Kramer, I wasn't judging you bro. Yes, I assumed something, but it was a pretty veiled reference after all, and the molestation charges were the most serious offense, people believe him guilty of.
Jimmy, I agree with you too. He "DID" have some inappropriate experiences with children, although most of it was STUPIDITY rather than anything else.
As to dangling the kid off the balcony... I watched the documentary, where this was detailed and he spoke about it at length, and they had footage from BOTH inside the hotel room, as well as outside from downstairs. It appeared FAR WORSE outside, than when you saw the same event from inside the room.
When questioned about it, he explained that the fans had been screaming to see the new baby, and they had been out there for hours. He said that he was simply giving his fans something special by letting them see the baby, hence holding him above the railing, and yes, technically outside, because he was lifting the baby, up and over the railing, so that the railing was not blocking them from seeing him. Irresponsible? Yes. But he also claimed that he would never put his children at risk, and he said that he had his entire arm, under the baby's arms and was gripping the baby, securely across the child's entire chest. Th video bears this out. He had a very secure grip on the child, and as mentioned before, it looked far worse from the OUTSIDE VIDEO (which was the only video available to the news at the time) than the video shot by his interviewer, who happened to be WITH HIM in the room when this happened.
Again... Irresponsible? Yes.
But I believe it was far less dangerous, what he did, than when Steve Irwin, brought his own infant, INSIDE a fence with a HUGE alligator, and then held the baby out toward the alligator, striking fear into the crowd, as part of his show. That was potentially far more dangerous, than what Jackson did.
Still wrong. But not as insane as it was made to look.
Steve Irwin was still loved by the masses, and suffered less judgement than Jackson did, for showing the crowd his new baby in a brief instance.
Jackson was emotionally, and in some ways mentally, like a child himself. When you have that much money, and that many people after you, and everything you have, and when you can't even trust your own family to guide you... well, he didn't have alot of guidance in life, and kind of lived it by the seat of his pants, learning as he went along.
By "ALL" accounts, of ANYONE, including unbiased journalists, who spent any concrete amount of time with him... Jackson was a phenomenally loving and attentitve father. At the funeral, and since then, it was quite obvious how much his children loved him.
Geraldo was able to spend hours upon hours with him, during a series of interviews, and was allowed all throughout his Netherland compound. Geraldo says, in no uncertain terms, that he believes the charges were ALL rubbish, and he didn't believe them for a minute. He claimed that these people were predators, trying to get a pay day.
I trust Geraldo.
He is a VERY fair journalist, and maybe more importantly, he doesn't hide his loathing of any kinds of predators... men who abuse women, racists who use violence, child molestors... you name it. You can see the anger in him... He wants to kick their asses right there, when he confronts them. Someone like Geraldo would be first in line, to rake him through the coals, if he had seen any HINT of that kind of behavior. Jackson was also married to Lisa Marie Presley for a year or so, whatever it was. They were together constantly, and she had an inside view of everything. There have been other journalists from time to time, that he has also allowed in. All of these people tell the same story... He was a loving father to his children, and he genuinely loved kids.
When asked why he surounded himself with so many kids, his response was simply...
"They are the only ones who tell me the truth."
I can't imagine the life he lived. The lack of trust, even in his own family. Being equally loved by the world, and villified by it.
I truly believe that all the money in the world, is not worth the price he paid, for his father putting him in the spotlight at such an early age, and putting such enormous pressure on him to succeed, and beating him brutally, to keep him in line, making money for them, and then his own father's insults over Michael's appearance.... "He's not my son! Look at the huge nose of his, he looks ridiculous!" This is alot to deal with as a child. Hell, it is alot to deal with as an adult. Look at all the adult stars who succumb to drugs and violence and criminal behaviors, when they can't deal with the strains of their own success.
Michael could have become just like that. Anyone could have expected him to do that easily. But he tried to maintain his own heart, a love for others, and a determination, NOT to punish others who had harmed him.
He was a very loving, but just... insecure and immature human being.
He "WAS" a light in our world.
I truly believe that.
And the more information I have gathered, the more interviews I have seen now, with him.... just makes me believe that even more strongly.
He was truly, and to a novel degree... a genuinely INNOCENT human being. Mistreated harshly by his own family, and by the world.
I admit, that somewhere between my 20's and 30's, like many others, I also believed some of the hype. After all, he paid off the first one. He explained though, that he didn't think he could bear the media scrutiny, going through the entire months long court process... he said it just seemed "easier" to give them what they wanted.... money. But when the other allegation came, years later... he realized that this would continue, if he didn't stand up, and fight people like this. So he did. And guess what? He won. Geraldo was one of the few at the time, who said without hesitation, that he would beat this charge. Why? Because it wasn't true. Geraldo had gotten that sense, first hand. Speaking to Michael for hours, as well as the children that visited him.
I fell for the hype back then.
Now I see more clearly.
I've come to truly admire him now.
To admire his heart.
I know how difficult it is, to work to maintain a loving heart, when people damage you so severely... multiply that exponentially for him, when entire news organizations demean and defame him!
He was a genuinely GOOD person.
