We are weeks into the Conrad Murray trial which the media is calling the “Michael Jackson Death” trial for obvious (think ratings) reasons.
I am sure you all have been watching the case unfold and are aware of the important moments during this trial. One of the most significant moments was the revealing of a photo of Michael at autopsy. It was distrubing to a lot of people. The pundits and the trashy magazines used it for their own salacious purposes. So here’s an idea of how to take back the photo- instead of lamenting about the photo, how it was leaked, who did it, and who is guilty, here’s an idea:
The fans need to reclaim Michael by claiming that photo. If people insist on using it and spreading it around, whenever you encounter it here is what you need to do: Write something like this:
“This photo of a deceased Michael Jackson is cause for shame and that is on all of us! This is what it looks like to bully someone to death! For more than twenty years the media lynched this man in the public square– on magazine covers, in newspapers, on late-night TV, in tabloids and even in the mainstream media.
This is the result when you target a personality to shame and to wear your dark shadow for you. This is what a modern day lynching looks like. This is what the outcome is when you stalk an innocent man. Michael Jackson was vilified and featured as the target for the collective shadow of humanity. He was paraded before the world and made a villain when he did nothing wrong. In fact, he was exonerated in 2005 and not guilty of 14 counts! Since the 1993 accusations were allowed in evidence at that trial– the jury found him not guilty of any wrongdoing– ever.
The man could not sleep because he was traumatized by the trial and by being dragged onto the front page of every tabloid and slag newspaper in the world. So, world– this is on you. How does it look to hound someone to death? Yes, the world hounded this man to death.
How do you think you would feel; how would you sleep if the world suddently took to calling you vile names and splashing your photo everywhere? How long do you think you would last? We have some evidence of what happens to people falsely accused of crimes they did not commit. Ask Patsy Ramsey who died when her cancer resurfaced. Ask Richard Jewell who was wrongly accused of the Olympic Park bombing. Oh, that’s right; you can’t ask them– they’re dead. So is Michael Jackson. You had better hope that when your 15 minutes of fames comes, that it is not to be accused of something horrific that you didn’t do because this is what “they” do to you.
Take a good look America. Take a good look world. How does it feel to survey your handiwork? Now choose– who is the next victim you will be hounding to death?”
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Is this Michael’s legacy? Yes and no. There is a lesson for the world in what happened to Michael Jackson. Will the lesson sink in? That is up to you– to how much and how often you remind then. We can work on this after the trial. Let me know if you’re interested.
What is also his legacy is that Michael still leaves sterling messages in the form of his lyrics; he leaves film and books and music for future generations; ever the storyteller and minstrel, story that he leaves behind is timeless; he is an artist whose work is revered in academic circles and those whom he mentored and collaborated with as well as those he influenced will move the legacy forward in shared memories—perhaps dance moves, rifts, a gritty baseline, an A capella vocal rift; sequins and sparkle and an occasional moonwalk for good measure. And of course, the confident and poised children he leaves behind—people who seem to know their own mind and direction.
There is the memory Jermaine Jackson leaves us in his book. There is the Guest film and there is Joe Vogel’s book. Speaking of Joe Vogel’s book… Coming soon- one day this week: An announcement– for a new website. For a contest. And you can participate! So stay tuned.
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There is more that we need to speak of at Inner Michael. After two years of financing Inner Michael all on my own, I am going to have to change some things. I am not in a position to continue as we have been. If you have some suggestions for me, please send them along. If you would rather they not be shared, tell me that. But I am looking for suggestions and resources, so all ideas are welcome.
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Change the world?
Now– go change the meme about Michael Jackson. Go change the world. How do you begin to change the world? Invite people to feel happy regarding Michael Jackson. Happy gets remembered on a more personal level. Happy is intimate. Go make people happy and take Michael along.
16 Comments
Excellent as always Reverend Barbara. The world, especially America, seems to have no clue whatsoever what the word CONSEQUENCE means anymore. Thanks to “reality” shows and other forms of mind garbage, we think bullying and who-cares-about-you-I’ll-do-what-I-want behaviors are normal. The Light you carry, along with all of ours, is desperately needed to change this critically ill world. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that we who are so blessed to come to this site and learn would be more than happy to help finance the site. Let us know what we can do for YOU!
“We can work on this after the trial.[…]” Definitely interested. 🙂
Dear Barbara, this website is a constant source of spiritual nourishment for me, as for so many others. I am too definitely interested in working with you on the lesson the world needs to learn from Michael’s life, fate and death. Also, I want you to know that I am very willing to contribute in some way to help you finance Inner Michael. I am trying to find some ideas. In case, I’ll share them with you privately. Love, Nicole
Dear Barbara, I am interested in keeping this site going. I get so much comfort from your writing because ever since Michael died I feel that a part of me left with him. I think about him constantly that I worry it may be unhealthy for me. I can’t tell anybody how I feel for fear of being ridiculed. My family says I am obsessed with Michael. I wish I could find people who feel the same way to talk to. Any ideas? Anyway, please keep this site going, I am willing to contribute in any way I can.
God Bless you Emilie and thanks for the vote of confidence. There are so many people who still feel the same way you do. There is a phenomena attached to the death of Michael Jackson. I know it is difficult and especially hard for people to talk about. Those who have experienced it understand and for those who don’t, no amount of explaining is going to work. Keep the faith, Emilie.
Anyone here have any thoughts or ideas to share? Please make them publishable– by that I mean that can/should be shared publicly in a way that isn’t too personal or doesn’t sound “crazy?” If you are not sure, you will have to trust me to edit what should be shared publicly. Deal? ~B
Dear Barbara, I ALWAYS trust you ! So, here is my idea: you could ask your readers (us) to pay a subscription fee, in order to get your “Inner Michael Messages.” Why don’t you also publish a book with your most important Inner Michael’s articles and sell this book in order to get financial resources for the maintenance of the website ?
And finally, why don’t you ask for donations? If it was not for you and this website you have created, I don’t know how I would deal with the pain of Michael’s departure. I always turn to Inner Michael as a source of Wisdom, Knowledge and Love. And I know deep in my heart that Michael wants this site to keep going ! 🙂 Personally, I am definitely willing to contribute financially in some way (of course according to my financial resources.) Barbara, we NEED you & Inner Michael! Much Love. Namaste, Nicole
Oh Nicole, thank you so much. I will consider your suggestions. I think we, together– the readers and I can and will figure this out. LYM ~B
Dear Rev. Kaufmann: I have never commented before, but I am a faithful reader of your beautiful articles. To: Emilie – bless you for your honesty! May I say that I feel exactly as you do. And you know what – I am glad I do. People can say what they want about our depth of love and our deep sadness over losing Michael, but the people who love Michael are the people I find that have the most giving, empathetic hearts! It sickens me to see the hateful, mean-spirited things people say and write about Michael. They are emotional terrorists and I believe are very disturbed individuals.
Rev. Kaufmann any plan you have to keep your site continuing, I am 100% behind. Just let us know – we will be here for you. Much love to all of Michael’s brothers and sisters (and I mean us!!) to continue to get his beautiful message out to the masses. Thank you Rev. Kaufmann. Much love and gratitude to you!
Dear Barbara, thank you, thank you, thank you so much! Every post of yours is so heartwarming. It gives me stregth to fight, in my own small way, all the cruelty and lies I still hear from the media towards Michael. A lot of people around me can’t understand what happened to me after Michael death. They thought I went crazy looking at me crying for the sadness and the tragedy of someone I never met. I don’t care. And I made them change their mind talking about the real Michael, the real story of his life (not the media lies!), his huge charity work. He was a special soul, a very spiritual human being. And “places” like this blog (where people are joined by the unconditional love for him) prove he really was. Thank you again. Love to you.
Thanks Susan, and Maria. We will discuss plans and talk further after the trial and after the contest I am sponsoring for Joe Vogel and Man in the Music. The suggestions and ideas are flying in (keep them coming) and I have a few of my own. Even the dreamworld has weighed in on the issue of keeping the message going. I dreamed last night that I was a covert agent with a high security clearance adventurously smuggling a message across the world. The message was about Michael and Michael’s message. It appeared I was enjoying the suspense and the work. Hmmmmm. ~B
Rev. B., I cannot imagine the past months without your loving support. I will be here for you in whatever way possible, monetary or otherwise. It is the least I can do in thank you for your loving care during this horrible mourning, and in the hope of future loving words and guidance. Love and peace.
Rev. B. I want to thank with all my heart for this website and your loving words. Emilie and Susan, I feel the same way and it is very difficult when no one understands. It has been two years and I think of Michael every day. Again Rev B. thank you for being here for us. Please don’t stop. We need you.
Rev. B. I want to thank you with all my heart for this website and your loving words. Emilie and Susan, I feel the same way and it is very difficult when no one understands. It has been two years and I think of Michael every day. Again Rev B. thank you for being here for us. Please don’t stop. We need you.
I have been away and this is my first chance to catch-up with Inner Michael. I would be happy to pay a subscription fee. I would buy any book you wrote – and if you made this website into a book compiling the spiritual – and even psychological & political significance of Michael Jackson I think it would be a blockbuster.
I would buy that in a heartbeat and buy it as gifts to give. What about allowing advertisers to buy space on the site to help finance it? What about raffles? – i.e – make such and such a donation and get your name entered into a raffle to win…a copy of Reverend Barbara Kaufmann’s new book?
oh yes and “We can work on this after the trial. Let me know if you’re interested.” – I am most definitely interested.
Wow, guess I’d better get busy. Thanks for the vote of confidence. I am considering all the suggestions sent to me. It’s humbling. You guys rock. ~B