messages leading her parents to believe the murdered girl was still using her phone and thus alive, when she was already dead. The paper essentially interfered with a murder investigation.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/28/world/europe/milly-dowler-profile/index.html

Murdoch’s corporation included News of The World and The Sun Brititsh tabloids. News of The World is widely cited as the first newspaper to use the moniker “Wacko Jacko” and Kelvin MacKenzie is credited with writing the headline.

Murdoch and his son were called to testify before the British Parliament and explain their illegal and immortal corporate tactics. Law enforcement in both Britain and the U.S. are supposedly conducting an ongoing investigation into the illegal activities of Murdoch, his corporation and minions. Many think Murdoch closed News of the World to put an end to the story that caused an outrage; it is seen as Murdoch’s attempt at damage control.

Now it is reported that Murdoch has his eyes on American media- with the LA Times and Chicago Tribute at the top of the list. We, in America do not want this kind of sleaze in our media. The media is badly in need of reform, not of more darkness and corruption.

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_21944223/fcc-poised-ease-media-ownership-rules?source=rss

Michael Jackson fans should be all over this instead of jumping on an anger campaign about a book which only serves to promote and make more visible that which it rales against. Bad publicity works just as well as good publicity. Michael taught us that. Bad publicity is like a magnet for the curious, especially those who like to roll in the dirt. Reporters have used the fans to promote salacious material and fans have played right into their hands. Instead of an angry, disorganized and schizoid swarm, fans could make a real difference in organizing for media reform if they would keep Michael in mind. He understood where the pain comes from. He understood human nature. He understood that when there is a vacuum where love lives, people resort to their shadow selves.

One Michael Jackson fan recently asked me ‘what became of the LOVE in the Michael Jackson community?’ and begged me to remain the voice of reason, saying “we need you to stay strong!” I too wonder what happend to the LOVE. Can you tell me where it is? I am not saying to overlook treachery. I am saying be smart about being a warrior for truth.

I am asking that you become aware of what is going on in the media around you… take notice… and ask for something better.

We need to WAKE UP and then we need to WAKE UP THE WORLD.

Here are some things to wake up to:

Murdoch wants more media. The FCC is thinking about changing the rules to allow corporations like Murdoch’s to acquire multiple media outlets. That means big corporations like Murdoch’s can have a monopoly on what you watch on the news and read in the newspaper. Do you want Murdoch controlling the American media?

If you object, then you’d better make your feeling known. NOW.

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_21944223/fcc-poised-ease-media-ownership-rules?source=rss

Petition the FCC. Help Avaaz. Help Free Press. Write letters. For god’s sake, no– for Michael sake (and all the future Michaels targeted by tabloid media) don’t let this happen:
http://act.freepress.net/sign/murdoch_powergrab/?akid=3950.9602831.PdkGjE&rd=1&t=1

Here is the FCC address and website and contact page:
http://www.fcc.gov/contact-us

Here’s another Wake Up Call calling to fans:

Michael Jackson’s sexuality and sexual preference was subject to ridicule. He was called “homosexual,” “fag,” “gay” and was accused of the most horrific crimes against children. There is a myth that believes if you are homosexual, you are likely to prey on children. That myth is endangering South Africa right now. And Africa, Michael said, was his true homeland. Where is your outrage, fans? Where are your voices?

This is a tabloid newspaper in Africa:

This is Uganda’s premier tabloid magazine. The yellow banner above the photos and under the headlines reads: “Hang Them.” What do you say to that?

That’s right it says: “HANG THEM.” That is a call for mass murder. And really, hanging black men? Where has that happened before?

Everyone here knows what the tabloids did to Michael Jackson. Jackson fans are particularly sensitive to tabloid stories about his life. Michael himself, spoke of how hurt and insulted he was by tabloids and by the names he was called and the stories invented to sell more newspapers and magazines.

Jackson sang about the assaultive nature of tabloid journalism in “Tabloid Junkie” and after his passing, the estate released “Breaking News” in the “Michael” posthumous album in which he sings “you’re breaking the news.”

What Rupert Murdoch role modeled to the world and the model he gave media for making money is shameful. You can see the Murdoch mentor and model in this latest tabloid handiwork. Murdoch was a good teacher. He has demonstrated to the world how making money for the unscrupulous is done. What the tabloids did to Jackson, the Jackson family, celebrities and the royals was only a sampling of the damage done over decades of the Murdoch rein of terror. And while the gutter press headlines dismembered celebrities for sport and entertainment, they never called for mass murder.

But this tabloid, patterned after Murdoch’s Sun calls for mass murder and genocide in a country with a history of Apartheid and genocide. The Rolling Stone tabloid press published photos of 100 alleged “homosexuals” incountry and called for their elimination:

And there’s another British hack fans should be aware of– the one who did the “Living With Michael Jackson” documentary.

Here is Martin Bashir speaking about Charles Krauthammer who is a Neorologist and Psychiatrist who won a Pulitzer Prize in journalism and who is paralyzed from the waist down yet works as a broadcast journalist:

Yes, Martin Bashir said on air: “I must apologize to any young people who were frightened by that face.” Does that sound familiar?

Here is an article about what Bashir said: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/11/09/msnbc-bashir-apologizes-to-young-viewers-frightened-by-krauthammers-face/

While I am not a fan of Fox News and do not view them as the “fair and balanced,” network they call themselves, in this case they are correct. Bashir’s comment was crass and sophomoric and he should be called out for it. Since when is it OK to make fun of someone’s face? Oh yeah, that’s right, now I remember.

And there are some people who are warriors for media reform that the fan community should watch and support like: Miss Representation. I have been watching Jennifer Newsome and her campaign for media reform in how it treats females in the media. Here is a recent letter:

Dear Rev. Barbara,

Last week, a six year old girl in Ireland wrote an inspiring letter to a game manufacturer Hasbro pointing out the gender imbalance in their popular “Guess Who?” board game. The company reponded and has since sparked an internaitonal convversation online, It’s an important story, not olny because it proves that kids are not immune to the media’s gendered messaging, but because it reminds us that we can all use our consumer voice to fight sexism and influence others.

Last week we urged you to stay vigilant and notice how women were being represented at the movies during hte holiday. Now. we want to make sure you take that same critical eye to the malls an ddepartment stores after Thanksgiving.

When you see an advertisement that demeans women, or a product that relies on harmful gender stereotypes to make sales, don’t buy it– and let the world know by posting a photo to Twitter with#NotBuyingIt (or by emailing us directly)! And, if you see something that is
positive for women and men, make sure and spread the word.

Remember that 86 percent of the purchasing power in America is in the pockets of women, and that there’s no age limit – or minimum – to consumer activism. So let’s use our influence to support gender-inclusive products and avoid those that limit us!
Warmest,
Jennifer Siebel Newsom
and The MissRepresentation.org Team

Jennifer Newsome and her Miss Representation Campaign (www.missrepresentation.org) is changing the world. Her campaign and how she goes about making this change is of great importance to Michael Jackson fans who can learn a lot from this woman and how she goes about this work of changing the world. (*hint- you are not going to see her bullying anybody; what you will see is how she fiercely advocates for change and asks for it directly.) She is a force to be observed for lessons on how to go about change and advocacy. Pay attention fans!

So my point is this: Jackson Fans, should they ever decide to get involved in reform rather than revenge, could do a lot to call for change. If fans would get behind a media reform campaign, the world would be a better place because they could demand it.

When something or someone insults a public figure (hint: like Michael Jackson,) they also insult decency and civility. Or when they insult your intelligence or insult someone’s legacy or memory, you can make your voice heard by writing to the offending person, network, newspaper, magazine, online journal, or reporter, etc. Whenever a genre degrades someone, the world doesn’t become a little better, it becomes a little more bitter. Want a worthwhile campaign in honor of Michael Jackson? Work to stop media bullying.

To have more impact, do not cite Michael or say you are a Michael fan when it is not necessary. You have more clout with the powers that be and those in the corporate boardrooms making the decisions. If you identify yourself as a fan, you immediately announce you are “crazy” and get dismissed as not being a legitimate voice. That is just the way it is right now and when fans swarm, they reinforce the myth about “crazy Michael Jackson fans.” And when you act crazy, expect the public to scoff at anything you have to say. To not identify yourself as an MJ fan is not disloyal to Michael, it is a stealth tactic that Michael would approve of. Michael was called “cunning” for a reason. He was a brilliant strategist. Those strategies can be adopted and adapted to change the world, to end media discrimination and bullying.

Sometimes the bullying is shocking, sometimes it’s subtle. What do you think of this? Yes, it is what it seems- a woman with breasts in front and in back. Whose genius was this? Sony. Take a look:

Here’s the article:
http://www.cnet.com.au/sony-boards-the-sexism-train-339342311.htm

Does that ad degrade females? Is it sexist? Uh huh.

When these things happen in the media that degrade people, we have to speak up. We have to make our feelings know. If we allow a little of something, rest assured a lot of it is on the way. When did the world become so mean and so cynical? When we weren’t paying attention and watching and protecting the turf!

 

Speaking of Powerful and determined women who change the world-( did you catch that?)…

Here is someone to watch. She was a former reporter who blew the whistle on networks being paid by foreign governments to air favorable documentaries to cover and counter their human rights violations. Her name is Amber Lyons, kand while I don’t agree with her about the “war on journalism” she may be on the front lines of some very damning information about corporate media. I think she’s a very courageous woman:
 

 

Here’s a link to the story:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/04/cnn-international-documentary-bahrain-arab-spring-repression

So you see, there is lots of work to be done. But there are CIVILIZED ways to go about this– that don’t get you called “crazy” or “weird.” Being a Michael Jackson fan and being called “crazy” and “weird” is the same as Michael being called “crazy” and “weird.” That does not reclaim his rightful legacy; it perpetuates the “Wacko” one. He’s not here to speak for himself. Did you ever hear or see him engage in an angry swarm? No, you saw him hurt and mad; and how did he handle his pain? He mobilized and acted in a non-violent focused way. How did he, as a warrior for truth fight? With LOVE and art. With fierce LOVE and artful action.