We’ve known this was the likely result, almost since the day he died on June 25th.  The why’s, wherefore’s, how’s and who’s have been discussed ad nauseum by the television pundits; the discussion of who’s to blame – Michael Jackson himself, his personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray, or any one of the other 1/2 dozen physicians reportedly being investigated – will continue to be discussed for many months, if not years, to come.  But at the end of the day, the bottom line is – it doesn’t really matter who’s to blame.  Michael Jackson, perhaps the greatest entertainer of all time, is gone – far too early, and as a result of a situation that could have been prevented. 

As a Michael Jackson fan since childhood (and we were about the same age), I’ve watched Michael’s evolution over the years – his music, his dancing, his looks, his humanitarian work, and his legal challenges.  I often felt sad for him – which some might think odd since this was a man admired the world over, who supposedly had everything money could buy and then some.  However, from the time we were both children, it was obvious to me that it was not possible that this creative genius and wonderful human being was living a life he enjoyed.  Don’t get me wrong – I firmly believe he lived to entertain and he felt most alive on stage; but he was after all, human.  And humans need to connect – deeply, and they need to be able to trust, and they need to be able to make mistakes and know that they can move on from them.  Michael Jackson never had these things; he was denied the most basic human needs – at least until his children came along.  Only with them was he ever able to truly love, trust, and just be Michael.

I do believe there were people in his life who truly loved him and who he loved in return; his mother, both his wives (though many would disagree with me here), a few friends who had been in his life for many, many years (Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross), and his family – though to varying degrees – though even with these people, including his family, in many ways he was still ‘Michael Jackson’, not just Michael.   The love and adoration the world heaped upon him from the time he was a child, in effect, denied him the opportunity to meet people and know if they really liked/loved Michael the person, or Michael Jackson the persona.  And so, Michael turned inward – and who could blame him?  I don’t think any of us can begin to imagine the circus that surrounded every aspect of this man’s life; he could never just run to the grocery store for a gallon of milk, or take in a ball game, or go see someone else perform in concert without it becoming a spectacle.  Can you imagine what it must be like trying to figure out why someone wants to be your friend, or if they will be standing next in line to betray you – likely in a way that is very public?  It’s no wonder that Michael only felt safe in a world he created with just himself and his children included in it!

From all accounts Michael understood that the attention heaped upon him was intended with love (with the exception of course, of the paparazzi), but that didn’t make it any easier to live with.  And so he didn’t – live with it, I mean.  Instead he removed himself from society and consoled himself with a life he constructed from his idea of what he thought life was supposed to be.  From listening to him in interviews, he openly felt he had done the right thing.  However, I personally don’t believe he understood the pain he was internalizing – and I believe that pain caused the lack of sleep, and some of the prescription drugs (others I do believe stemmed from many physical pain issues which started with the Pepsi burn, several falls over the years, and other injuries that dancers are prone to).

So this brings me to the title of this article – that Michael Jackson’s life – and death – should provoke change.  What do I mean by that?  I’ll be happy to explain.  I believe as follows:

• that we need to take a different approach to how we treat our ‘idols’; we have to find a way to show our adoration and yet let them live their lives as normally as possible.  Just because they have a public persona and make their living in front of us, doesn’t mean that we ‘own’ them.
• that we need to develop stringent laws regarding the behavior of the paparazzi when it comes to celebrities.  While in this case they may not have been the direct cause of Michael’s death as they were in the death of Princess Diana, I have no doubt that they were a contributing factor – in particular of his need to turn inward and to put himself to sleep with medication – particularly after their treatment of him since 1993, and even more so since the charges filed in 2003.
• that we, the public, must stop ‘feeding’ on the lives of our celebrities; the public in general must stop the frenzy that builds them up to incredible heights so we can then enjoy seeing them fall.  There’s something very sick about it, and yet I’ve seen it occur many times.
• that we, the public, need to stop encouraging the paparazzi media in their quest for never-ending instrusion into the lives of celebrities by refusing to purchase their publications.  It’s very simple – supply and demand; if the demand ceases, so too will the supply.
• that the laws regarding physician’s providing prescription medication’s need to be changed; there need to be increased penalties for over-prescribing. While celebrity addicts may ‘demand’ to be given what they want, physician’s having years of medical training should know better and should call in whatever reinforcements are needed to help them stand firm – or have the strength to walk away – no matter how much money is offered.  As Dr. Murray can now attest, there is a price to be paid for taking actions motivated by money, or by the lure of “the celebrity inner-circle”.

If these changes can happen then maybe Michael Jackson will be famous for one last thing – that he caused a change; one that means we will never again see the public destruction of a shining star like Dorothy Dandridge, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, Dana Plato, Anna Nicole Smith, Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson – any many, many others too numerous to mention. And after a life filled with achievement, that’s a pretty big one to top the list – something which only Michael Jackson is likely ‘big enough’ to make happen.

Personally, I do not think that the time this man spent in prison has taught him anything other than not to get caught next time.  To me, he does not appear to have any actual remorse for the dogs themselves – he doesn’t even mention them in any statements I’ve heard him make.  Rather, he talks about what he gave up, and how sad he is to have disappointed people.  It’s all about him – and from what I can see, his only actual regret is having been caught.  If not under an intense media and public microscope, I would not be surprised at all if he went right back to repeating the same actions.  Based on what I’ve seen, to him, the animals themselves are of little consequence.

Therefore, I urge you to read the article below, but more so, I urge you to look at the suggested action items provided by the Animal Law Coalition – and added to by me – at the bottom of the article; and send them to Commissioner Goodell at the address provided.  You can also send the NFL this article via Twitter at @NFL. 

I would also recommend sending this to Wayne Pacelle at the Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037, calling them at 202-452-1100, or sending to them via Twitter at @HumaneSociety since they have taken it upon themselves to essentially be his sponsor back into society.  If they want to take on that responsibility, then they should insure that he is forced to take SUBSTANTIVE actions on behalf of animals, not just lip service as part of his personal PR campaign.
___________________________________________________________

August 14, 2009 by The Animal Law Coalition

What Happened to ‘Genuine Remorse’?

The Philadelphia Eagles have signed Michael Vick to a one year contract for $1.6 million with an option for a 2nd year for $5.2 million.

The deal really belies the claim by Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner, that Vick must show “genine remorse” before he can be fully reinstated and play for the entire regular season. It seems unlikely the Eagles would have signed Vick to such a contract if there was any concern Goodell might not reinstate him fully. So what about the “genuine remorse” Goodell has insisted Vick must show to be fully reinstated in the NFL? (See ideas below)

Other than a couple of meetings arranged by the Humane Society of the United States with some inner city youth, we haven’t seen any remorse. Not a word. Not a gesture. Nothing.

This drama played out over the last few months seems to have been nothing more than a carefully orchestrated public relations campaign with the goal of reinstating Vick in the NFL. The tough talk from Goodell has been nothing more than that….part of the PR to satisfy a public that has roundly condemned Vick and his use of dogs for fighting and his abuse and torture of them in ways no good person can begin to understand.

By failing to follow through on the requirement Vick show “genuine remorse”, Goodell and the NFL and their advertising sponsors have signaled to young people that his crimes weren’t that bad, just don’t make his mistake of getting caught.

Original report: The National Football League has conditionally reinstated Michael Vick. Conditionally because he cannot play at least until the 6th game of the season, and he must demonstrate “genuine remorse” before he can do so. Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the NFL, has long said Vick must demonstrate “genuine remorse” for his crimes before he can play professional football once again.

Vick just completed house arrest on July 20, 2009, the end of a 23 month sentence for a guilty plea and conviction on federal charges of conspiracy to engage in gambling and dog fighting in violation of the Animal Welfare Act, 7 USC §2156.

Many in professional football, including sports writers and fans, are eager for Vick’s return, insisting he has “suffered” enough of an “ordeal” for dog fighting. There has even been talk of a reality show starring Vick, maybe a book.

The implication from Vick’s supporters is always that he was caught doing something akin to having an affair or smoking pot. Something that shows a lapse in judgment, yes, but not even as serious as driving under the influence or domestic violence or worse. Their implication is that, after all, these were just animals. They roll their eyes at the thought that the “animal rights people” could keep this former football superstar from returning to the game. The game, the celebrity, the money, that is what is important. Don’t go too far with this “animal rights stuff”.

As for Vick himself, any “genuine remorse” he may feel is not apparent. He has said almost nothing about the cruelty, the torture he inflicted on dogs that trusted him, dogs which by his own admission, he beat, strangled, drowned, hanged and slammed to the ground to kill them when they didn’t prove to be good enough fighters. He has not so much as mentioned, let alone demonstrated, remorse for the torture and abuse these dogs endured as Vick trained and forced them to fight.

It bears repeating that in the April 25, 2007 raid carried out by the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force (VAFTF) along with the Virginia State Police and Drug Task Force on Vick’s Surry County, Virginia property, authorities found: 54 dogs, some of which were chained to car axles buried in the ground; rape stands used to force fighting dogs to breed by restraining an aggressive female, “break” or “parting” stick used to pry open fighting dogs’ mouths during fights; treadmills and “slat mills” used to train dogs for fighting; steroids and controlled substances as well as vitamins, dietary and red blood cell supplements administered to fighting dogs, bloody strips of carpeting often found in dog fighting pits, a scale with a hook on it to weigh dogs; and a diuretic to stimulate urination after a fight. Sources report there was a great deal of blood in the attic of the house.

Vick initially denied knowing anything about any of this. NOTE FROM LD:  I have also seen articles in the last several days where parts of his presentations to inner city kids are quoted; and in these presentations he indicates that someone else is responsible for making him take these actions.  Once again, not taking responsibility.  See one of those articles HERE.

What should be expected? Many of the millions of Americans who love and respect animals, law enforcement, animal control, prosecutors, pet owners, teachers, students, children and animal welfare advocates believed Michael Vick should not return to the glamour and privilege of professional sports. They believed that like Pete Rose, he should pay this price for these monstrous crimes and fade from public view. They believed that then people would know that animals’ lives matter, that animal fighting and cruelty won’t be tolerated.

But Goodell and the NFL have decided Vick likely will regain the fame, fortune and life of privilege he once knew.

It would have been preferable if Goodell had not reinstated Vick or first demanded a demonstration of “genuine remorse”. We don’t know if Goodell’s words are simply tough talk.

But let’s find out. Here is a list of ideas for Vick to demonstrate genuine remorse:

1. Fund education programs to teach youth about the cruelty of dog and all animal fighting and urge them to stop or avoid it and responsible pet ownership;
2. Talk to youth about the cruelty of dog and animal fighting and urge them to avoid it;
3. Demand all sports leagues have a zero tolerance policy against animal fighting and abuse;
4. Offer assistance including funding to law enforcement in investigating and busting animal fighting operations;
5. Testify in support of stronger animal fighting and animal cruelty laws;
6. Make PSAs or commercials or take out ads or billboards that discuss the cruelty of dog and all animal fighting;
7. Set up a foundation to pay for the care and placement of dogs he formerly owned that are now in sanctuaries or homes and also for dogs seized in future animal fighting busts.

ADDED BY LINDSAY DAY:

1. Make him spend at least 1 day per week working in animal shelters; require him to spend time with the dogs, care for the dogs, clean up after the dogs, and play with the dogs – INCLUDING pit bulls – so he begins to have an understanding of his actions.  Make him be involved when someone has to surrender a dog they love because they can’t afford to care for them, or make him help rescue dogs in abusive situations – maybe THAT will open his eyes.
2. Require him to donate AT LEAST 10% of his new annual contract for the next 2 years to animal rescue groups around the country; develop some sort of application process that groups can go thru to apply for the money and have an outside administrator (totally unaffiliated with him or the NFL or the HSUS) manage the money and select the rescue groups to receive it.
3. Make him work in a veterinarian’s office AT LEAST one day per month so he can see what emergency actions have to be taken to save an animal that has been abused similar to his previous actions.
4. Make him recruit volunteers to work in shelters and with rescue groups while he’s out doing his ‘community talks’ with teens, etc. – require that he achieve a certain percentage of volunteers from each group to show that he really is having impact on the people he’s speaking to.

Send these along with your own positive ideas to Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner, Roger.Goodell2@nfl.net or National Football League 280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017, or call him at (212) 450-2000 or (212) 450-2027.  You can also send the article to them via Twitter at @NFL.

1. that the NFL commissioner has decided to give him a conditional ‘second chance’ so as soon as he can find a team that is willing to take on the PR nightmare of signing him, he will likely have an opportunity to play again in the NFL and work to regain the status (and the money) that he so carelessly tossed away
2. that the Humane Society of the United States has decided to utilize him as a spokesperson for a series of Public Service Announcements about animal cruelty.

If those who participate in social media are any indication, I don’t think that either organization is going to have an easy time explaining themselves to their constituencies – in the case of the NFL, the fans and the other players; and in the case of the HSUS, animal lovers across this country and the many rescue organizations and shelters who are in the business of cleaning up messes like those caused by Mr. Vick and his associates.

As you can likely tell from reading this piece so far, I am in agreement with those who believe that Mr. Vick should rot in hell for what he did, and should definitely not be given an opportunity to regain a life of wealth and privilege – and MOST CERTAINLY should not insult us by lecturing to us in PSAs about the horrors of animal abuse via the HSUS.  It is my contention that Mr. Vick does not in any way regret his actions, but rather his only regret is that he got caught!  Any man who can attach electrodes to the ears of an animal and then throw them into a swimming pool – laughing all the while with his buddies - has some serious issues and is not anyone that I believe should be let loose in society.  In my opinion, his next step will be to hurt a human being as he obviously has no regard for life.

What do you think?

And in case you’re interested in learning what happened to Vick’s dogs, click HERE.  You will see that the HSUS is apparently not much brighter than Mr. Vick in that they wanted ALL the dogs put down.  Fortunately, rescue groups were able to take many of the dogs and re-train them to be able to live wonderful new lives with families who would treat them well.

In looking at the photos being shown on television, and listening to the short speech afterward by the police officer, I’m fairly convinced that if left to their own devices both sides will be able to work this out amicably and reach a greater level of understanding going forward.  Per the police officer in his brief remarks, he and the professor have intentions of further meetings in the near future to help each gain awareness of the other’s perspective.

President Obama downplayed the event, indicating it was just a casual conversation between a few guys while they have a beer at the end of a hard day – and it just so happens that one of them is the leader of the free world and another is his Vice-President.  However, the police officer’s remarks seem to reinforce the President’s viewpoint, in that he indicated it was a fairly casual conversation with moments of joviality, as well as a family tour of the White House beforehand for both men’s families.  All in all, it seems to have been a positive outcome that can lead to more positive things in the future.

However, once again, if you listen to the media commentators reporting on the event, they will have you believe that there’s a conspiracy behind every statement, everyone involved is hiding things, and a war between the races is imminent! 

While I’ve always had a great deal of respect for the media overall – at least when they’re doing the job they’re supposed to be doing; I find myself in the last several months becoming more and more aggravated with media ‘analysts’ who spout statements meant to inflame whatever situation they are discussing.  I’m finding it to be a frequent occurrence that items as reported by the media are typically incorrect when compared with the actual facts when you are finally able to discern them.  I’m not sure how we got to this point in American journalism, but I certainly hope we can find a way to fix the situation before the media really does cause some future situation to blow up when it had full capability of being fully resolved if they had not interfered!

What are your thoughts?

• Walter Cronkite                                           
• Michael Jackson
• Farrah Fawcett
• Karl Malden
• Steve McNair                                                     
• David Carradine
• Robert McNamara
• Billy Mays
• Fred Travalena.

As you may know, some of these deaths were expected, some were shocking in their surprise. And as diverse were their roles in our lives, so to were the reasons for their deaths.  From Farrah Fawcett’s long expected death from cancer, to Steve McNair’s shocking murder, to the sudden heart failure of Michael Jackson for reason’s still to be confirmed; I believe it’s safe to say that each of these deaths caused us to pause for at least a moment when we learned of it.

If you’re at all like me, when I heard about each death I automatically thought back to a point in my life when they were prominent in my daily exposure to them.  Obviously, some of these deaths affected me more than others because of the impact they may have had on me, but in their own way, each had an impact on at least one moment in my life and their death took me back to that moment at least for a brief instant of time.  In some cases I was happy to revisit that moment and re-connect with an early memory that brought me a smile; in other cases the memories weren’t so pleasant – but a useful remembrance in spite of that fact.

Personally, as each death happened in such a short span of time I can honestly say each subsequent death as it happened has caused me to begin thinking of my own mortality.  I began to wonder if each of them had accomplished everything they wanted in life.  Were they happy with the legacy they were leaving us – and their families?  And then I began to think about my own legacy.  ‘If today was my last day’ on earth, would I leave a positive impact on the world?    Would anyone know that I was here?  Did my life positively affect the life of anyone else?  As a result of this I’ve decided I have more work to do to help affect positive change in the world around me.  Personally, I want my life to have counted in a way where others have benefitted from my presence here.

So that lead me to my final thought, whether you loved, hated, or were indifferent to the celebrities we’ve recently lost, in the end they did one thing that really mattered – they shined a light on something.  If Farrah’s death causes more money to be put into research that saves one life, then she died with a purpose.  If Steve McNair’s death causes people to talk about the illegal purchase of handguns or causes one person not to cheat on their spouse, then he has died with a purpose.  If Michael Jackson’s death brings the issue of prescription drug abuse and doctor shopping into clear focus, or hearing his song ‘Heal the World’ reminds someone to volunteer their time or make a donation to a worthy cause, then he also has died with a purpose.  And as the song says, they may be ‘Gone to Soon’, but is there any better epitaph on a life?

            Jackson’s very long, and very public decline to his untimely death began in 1993 with the first media announcement of accusations of child molestation.  From that point forward every action he took – or didn’t take, every statement he made – or didn’t make, and every aspect of his life were fodder for the posing, posturing, and speculation of the media.  To this day, even after his death, the subjugation continues.  With almost no regard for accuracy, verification, or truth the media pundits turned this soft and gentle soul into a caricature about whom stories were told to garner ratings, regardless of the damage those stories would cause to the man being vilified.  Even the most respected national journalists made statements – and are STILL making statements – without regard to accuracy in order to achieve the shock value and public following gained by the most lurid headlines.

            It is my contention that the media circus which surrounded Jackson from 1993 forward shaped public opinion and divided a worldwide population of adoring fans into two camps – those who were absolutely certain of his innocence, and those who were absolutely certain of his guilt.  No matter that his 1993 accuser has recently made public statements that his accusations were untrue, and forced by his greed-motivated father.  No matter that he was vindicated of all charges brought against him in 2003.  The media painted a picture that made him, rather than his accusers, guilty in the eyes of the world.  The media’s constant references to the accusations – made even to this day – crucified him before our very eyes.  In spite of the fact that in the United States a person is to be considered innocent until proven guilty, from the day he was first accused, Michael Jackson became guilty in the eyes of the media and in the eyes of the public who allow their opinions to be shaped by the media – and nothing has changed, even after his death.

            The very public barrage of speculation over the last 16 years caused this loving and generous man who, although adored worldwide for more than 20 years, had never had the greatest of confidence, to withdraw into himself.  He became fearful of trusting anyone except those who were the very closest to him; he became fearful of speaking in public (and who could blame him given how every statement he made was twisted into something he never intended); and he became fearful of performing – taking away that gift that most tied us to him.  He became a tortured soul, unable to use his gifts to share himself with the world as he had for the majority of his life, and it appears he turned to prescription drugs to numb the pain and drown out the constant specter of accusations.  This man who wanted to use his abilities and public following to ‘heal the world’ was forced to endure a pain the rest of us can only imagine.

            Even today, 3 weeks after his death, the pundits are still reviewing his life from a standpoint of negativity.  Instead of heralding the worldwide impact of his documented charitable contributions and his many positive areas of life-changing impact on the worldwide community, instead of crediting the man with the international joy given by his extraordinary genius and talents, the media still focuses on the false accusations and his resulting behaviors caused by the public spectacle.  Is it any wonder he couldn’t survive it?  No mere mortal could!

            The media worldwide – but particularly in the U.S. – needs to take a very hard look at itself; as does the public who allow their opinions to be shaped by those who are nothing more than script readers positioning themselves as authorities and are shaping public opinion without regard to the accuracy of their information.

            In just the last several days I have heard the same Michael Jackson stories about the Pepsi incident, the children’s custody, and the cause of his death, all covered by a variety of “respected” members of the media – all of whom gave different interpretation of the supposed facts.  So depending on which media pundit you listen to, you will have formed an opinion based only upon their presented information and are unlikely to have questioned whether or not all the needed information was contained and/or conveyed in their particular presentation of “the facts”.  This same acceptance has been practiced by the public from the first accusations in 1993.  In the United States where we have the freedom to make our own decisions based upon our own gathering and interpretation of the facts, we have instead ceded this freedom to the media pundits and allowed them to fashion our opinions.

            As I have watched the social media commentary on Michael Jackson and his life on Twitter and Facebook over the last several weeks, I am ashamed of what we have become.  The thousands upon thousands of postings indicate that even those who are steadfast in their endorsement of his genius, have appeared to “love him in spite” of his supposed short-comings.  This, once again, an indication that although he was found innocent, the media condemned him to a life of on-going public speculation about his guilt.

            Therefore, though I have no public following, and though I have no public persona with which to shape international public opinion, let me state emphatically the following as my personal beliefs:

• Michael Jackson was a genius with a talent that could only have been given to him by God.
• Michael Jackson was a caring soul who wanted to use his gifts to help the world become a better place and to ease the pain and suffering of those less fortunate.
• Michael Jackson was man with a childlike quality who was seeking to re-capture the childhood he had lost, thru the happiness of the children that he helped.
• Michael Jackson was a man tortured by demons – created in childhood by an abusive father and a publicly-viewed life that we can only speculate caused damage to the boy who became the man, and demons created in adulthood by the media and the constant public flogging he was forced to endure.
• Michael Jackson was a loving friend, family member and father – who was generous, loyal, and openly affectionate to those he cared about (we should all have such a reputation among those closest to us, shouldn’t we?).
• Michael Jackson was apparently a trusting man of those who made their way into his inner circle – which in some cases cost him dearly as many of those in that circle clearly gave him very bad advice, whether well-intentioned or not.  Personally over the last several weeks I’ve seen interviews with at least a ½ dozen people who claimed to have been his publicist at one point or another in his life – all of whom could obviously have done a better job of advising, guiding, and caring for the man who placed his life in their hands.
• Michael Jackson was a man who internalized his pain – rather than taking the route of so many celebrities today and acting out, being obnoxious, and generally causing chaos in the world around them, he chose to shut himself off and ostensibly to cause pain only unto himself.
• Michael Jackson was a man who inspired loyalty from those who knew him best – throughout his many challenges Michael had a steadfast group who remained actively by his side and loved him – no matter what.  That group seems to have included:  his family (with the possible exceptions of LaToya and his Father who appear to be more focused on themselves), Miko Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, McCauley Culkin, Debbie Rowe (yes, she did support him throughout and remember, we don’t really know the facts about her either, do we?), and his children.

So in conclusion, I challenge the public and most specifically the media, to not speak or form opinions until you are clearly aware of ALL the facts – not just the ones that make for the most interesting story!  As time moves on and the focus eventually moves from Michael and his passing and on to his children throughout the years, I urge you to be responsible in forming your opinions and to take care with the statements you make.  The last thing we need is for Michael’s children to experience the same kind of pain their Father did.  It’s none of our business how much money they will inherit, who their biological Mother is, and what their interaction with their Father was like, and it’s none of our business how their Father’s death affected them personally – so don’t ask them and don’t speculate on it publicly, especially since common sense means we already know the answer!  We don’t need the public announcement of their grief to know how they feel.  I challenge the public and the media to utilize your basic humanity to guide your interest in Michael’s children so that they can grow up into healthy adults capable of living their lives in a way their Father was never able to enjoy.