Inner Michael

Tonight I will beat the drum. Hard. No, furiously. There are days I thank God I am a percussionist. Today is one of those days. My Indian friend will host drum circle and I will take my Djembe and a huge suitcase full of percussion instruments- cymbals, bells, gongs, tingshas, eggs, rain sticks, triangles, maracas, bongos, sticks, shakers, a washboard, and even a beer bottle with steel rod.

Thank goodness for a rhythm, for the natural order of things, for the human heartbeat, for the beat that underlies all living things, for the silent beat that underlies everything, for sound and vibrations and hearing– for percussion.

Tonight I meet one of the Cajons a woodworking father and son made from my old dresser whose previous incarnations include being both blonde and black lacquer with its latest emergence– painted funk. It has now entered its last incarnation as Cajons– 5 of them, I believe. They don’t make dressers like that now, a tongue in groove sturdy design, the wood strong and beautiful with an inherent lyrical thunk when it is tapped with the open hand. I am excited to meet the new kind of funk– in sound and beauty.

(A demonstration, not an endorsement of this Cajon or its maker) I would love to call this drum a “cage-on” because it reminds me of the spice from New Orleans but it is pronounced “Ka-hone.” It’s a thing of beauty.

I will use the drum to take out my frustrations, to release pent up energy and feelings about the recent trial of Conrad Murray and the media frenzy that again put Jackson, not his killer, on trial. I will drum in celebration for the judge whose statement was eloquent and startling. And I will pound out my feeling of injustice in the actual time served likelihood not just of the now guilty offender, but the offenders who will never go to trial.

Speaking of incarnations and perhaps re-incarnations, and hopefully percussive and reverberating reinventions, I share what I received from dozens sending me this piece of amazing literature. I wish I could credit the author but he or she remains unknown.

MICHAEL JACKSON FANS AN EXPOSE

“Michael Jackson fans are a strange breed. One would be hard pressed to find another fan community whose object of admiration is the subject of so much unnecessary condemnation.

Over time, Michael Jackson enthusiasts have watched their beloved’s seemingly global idolization transform into apparent worldwide mischaracterization and mistreatment by the press and public alike.

Yet, through it all, true Michael Jackson fans have abandoned him not. If anything, the harder Michael’s opponents try to shove him to the depths of despair, the harder his devotees love him, if only for summoning the courage to persist in the midst of it all.

Michael’s continued endurance is an exercise in strength and resilience in the face of adversity and uncertainty. Michael’s fans have learned well the lesson, as they steadfastly brave the almost daily emotional roller coaster ride that is a requisite experience of every Jackson supporter. They marvel at his seemingly inexhaustible talents and applaud his victories. They laugh with him in his happiness; weep with him in his sorrow and pray for him in troubled times. Their hearts are warmed when he is embraced, and bleed when he is ill-treated. Despite the stratospheric highs and seemingly cavernous lows that come with being a Michael Jackson fan, they remain loyal.

They, like Michael, refuse to allow naysayers to steal their joy, obstruct their way or shape their opinions. They, like Michael, refuse to have their destiny defined or dictated by another. They also refuse to stand idly by as others attempt to deny Michael his rightfully earned legacy. Simply, Michael Jackson’s fans are just like Mike in that they will not be deterred. By nature of their calling, Michael’s fans are constantly summoned to put on the full armor, stand on the front lines and fight.

OFTEN, WITH THEIR PEN AS THEIR SWORD, THEY FIGHT ALONGSIDE AND FOR MICHAEL’s right of humanity. By so doing, they fight for tolerance over prejudice, unconditional love over criticism; wisdom over ignorance and justice over inequality – not only for Michael, but for themselves as well. The battles are never-ending, hard-fought and often mentally and physically exhausting. Still, rather than surrender or reconcile, Michael’s fans resist.

They refuse to throw in the towel and resign themselves to the path of least resistance, which so often involves renouncing their fan support of Michael. When the going gets tough, they press on. They press on through Michael’s tribulations and the attacks to which he is subjected. They press on in spite of satire. They press on despite mockery as to why they fight for Michael Jackson, a man some deem undeserving of their steadfast loyalty.

Hazrat Inayat Khan once said, “God breaks the heart again and again until it stays opened”. Michael’s devotees can see him as living proof of this idea, as he seems to be the embodiment of the notion. His own heart has been broken much and his fans personally feel the sting of each break. By the grace of God, Michael’s heart does not become hardened as a result of its frequent fractures.

To the contrary, his shattered heart allows for its tenderness and openness. Since out of the heart, the mouth speaks, Michael’s fans are able to truly see the fullness of his heart when they listen to him articulate his desire for acceptance, understanding, positivity, love and peace through song and speech. As efforts to break Jackson himself have continually proven unsuccessful, some opponents have turned their focus to attempting to disband the fan community by attacking his defenders. Time after time, the press uses condescending, defamatory terms to describe Michael’s fans.

Being referred to as ” delusional” and “wacko” is not foreign to Jackson’s supporters. However, they choose to ignore the juvenile name-calling and taglines by the media and by haters. The fans refuse to allow the press to project negative, inaccurate perception onto them.

This is because Michael Jackson fans realize that such inflammatory terms do not depict their true nature as intelligent, grounded individuals with a healthy admiration for Michael’s music, vision and humanitarianism among other things. Interestingly, Michael Jackson’s influence is global and thus, so is his fan base.

Some of his detractors are under the false impression that his fan base is minuscule as well as one-dimensional. To the contrary, Michael Jackson enthusiasts are nothing if not vast and multi-dimensional. They can be found on every continent, in every country worldwide. Michael’s fans transcend racial, age and socioeconomic boundaries. The fact that Michael’s fans are so diverse adds to their beauty.

Few entertainers, if any, can lay claim to having the type of dynamic and varied fan base of which Michael Jackson can boast.

If it is true our lives are open books for others to read, then the fans’ study of Michael Jackson has taught them more than they ever could have imagined they would learn about life, love and survival.

Michael Jackson is a living testament of the notion that whatever one dreams and desires for his or her life can be achieved with truth and honesty. Michael lives by the mantra that love should have no limitations, no conditions. Michael has shown all who dare take notice that it is possible to not only stay alive, but to thrive, with grace and fortitude despite adversity.

By merely existing, Michael Jackson has taught his fans what it is to dream without fear, to create without boundaries, to listen without prejudice and to love without judgment. Simply, Michael Jackson’s fans are a hard act to outshine. Their loyalty, enthusiasm, intelligence and genuine love of Michael is unparalleled by other artists’ fan communities.

However, for all their love and devotion, Michael Jackson’s admiring fans will always be bested in one area; for try as they might, no matter to what infinite degree they say and believe they love Michael Jackson, he will always say and prove he loves them more …

-Fantam circa 2000

As I have said many times before, Michael Jackson fans have much to teach the world:

(You can read part I and III by clicking on the links at Huffington Post.)

I stubbornly believe that claim; that’s why I took a year of my life to guide and edit the incarnation of Voices Education Project: Words and Violence curriculum- the case studies written by Jackson fans and its latest feature by Joe Vogel “Am I the Beast You Visualized,” who wrote Man in the Music that is still featured front page.

The latest addition to the curriculum that spans more than 300 pages now and is in its second edition is Joe Vogel’s feature, “Am I the Beast you Visualized: The Cultural Abuse of Michael Jackson” written for Words and Violence with its accompanying discussion questions are inquiries everyone should be asking. The exercises are practice positions every student should experientially occupy. It should be recommended and adopted by every school in the country for youth is enamored by celebrity. Some advocates of Words and Violence curriculum are going to their local schools and personally introducing principals and teachers to the curriculum. That’s how important they think this project is. Some Inner Michael readers have sent the curriculum to journalism schools. Whatever you can do is helpful. Youth, and adults for that matter, need to know what happened to Michael Jackson at the hands of the media, what resulted and what that feels like to celebrities. When youth buy tabloid magazines, they support a culture that terrorizes real people.

A recent article in the Independent highlights what can happen to celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Brittney Spears and that did happen to Elizabeth Taylor, Madonna and Michael Jackson in their heyday– they were fodder for the tabloids that are unfortunately believed by the population. Say something long enough, have pundits speculate about it long enough and it becomes cultural “truth.”

When the celebrity doesn’t “play ball” with paparazzi and the media, they are deliberately targeted by tabloids. And even if they do genuflect to the media, there is no assurance that anyone is immune from attack. Lady Diana tried to appease the tabloid appetite and still was vilified and hounded to her eventual death. Charlotte Church reveals the dark side’s empire in the Murdoch investigation of phone hacking and celebrity bullying.

Fans have asked “What happens next?” The answer is, I think, to become activists for a more humane narrative on this planet or to ramp it up if one already is, that likely begins with the media but can include advocating for positive Michael Jackson materials and coverage, doing vindication work as is being done par excellence in many places, writing letters to bullying media, taking to the streets in the Occupy movement that demands change and continues to morph, becoming a media change advocate, speaking out publicly, going to the schools and speaking with administration and faculty. It may be simply going to your local book stores and libraries to learn where the new books about Michael Jackson– Joe’s book, Jermaine’s book and the Cascio book is being housed. Do you find them in the “new releases” section? If not, ask the bookstore or library ‘why not?’ and ask that they be moved to a more appropriate location. Demand change in whatever way suits you or you are called to do– unless it is violent. Or Michael would not approve– and you know what that means; it does not require an explanation.

I recently made a general statement that “ego, personal stuff and fan issues,” prevents people of stature working with fans. It wasn’t meant to be arrogant, personal or an accusation but a cautionary and factual observation that when fans behave badly, engage in infighting, have word battles on Twitter, call each other names, become territorial or latch on to celebrity for reflected glory, it gives all fans and advocates a black eye. It gives media a reason to continue calling fans “crazy,” “delusional,” and “worshipping their idol.” It gives those in Michael Jackson’s orbit pause and reasons to avoid fans and advocates. David Nordahl cited examples of fans and admirers involuntarily gripped by a phenomena that caused them to abandon rationality and had Michael practicing the escape of his own clothing to save his life should it become necessary. Michael himself complained about that very thing in his lyrics citing jealousy, vicariously sought celebrity, ego vs. humility and forgetting oneself and the origins of one’s gifts as problems that plague humanity.

The Jackson family is often targeted with commentary that amounts to bullying because fans claim some kind of imaginary propriety over their lives. The entire clan of Jackson brothers and sisters were stars on their television show “The Jacksons.” They are all performers. They all claim the Jackson name. They are the first family of Black music and television. They all contributed to the civil rights movement and the elevation of black music and culture. They are all engineers on the Soul Train to civil rights and integration. And as all families do, they have their differences and dysfunction and dramas. The difference is that they have always done it all in a fishbowl.

Joe Vogel has been attacked, other advocates have been attacked and I learned that I too, am not immune to it. It initiates a “staggering in disbelief” prior to the grief that accompanies disillusionment followed by realization of loss– a personal, death-dealing loss. Choices fall into two categories– those that are “life affirming” and those that are in some way “death dealing.” I’m an idealist. An empath tuned to a global frequency. I hurt when that happens. And when that happens, I understand Michael Jackson the man. My trust is deeply shaken in those moments and I am not as good at forgiveness as I wish I was. Life experiences have taught me that it only takes once to condition a human. I look for what it is teaching me– perhaps it is designed to create empathy? It is empathy that will allow us to save us, after all.

Contrasting that position are fans and advocates who are reasonable, work professionally toward vindication, maintain a professional presence on social media, refuse to engage in dramas and conduct unbecoming to those who would claim to represent Michael and his true legacy. I have received and answered hundreds of letters from them– the ones who have had an inexplicable awakening of some kind courtesy of Michael Jackson (spiritual, cultural, social, emerging awareness or spiritual emergency that catapulted them into a vision quest) are steadfastly working toward cultural change. They are the ones who change hearts and change the world. They are the ones in touch with their inner-bright shadow just as Michael Jackson was in touch with his “inner Michael” brilliance when he saw himself as sharing with the world a gift that was god-given. Each day there is a choice to be made: engage shadow in the ego and obscure the “Inner One” or engage bright shadow and shine. To be soulful or not soulful.

It is the geniuses and visionaries of this world that see the world as it could be, not as it is. The visionary mindset is a painful place to occupy. A perpetual sadness accompanies change agents as they clearly see another choice that could have been made but was not. And those tuned in to engergies feel the impact of those alternative decisions and how the effect ripples through the entire world and its people. It is not easy to live there. Fans and advocates have tasted now, and lived, a little of this visionary place– the change agent position that witnessed up close and yes, they took it personally– the rampant cultural and social dysfunction of the last two years and some long term fans for much, much longer. They have been drafted into occupying the reconnaissance position in a wave of change now sweeping the planet. Many have told me their fatigue is overwhelming but they will “live to ride again” as surfers on the first wave of change. It is about Michael, but it is about far more than Michael– it is much bigger than that. Michael knew and he left clues. The real gift is yet to come.

I promise you that exploration and dialogue is taking place behind the scenes with experts and artists about what comes next. With a little rest, some deep breaths and self nurturing comfort measures, the energy will return and the passion can be used to “make a difference.” If you have stories about how this all has affected you, I welcome them.

If you have photos of reading Joe Vogel’s book around the world, I will collect them and see that Joe, his publicist and PMF (Pay MIchael Forward) gets them. You deserve to have some fun now. So grab your camera and Joe’s book and go out and pose in front of a local landmark. Send me your handiwork- don’t worry if they are not perfect, I am an artist with photography education so I will be your editor before the photo ever sees the light of day. Go celebrate and laugh and smile about finally– the real story being told and the best justice one could hope for– the exposure of words intended for violence. Judge Pastor saw it. He said it– Michael Jackson’s words recorded for violent and selfish purposes. Where have you seen this before? Celebrate the light leaking into areas dark for far too long!

So breathe, rest, celebrate and rejuvenate. The beat goes on for truth. This is NOT it.

I offer a little bit of hope to rejuvenate and re-energize. This is Jeremy Rifkin, visionary and the Empathic Civilization from our Voices Education Project “Words and Violence” Curriculum.