Michael Jackson--A lot like you and me?

Michael Jackson.

Legendary entertainer.

The King of Pop.

Iconic Superstar.

We all knew him, but few seemed to understand him.

Since his sudden death on June 25, 2009, a lot has been said about Michael Jackson. And that's to be expected. After all, he lived four decades in the public eye.

I've watched the news coverage, and I've heard a lot of people say a lot of things. However, what I've not heard is what I'm about to say in this piece. Stay with me...

Thank God for Joe
Seriously? Allow me to explain. As difficult, demanding and abusive as Mr. Joe Jackson may have been, he was the one who recognized greatness in his five sons and developed it. Joe Jackson gets all the blame but none of the credit for giving the world the gift of music and dance that we would come to enjoy in the person of Michael Jackson.

Call it "exploitation" or "maximizing one's gifts." Whatever you call it, he wasn't the only person to do it. Forgive the comparison for a moment--but think about the fathers of Tiger Woods and Venus and Serena Williams. The clear difference is, Joe was much less skilled in positive nurturing techniques. He could have learned a lot from the likes of Earl Woods and Richard Williams.

Forgiveness is only step #1
In spite of Joe Jackson's inability to show unconditional love to his son, in time, Michael Jackson forgave his father. However, the media and the general public seem much less willing.

Michael Jackson has publically stated that he made amends with his father. But that should have been only the first of many steps to wholeness for Jackson. It's unclear whether or not he got much beyond step one in his healing process. The next and most critical step for Jackson would have been to decide to go from being a victim to victor. I believe his life demonstrates that he made that decision and accomplished that goal in his professional life. However, it's much less clear as to whether or not he was able to maintain a similar achievement in his personal life.

Accepting Responsibility is setp #2
After forgiving his father, Jackson should have decided to take full responsibility for his life and his actions from that moment forward, and determine to never play the blame game again. However, that was not a skill Jackson appeared to have mastered. In addition to initially casting blame upon his father and his difficult childhood, Michael often blamed the media for his difficult life. No doubt though that the media did make life difficult.

Normal is relative
At the same time, is it possible that Jackson could have simply promised himself that he would lead as normal of a life possible--no matter what? Perhaps, but the reality is, the life Jackson led was normal to him. He'd been dodging cameras and the media since age nine. Michael Jackson was often berated for choosing not to live a more normal life, but our "normal" was never normal for him. Remember the adage? "Walk a mile in another man's shoes..."

Jackson Sought Help
Acclaimed writer, physician and spiritual leader Deepak Chopra states that after Jackson's 2005 child molestation trial Jackson consulted him for spiritual guidance. He even went and spent a week with Chopra in his home. Clearly Michael Jackson was spiritually and emotionally drained from the ordeal of the trial.

However, during his time with Chopra he asked Chopra to write him a prescription pain killers. He complained of pain in his back and elsewhere. Chopra knew that much of the pain was stress-related and told him there were other ways to cope with his physical and emotional pain. Michael, unfortunately, was unwilling--perhaps because he felt incapable--to try a different approach--a more holistic approach that didn't include the use of prescription narcotics.

I Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." At the same time, it's incumbent upon each one of us to learn how God wants us to bear the burdens of life. There is a positive, healthy way to cope with the challenges of life, and then there are less healthy ways of dealing with them.

I believe the true tragedy of the life of Michael Jackson--not unlike the tragedy of many-- is that between his childhood years and the time of his death, it appears as though Jackson never fully learned how to successfully cope with the challenges of life in a healthy manner.

Michael Jackson the overcomer
Like anyone else, Jackson experienced seasons of both defeat and triumph during the course of his life. I recently read a quote by author Dr. Wayne Dyer that says that we must learn in any difficulty to say, "Thank you God for the experiences I've lived through." He didn't say "gone" through. We're not thanking God for going through all of the horrific things we may have experienced in life, but we are thanking God that we lived through them--that we came out on the other side.

In spite of what he endured -- like the rest of us--Michael Jackson "came out on the other side" of a lot of situations in his life.

For starters, Michael Jackson was emotionally and physically abused by his father, but he lived through it and became the world's greatest entertainer.

Jackson suffered second and third degree burns while filming a Pepsi commercial but he lived through it and went on to create some of his best music in the wake of that tragedy and the physical pain he apparently suffered as a result.

Jackson suffered from vitiligo and transformed from a black man to a white man in front of the entire world--yet he continued to pursue his passion and make music that brought happiness to millions.

Michael continually struggled with low self-esteem, image "issues," cosmetic "malfunctions" and other health challenges, but he lived through it and continued to face the disapproving public--satin mask, wheel chair and all.

Jackson was accused, tried and later acquitted of child molestation, and suffered immense ridicule, persecution and personal humiliation as a result. Through it all, he continued to make industry-transforming music and give generously to improve the lives of children around the world.


Record-breaking Michael
Michael Jackson shattered records in the music industry and was a trailblazer whom other entertainers would emulate. Michael Jackson made MTV history. He basically created the modern music video. Michael Jackson invented "live aid" as we know it in the form of the iconic song, "We are the world." Jackson created the moonwalk. He won the most Grammy Awards ever. His Thriller album sold more albums than any album in history. He was twice inducted in the Rock and Roll hall of fame and gave millions to suffering children around the world--all while bearing the burdens of his own personal demons of insecurity and low self-esteem.

Michael Jackson got up every day and pressed past the voice that said "just give up" and decided instead, to "give" something to someone else.

Michael learned the power of giving
In an interview, Michael Jackson once told a journalist that if it wasn't for the children of the world (whom he was committed to helping), "I would kill myself." As strange as that statement may sound, I can't think of anyone for whom the idea of escaping life via death hasn't been a fleeting thought at some devastating instance in their lives.

Michael Jackson came to discover that giving makes life worth living. And eventually he came to have his own children whom he could love, and in return, receive unconditional love.

Many of Jackson's troubles (much like yours and mine) were self-inflicted. Even still, For the majority of his life, Michael Jackson managed to rise above his troubles (whether external or self-inflicted) and keep pressing forward.

There would come a time, however, when the self-destructive habits Michael chose to maintain, would eventually catch up with him.

A gift who will be missed
Michael Jackson was larger-than-life. He was immensely creative, exceptionally talented, innovative, profoundly passionate about his craft, and likely the greatest entertainer the world will ever know. He was also more like you and me than we probably want to acknowledge.

Those who knew him remember him as a kind, gentle and loving soul. Yet he had flaws, and according to those close to him, he found it very difficult to conquer his self-defeating habits.

Yes, Michael Jackson is "gone too soon" (to quote his 1991 song). But let's be grateful that he was here--and to his credit--he left four decades of music and dance as his legacy...his gift to us.

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President Obama: Can I Get An Amen?

Obama just needs a little affirmation.

Ever get in a slump? Ever need a morale lift or a little pep talk? That’s President Obama right now.

Life in the White House can be tough. I’m sure it can get you down. But not Obama; he has a cure for the White House blues.

It’s so very obvious. President Obama is constantly itching to get out of the White House and back on the campaign trail that was so invigorating for him—for all of us. You know—all the crowds, the adoring fans, the verbal affirmation, the hand-shaking, autographs and thunderous applause... In the 21st century, campaigning for the next election begins the month you take office.

Since his election, Obama has not wasted any time getting out in the community—from Ohio to California. And while there are many who are not impressed with his handling of the economic crisis, it’s very clear that he hasn’t lost his touch with much of the populous that elected him.

Obama lives and breathes public affirmation—it’s his inspiration—the wind beneath his wings. His time “among the people” fills him up and gives him the emotional reserves he needs to confront the immense challenges of the presidency.

Obama and his staff know that Obama is at his best in front of a group of people. He wants to hear folks, touch folks and address them directly. He then wants to take those experiences back to Washington D.C. and the White House and influence his policy. He doesn’t want to lose touch. He wants to stay connected to everyday people.

And when it comes to people, Obama is clearly a people magnet. He inspires his followers and disarms his enemies.It’s been said that the White House can be a very lonely and isolated place—but apparently it doesn’t have to be.…

Can I get an Amen?

I Cried in the Voting Booth Today

I cried in the voting booth today. I wasn’t sad. I wasn’t mad or upset. It’s just that when I stepped into the booth and pulled out my ballot, my eyes scrolled down to see an unlikely name for a presidential candidate.

I carefully aligned my pen as to be certain to avoid any error. Then the tears began to flow. My mind flashed back—and images began to flood my mind—Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as my grandmother—who served in the Korean war, yet could not use the “white only” restroom in her home town of Little Rock, Arkansas.

Throughout our nation’s history, Blacks and whites have been beaten, and many have died—with the hope that one day blacks would have the right vote as well as every other God-given inalienable right. However, I doubt if any of these trailblazers ever fathomed that one day the United States would elect an African American as the 44th President of the United States.

More than a dream, tonight was a miracle. Tonight was testament to the American Dream and the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr.

As my eyes glazed over, I had to keep blinking in order to read the remaining names clearly. I returned to my car and I sat. I sighed. I reflected on what was occurring on this historic day. I wanted to rejoice, but I was overcome with the weight of the significance of this day. I wished my Grandmother—who passed away three years ago—could have witnessed this election. I wished Obama’s grandmother could have remained alive just one more day—to witness her grandson become elected President.

I thought perhaps I was alone in my reaction—until I saw Rev. Jesse Jackson’s emotional response upon the announcement that Senator Barack Obama had become President-Elect Barack Obama at 11:00 pm election night. Rev. Jackson cried like a baby—for a long time. I know that his mind must have raced back to that hotel balcony in Memphis, Tennessee when Martin Luther King Jr., was assassinated at his side. Tonight was for Rev. King.

I know this election was not and could not be about race. This election was about choosing the future direction of this country. At the same time, tonight’s election proved that America has taken another step—perhaps a leap—towards making good on its promise to all Americans.

While my polling booth experience was monumental for me personally, it was only the beginning of a truly remarkable day. I knocked on forty-two doors to help get out the vote on Election Day. The only thing is, the vote was already getting out. In this eastside Detroit neighborhood, individuals of all ages were energized. In a city that is driven by cars (both literally and figuratively) I witnessed families—moms and their young adult daughters, walking to the polls. We had blue skies and record high temperatures. Surely, this day was leaning in Barack Obama’s favor.

Then tonight, all of the pieces came together. The hopes of millions of American voters were realized, and today, Barack Obama accomplished exactly what I thought he would. He ran an incredible campaign and had a strong close.

President-Elect Obama has forever changed how we elect a president. And he will forever change the face of leadership in the United States.

Bravo, Barack! Bravo, America!

Energy...

This evening I drove by a formerly vacant commercial property on Detroit's east side. Tonight however, it was ablaze with activity. The space had been transformed into an east side headquarters for the Obama campaign.

Inside, you could see young, old, black white, urban and suburban-- busy with phones and laptops in tow, working to make a difference during the last seven days of this historic election. I was headed home with my children, but the campaign office certainly looked like a pretty fun place to be. It was alive with energy.

The scene I described made me proud. Something else that's made me proud is a political rap I saw performed a few weeks ago by students from the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta. These kids are amazing! The rap is informative and catchy. It's stuck with me!

So, if you need more evidence as to how much this campaign has energized Americans of all ages, here it is.

As CNN's Kyra Phillips said--"I'd vote for any of these incredible young people for president!"

Watch and be proud!

Anita

Blogger’s Blues

As we approach the final presidential debate of the 2008 election season, I’m beginning to feel the Blogger’s Blues. Really. I hate to see it all end.

I’ve never been into sports but I believe I can better empathize with my husband—who loves a good football game. He doesn’t want to tape it and watch it later. He wants to see it first-hand, in real time. Each game is its own unique, exciting event. No two games are the same, and the dynamics within each game make it interesting and compelling to watch. It’s his sport.

Well, politics is my sport. I like to watch it in real time and enjoy watching each and every debate, interview and campaign speech. I enjoy blogging and writing commentary a few times a week, and twittering live during debates.

Now what will I do with all that “free” time between 11:00 pm and 2:00 a.m.?

While there’s been a price to pay for all this blogging—mostly sleep deprivation—I’ve benefited too. I’ve been able to keep my writing skills fresh. I’ve kept up to date on the issues and I’ve learned how to develop and present a position quickly—before new news is old news.

Most of all, I’ve joined the millions of other bloggers in various online communities, and I’ve met a great group women within the Political Voices of Women Community blog. http://politicalvoicesofwomen.ning.com/

I’m reassured that I am not alone in my passion for following politics. So I know I won’t be the only individual suffering from Blogger’s Blues when election 2008 comes to an end on November 4th (or 5th depending on when we get the results).

Yes, I’m sure there will be news and politics to cover after the Presidential election. Yet there’s nothing like a really good movie that you just don’t want to come to an end. Maybe I’ll write a song…A blues song…

In the meantime, I will continue to write, blog, Twit, watch streaming campaign events live on CNN.com, read my New York Times political email alerts, and catch up on the political news of the day from each news channel’s video stream. Yes, I have a lot to keep me busy until that fateful day.

One day soon I’ll sing. But I’m not singing the Blogger’s Blues just yet.

McCain and Palin: “We’re angry!”

Have you heard the latest phrase from the McCain-Palin stomp speech? It consists of two very powerful words. “I’m angry.” To place the statement in context, Palin has said, “There is anger about the dealings of insider lobbyists, anger about the greed of Wall Street, and there’s anger about the arrogance of the Washington elite, and there is anger about voter fraud.” McCain has himself said, "You're angry and I'm angry too."

However, the issue I have with the “angry” statement is this: What are all these angry people supposed to do with their anger? The election is not until November 4th. Until then, are folks to let their anger simmer until it boils over into something ugly? God forbid they actually lose the election—then what are they to do with their anger? Are they to do as some extremists in the McCain-Palin crowd have suggests when they shouted “Off with his head,” Kill him! Get him!?”

McCain may want to say that he is utterly appalled, and state that he totally rejects Congressman John Lewis’ reference to John Wallace, in his condemnation of McCain’s campaign rally etiquette. However, the fact is, if McCain refuses to fiercely and immediately— on-the-spot—denounce such statements that come from the crowd at his campaign rallies, he is inadvertently condoning them.

I believe that that Congressman John Lewis—in his statement that “McCain and Palin were sowing seeds of hatred and division”— was simply saying that to allow such unbridled anger and hatred to bubble up and fester is dangerous, and has the potential—if unchecked—to lead to violent acts on the part of some. The campaign has a responsibility to not incite it, allow it or condone it.

Instead of pulling back on the rhetoric that solicited very troubling outbursts at their rallies last week, McCain and Palin decided to step-up the intensity this week by launching a new “You’re angry and I’m angry too” campaign slogan. It’s an interesting approach, but is it the right approach?

I believe that how individuals conduct their campaign is an indication of how they’ll conduct their presidency. Since its inception, the tone and tenor of the Obama campaign has consistently been one of hope and inclusion—focusing on what unites us, not divides us. Yes, the Obama campaign is pushing back against the McCain attacks with attacks of their own. However, within the last few weeks, the entire tone and tenor of the McCain campaign has grown increasingly cynical and mean-spirited—even inciting the “angry mob” effect at its rallies.

Maybe McCain hopes history won’t repeat itself in his case—or perhaps he just doesn’t know— but historical precedence demonstrates that the “angry” candidate doesn’t win.

Six months ago, Obama referred to some small town Americans as “bitter.” As a result, he was lambasted, labeled an elitist and suffered a dip in the polls as a result. Now, McCain and Sarah Palin are stirring up their crowds by proudly proclaiming “You’re angry and I’m angry too.”

Hey, I understand. We all get angry. Judeo-Christian teaching instructs us to “be angry but sin not.” So fine—McCain, Palin and their audiences have every right to be angry—that’s fine. It’s the “sin not” part of the equation that worries me.

"Human Error?" New Yorkers Forced to Vote for Osama for President

This is truly and outrage!

The following Associated Press article ran in the Detroit Free Press on October 10, 2008. My comments follow.

BALLOT GAFFE: Is it Obama or Osama?

Who is running for president? In an upstate New York county, hundreds of voters have been sent absentee ballots in which they could vote for "Barack Osama."The absentee ballots sent to voters in Rensselaer County identified the two presidential candidates as "Barack Osama" and "John McCain."

In the United States, the best-known individual named Osama is Osama bin Laden, leader of the Al Qaeda terror group.The county elections office faxed a statement in which the two commissioners, Democrat Edward McDonough and Republican Larry Bugbee, said they regret the error but never acknowledge what the error was.

"It's human error, it's very unfortunate, it's an embarrassment to our office, obviously," McDonough said.

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Compiled from the Associated Press

MY RESPONSE
Let me say it up front: Yes, Rensselaer County is a Republican led county. However, there were supposedly three proofreaders and no one caught the error before the absentee ballot went out to over 300 residents.

Certainly, no one expects stupid errors on a simple ballot with names we’ve all become extremely familiar with. I suspect the person who typed the ballot assumed right—that no one would be paying close enough attention to notice until it was too late.

What could incite an American—let alone a New Yorker—more than being asked to vote for Osama? By the way, the letter “s” is no where near the letter “b” on the keyboard. The “s” is typed with the middle finger of the left hand and the “b” with the index finger.A more accurate “typo” would have been “Onama”, “Ovama” or “Ogama.” Nah… those don’t have the same effect—and they certainly would have been caught.

Osama: Willful or ignorant?
I believe there are three options:
1) Either the individual who typed the ballot was typing with one finger and truly made a mistake;
2) It was a Freudian slip of the finger by a mindless, out-of-touch individual who actually believes the negative emails circulating that refer to Obama as Osama; or
3) The individual purposefully committed election fraud by attempting to reduce the number of votes cast for Obama due to the incendiary reference to Osama Bin Laden.

What about the election commissioners who didn’t catch the error? They probably didn’t see it. How often are simple, routine actions thoroughly analyzed? It’s not excusable, but very likely that proofing an absentee ballot is something that is delegated or neglected entirely.

I’m typically very optimistic and always ready to give others the benefit of the doubt—but this incident is extremely suspicious to me. Why, well, because I don’t believe in coincidence—and Osama—well, it’s just not your typical typo.

What do you think?