Dear Ralitsa,

Your blog entry is both deep and heartfelt.
I believe you strike a cord which is easy to understand and relate to.
But the real problem, I think, comes from the fact that most poeple do not KNOW WHO THEY ARE! Therefore, they identify exclusively with their possessions – few or many – and fail to comprehend that there is someting deeper that links us all as Human Beings.
Dear Ralitsa, whatever we may have, we are bound to lose upon death. But true Friendship comes from discovering who we realy are irrespective of our belongings.

With best wishes,

Maria Carmo, Portugal

Agreed.

Dear Ralitsa,

I do not deny that MJ had tons of talent but there are so many more that are fantastic performers in a variety of disciplines. It does not make sense to me that we fixate on one person so much and are so blind to the may others that are such fine artists. What is "pop" culture anyway and why are we so limited?

Sincerely, chris j

Hi Ralitsa,
Being rich and without true family and friends around us will just bring misery. At the end of the day the importance is having family members and friends who loves us and supports us for who we are and not how much we have.
Cheers!
KK

The whole Michael Jackson life story is a sad one, like many others who had that kind of career, from the "rags to the riches", but that is part of the american dream, which do not consider the status quo condition to be successful, as long as it is legal, I must admire him for having lived a life "my way" style, however coherent to the values in which he believed, he was a real artist and as such he never consider money as a priority.
He was a good man, he tried only hard to be at the height of his love sentiments he felt for humanity, but he was overwhelmed by the reality of a world he had uselessly tried to change.
Probably if he had taken care himself better, trying to be less conspicuous, and chosing trustworthy friends on his entourage, he would had delighted us with his charmy talent for longer time.

Very interesting observations. In her blog, Lisa Marie Presley talks about "the awful vampires and leeches he would always manage to magnetize around him." Certainly, they were not true friends but sycophants and enablers. Too bad one of his true, but under appreciated friends, wasn't able to help him.

Here's Lisa Marie's complete blog:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=42291868&blogId=497035326

I so agree. I also think that when a child is forced to be an adult in an adult world- to work, to have adult work pressures and responsibilities their outlook and coping mechanisms when they grow up are bound to be very altered.
I know Michael was a genius; I believe he was also a misunderstood boy man who was failed by those around him.
He should still be alive and strong and all the outpouring of love should have been channeled more effectively when he was alive.
Thank you for providing us a forum to comment.
Best wishes Ralitsa!

Micheal Jackson probably represents the greatest music icon of his generation. For us in Africa his fame is tainted by his disdain for the black colour of his skin. We however mourn with millions of his fans around the world. We love his music and especially his display of love and care for the the world's poor children. He cannot be replaced in this generation.

Your comments are thought provoking. Like you rightly said, Michael did not have a close circle to hold on to. I think his family should have done a better job of protecting him seeing as they knew his circumstances growing up...and yes he was treated differently from his siblings. In that way you could say his family failed him, as did the whole world that judged him really harshly even though we knew where he was coming from. I truly hope he can finally have eternal rest. RIP MJ – you will never be forgotten

He tried to create a world for himself and for many in which he could find and give happiness and peace. But people, living at the opposite spectrum of his goodness, took that away from him.

He lived the love from and for his children.

His voice, his music, his dance moves will bring comfort and joy to people till the end of days.

His Greatness and Fate cannot be compared with any other human being's. Don't try to explain him, because there are no words.

He is the King with no successor. A Primus Inter Pares.

R.I.P.

..that is so true! we all have many examples that refer to these situations.. ..the worst is , we are looking for fortune without thinking would it be one day our happyness !!! MJ is a good example of what glory pression fame and fortune are capable to do with people . We miss you MJ....
Adibeg

i beleive it realy means remaining down to earth even after moving to another class.and keeping what still matters to you when that success is taken away

I am 35 yrs old and have been a fan of Michael Jackson my entire life. I first got to know about MJ at the young age of 5 and fell instantly in love with him and his music. It's so sad he never had the opportunity to play with all those other children he longed to play with. Nevertheless, he was loved by so many and will continue to be loved.

I concur with the expressed sentiments. I have former friends who struck it rich and pass me on the way. They are in a different social circle and no longer feel comfortable in our league. I guess its only human. But does it always bring happiness or gratification?

I think your friend was wise in keeping her old friends around coz they are loyal, keep you grounded, you know they are not in for the money i feel sorry for MJ because he never got to experience childhood like a normal kid and was surrounded by pple who had hidden agendas and alterior motives, i just hope the same will not happen to his kids .

Indeed it takes a strong background to handle smoothly such a tremendous success as that of a super star like Michael Jackson. He seemed to be looked at as the golden hen and everyone including his own family was and unfortunately is still taking advantage of him. I guess this kind of stardom is doomed to be having a tragic end.

I am a fan of Michael Jackson since I was living in London. I went to some of his concerts and one day I could not believe my eyes when I saw myself within a few steps of Wacko Jacko. I don't remember very well I think it was 1996. He seem a very kind person. I was devastated to hear the allegations made against this talented man about the sex abuse case. I never believed he was guilty. After his passing there come the news that it was all made up by the father of the child involved searching for money. Come to think about that you will understand how Michael Jackson would have felt deep inside himself. He never recovered. He was not into drugs. He was vulnerable at his fate.
I have been praying for him since I learnt the news.
Yours sincerely,
Cristina Villasmil

I have been in shock ever since i learnt of the death of the king of pop, this is the first time im making a comment on the matter. I have been in denial hoping that he's just in a state of coma and that he would wake up suddenly. Your Blog was very thought provoking ralitsa. Its sad but MJ was born to make other people happy through his music. some people would try to imitate him but there can never again be any one like michael, his death is a big loss to the entire human race. I hope that he finds true peace and happiness whereever he is right now. he lives on forever through his music and in our heart.

I can totally understand Michael Jackson. When you grow up being a child star there is no way you will get a normal treatment. He never had a reality check and people around him would always treat him like a star. I recall him saying he went wandering around at night looking for people to talk to just on the same level. I don't think it's strange he sought an escape in his fantasy world and spending a lot of money. I think it was a way for him to feel in control or to flee.

He could not handle criticism because he thought of it as a personal attack. Not so strange thinking about the fact he didn't know what it was like to have an equal relationship. In such situations you can only think in extremes. The saying 'only the strong can handle the fame and fortune' speaks for itself. I can see why he was not able to handle adulthood.

Thinking about it all and what his life was like, I think Michael was a very very strong human being. He was despite his tragic life and loneliness a very warm and kind person. Fortunately he had his music to express his feelings.

It's sad that Michael was surrounded by many people who were bloodsuckers. It was indeed a result of not being able to stay grounded. He could not decide who really cared and who did not really care for him. Sadly he pushed the ones away that really did care. His twisted view on the adults made him a victim of himself. The mess that came with that can not be blamed on him because he was really not emotionally grown.

The problem with the americans, they build you up and then destroy you not minding who gets hurt in the process and then there all up in your face when you blunder. Shame on some of you journalist and Michael Jackson..you are loved by most of us RIP!

Hey Ralitsa! i'm from Trinidad in the caribbean and i work at 2 radio station and we were discussing Michael Jackson's death and for all the talent and wealth he achieved... he never seem happy with himself... and i ask the question can someone truly have peace of mind and really be happy with himself and friends...of which some of them maybe in need...

And the answer was yes they can be happy...difficult as it may... once they can remember the bridge they crossed to become wealthy and maintain the good friendship they had before getting rich...as well as the process the went thru to become rich... cause some people were groomed to handle wealth...

Sadly quite a lot of wealthy people live a stressful and miserable life...i guess they were never taught how to handle wealth and the league it puts you into...

Ralitsa! i totally agree with your blog, i think its quite interesting and keep doing the good work...i enjoy looking and listening to you....

how true ralitsa.what a balancing act is needed.true we need money and fortune.but how to live with it?

peter kamakia
nairobi

SO TRUE

SAD isn't even the words to express how MOST of us feel in losing the KING OF POP!!!!...I too simply have tried to imagine this is all a dream and maybe he will appear again to us...but I know in reality it isn't going to happen, and even tho Michael never met alot of us, his Music his life his talent and his fame was a part of our lives,,I never beleived the charges that came about in his life, and if you realize that people used him abused him and blackmailed him then you also know it wasn't true..I think because of his lifestyle and it was different, he was misunderstood, and he couldn't be who he was ,because Fame made him so different, but aren't we all different in our own ways...Lets remember all the good he did and acknowledge he deserves peace now, the one thing he worked so hard to acheive in his Famed Life..RIP and God Bless your children and Family Michael forever you are in our hearts and Souls....

He was never his authentic self (he was gay)so it didn't matter, his self destuctive behavior would have manifested in one or another.I always felt sorry for him. He always seemed so lonley.Why are people so afraid to talk about the "big purple elephant "in the room?

Regarding Michael Jackson, I too have admired his music from when I was growing up. He was a true genius where music was concerned. Lately there has been alot of talk about him, and as always the Molestation subject always comes up. Here is what i think, after following his life for many years as well as the siblings, I believe their father was a monster, and their mother was simply brought up in an era where, the husbands called the shots. her children knew she loved them and she was just as helpless as they were, that is why we never hear any of them say anything bad about her. Michael Jackson, cherished children because he was never allowed to be one, and we take our childhoods for granted, so we can not share his lack of. He deeply wanted children of his own, what ever debbie Rowe's reasons for agreeing to help him were between them, Im sure that she seen that he was not this monster the media has created, media likes scandals, it what sells! Did you ever wonder how come, his friends who are stars have stood by his innoscents, even let their children spend time with him, because he was innoscent as proven. Then I hear well why did he pay them, because that is what his advisors told him to do, or maybe Michael knew that their parents were the ones trying to distort money through their kids, which the last one would not testify because he said it was not true, but you dont hear about that. Ask Macculay Culkin, or the star from Webster, or Brooke Shields, or Lionel Richie , Diana Ross, Berry Gordie, we never knew him kie they did, we knew him through music and media... kind hard to judge, I think Michael felt sorry for their parents to use their children for such awful reasons, and maybe on some level he could relate to them for this is basically what his father did to him, used him and his siblings for his own gain no matter the costs to them. Out of all of his children, 2 of them became music stars, that shared the same hate the others had for him. I believe that Michael jackson was a virgin, I believe he never grew up, and after all the emotional abuse, and the pain he endured all of his life the only thing that brought him happiness was, his children and other children, maybe because as a child you are completely innoscent and unbaised and not capable of hating. Kind of makes you wonder, with so many people in the world who abuse their children , and the people who want children more than anything cannot have them. I think he was afraid to have his own biological children for fear any of them would be like his father, or as he put it ugly and fat nosed like him. Its a very sad story. For the love that "person" had for his children and other children, showed that you dont have to be a biological child to be loved like they were, he changed as many childrens lives as he could probally to help make up for his, or maybe he felt that in helping children would someday make him worthy to go to heaven. I think he knew his time was limited, and it ended when GOD wanted him, let his family grieve. To Katherine, here is your chance to do things your way, DELETE JOE, live your life, be with your children and grandchildren. Michael Jackson, walked with GOD, and when GOD seen that he had accomplished all that he could he took him home, his body was tired and he gave his children the best part of him, his self, now the rest of his family especially his mother need to finish what he started. With a death, comes a birth... Janet will become pregnant!

Hey Rick

King can talk about M J ,past every body knows there's no truth about it. What about the king past

Michael Jackson missing link, was that he missed his childhood.
And never got the child care and love as a little boy must have and
receive from his parents, brother & sisters, friends and other human
beams. For to be a natural independent and safe adult human beam.

Without that, he was a big star already as a little boy, and that is alone big enough pressure for a little boy. The history from his childhood have told us, as Michael Jackson also himself has told, was he also treated very bad as a child.

Missed childhood, no child care, treated very bad as a little boy, and that he already as a little boy was a big star, with very much pressure on
himself. Have showed the world that Michael Jackson never reach to grow up to be a natural indipendent and safe adult human beam.

But of course, as one of the greatest artist and entertainer the world
ever have seen, Michael Jackson had it all as an artist and entertainer.
So he has joyed and ment very much for many people around the world. The pressure on himself with all his big success wold had been requiring a (mental) effort irrespective, either who kind of a human beam he might has been.

But a loving childhood and safe child care would have given a natural and much more indipendent and safer adult Michael Jackson.

Might Michael Jackson rest i peace, God bless him and his memory.

Condolence.

Knut Magne Hansen
N-4250 Kopervik
Norway

o my God what are you people doing ..if he were white ..would not guily really nean not guilty..he cared so much about all hunanity white and black all ..his music made us forget the saddness around us ..and that say so much ..he will really be sooooooooooo missed.i would have loved to say thank you ..

Ralitsa, your article brims with common sense.

Paul McCartney wrote "Can't buy me love" forty five years ago and the sentiment about money not being able to buy love is as true now as it was then....and indeed as it has been throughout time.

Michael Jackson may have wanted for nothing financially, but the childhood he lost all those years ago haunted him until the moment he passed away.

Give me love over money any day.

Your comment is a reflection of the true nature of life. we cant hide from circumstances in our life, what we need do is learn from others because it might be our turn tomorrow.

Ralitsa,
You made a very strong and sensible argument about Michael Jackson's life and times because it clearly expresses the reality of what the exceptionally wealthy people sometimes experience just because of the controversial circumstances surrounding their fame and fortune.

Semantha is correct, MJ : It’s so sad he never had the opportunity to play with all those other children he longed to play with. Nevertheless, he was loved by so many and will continue to be loved.

I have 7 years old son. My son started loved MJ since he was 4 years old.

But memories remain!!!

RIP MJ

Ralitsa,
Your comments make so much sense, especially in this generation where so many parents push and push their kids to "achieve" at a young age.

On a different note, I have a story idea for you and your colleagues.

Men who were sexually abused as boys, and who are also fans of Michael Jackson's music, are having a very very difficult time figuring out how they feel about his death.

We will never ever know the truth about the allegations against Michael. And for this reason, male victims of abuse will never feel quite comfortable in being able to appreciate his music, because in doing so they feel they may be unwittingly appreciating and supporting a sexual abuser.

I have not seen anything in the media about how this very diverse cross section of men are responding to the constant media barrage about his death, most of which ignores or only briefly mentions the allegations.

I'd like to beleive that Michael was innocent. But we will never know. And therefore that shadow of a doubt will haunt millions and millions of men every time they hear his music.

Please, Ralitsa - please do suggest that someone feel compelled enough to address this in the media.

Michael never found a way to be happy in his circumstances! But with all said, R.I.P Michael.

Nairobi, Kenya

Point well made!

Yet, I am wonder why MJ never kept God first in his life.
His talent was Divine, a gift from His maker – not man.

Nowhere in his story is their any mention of him going
to Church or being a man of prayer !

Raltsa, I enjoyed your article and I wanted to add that Michael was a lovely person who did not get the opportunity to grow up and enjoy the varying stages that comes with growing up. He was completely denied the child hood stage that even years into his adult age he still hungered for it and kept looking back wishing he could capture it.

For some reason no one, no one in his life was able to give him therapeutic care to transition him out of that state of mind. No one considered his need for self worth of the beautiful person he was. No one took the time to take him aside to address his problem or he rejected it.

But despite his sadness he was gifted, loving, caring. He brought everyone from across the globe and culture into his world. Everyone tasted a piece of his life.I do not know of any other celeb who embraced everyone into their sphere of success.

He was a lovely person and since the announcement of his death, i would often wonder if he would just wake up sneeze and ask in his soft voice, "what happened to me, what went wrong?" and just move on with his life. But it is for real, but he will be in our hearts for a very long long long time. Peace to him.

The first music I ever purchased at age 11 with my allowance in Bermuda was the 45 record "I Want You Back", which was followed by 4 other 45s like "Ben", "I Want to Be There", "Got to Be There", Little Bitty Pretty One". As I grew up with the Jackson 5 and Michael, I have purchased every album, Thriller video, CDs and more videos, etc. into my adulthood (currently a year older than Michael). Bermuda loves you Michael. I love you Michael. Rest in eternal peace and now you can rock heaven. You are Bad! You are the greatest entertainer ever on this planet. We will remember you always.

i am writing this while i am watching the memorial of this great human being and i have many unanswered questions in my mind about American society. they are all there passion there love now when the person is no more. where were they when he needed their support their love the most. he lived a lonely life in the end and no one tried to reach him? where were these people who r spending millions for his memorial, when he needed money and had to sell his most loved possession, his estate fot paying his lawyers? y couldn't they fight for him without charging him if everyone in us believed in him.
what is the use of showing all there love when the person is no more. i am feeling really sad ...sitting so far from your world. we Indians are called emotional fools and we r indeed . i want to cry for the man whom i never knew so much when he was alive.

Dear Ralitsa,

Very subtle observation on the reverse side and effects of becoming rich. I like the parallel you draw between Michael and your friend. Just a matter of how one approaches the situation of being iplaced in an entirely different league. As we say in Bulgaria – do not forget your roots or where you started from. Staying connected with old friends, who cannot afford one's lifestyle, keeps you well grounded.

Jivka

The Bible declares that all good things come from above – The KING of GLORY! If you fixate on your success, turn inward to please yourself and constantly seek adoration from others, you risk failure. Pride comes before a fall. However, if you use what the Lord has given you to serve HIM and others, and deny self, then success will follow. At the end of the day, making peace with God Almighty through JESUS CHRIST is the only true success in this life and life everlasting! I hope we all can embrace this truth! God bless you all!

HI RALITSA
I WANDER WHERE WERE SO CALLED GOOD FRIENDS OF
M. JACKSON WHEN HE NEEDED THEM? I GUES THAT WAS A CELEBRITY FRIENDSHIP ,WAS'NT REAL AT ALL. .
IS SO SAD HAVING SO MANY PEOPLE AROUND YOU AND YET FEELING SO ALONE.

LUCIA ANDRE

wako jako as his name implies was a queer person who left everyone around the world wondering about his next move. from his music to his life style to his choices of relationships.we will all go one day is just a matter of time.Michel is remerbered for his positive legacy on earth what is yours? make a difference in the world today,tommorow might be too late.

Had his parents considered counseling along the way in the early days, this toipsy-turvey lifestyle that haunted Michael would not have materialized.
Blame his family friends, Berry Gordy, church, and community leaders. Everybody was and cintinue to hedge for personal gain then cut the strings when things get out of whack for rhe man on the top. In the Black neighborhood, we call such bottom feeders, crabs.

I think this whole life is about balance , but as simple as this might sound to us as hard as it is , But you can't actually achieve that kind of balance between being successful and being happy at the same time if you've never experienced that before, Michael simply never knew what is it like to have a normal life, he never knew what its like to have a balanced life , and much more than that he did NOT have REAL FRIENDS , all this people around him wanted a piece of his success and his glory , but they weren't there for him when he needed them the most , and today after he is gone , we can see new "friends" are appearing every second , and the funny part is when they say that they've been "close" friends with Michael for long long time !
All that just seems to fake for me , but it doesn't matter anymore coz Michael...is gone, and I really hope that the "scandals" media and the proclaimed "good friends " would just leave him alone ,
maybe in his death he could achieve his peace that he never found in his life ..
Thanks Ralitsa for sharing

Hi to all,

Thanks so much for taking the time to read my Blog and share your thoughtful comments. I will be reading some in my shows this weekend. Seems like most of us agree that wealth rarely makes people happy because it makes it harder to have real friends.

Ralitsa

Hey Ralitsa, I'm from Warri,Nigeria. A Law Student of Delta State University and a fan of Michael Jackson. I vehemently agree with your views pertaining to wealth using MJ as a case study. Sometimes I feel persons who acquire so much wealth are not ready to deal with the rigours that come with it. But it's not bad to be wealthy after all,it's we deal with it. And I think if MJ was ready for the kind of wealth he had, things would have been much better for him. R.I.P. M.j.

riches, fame, friends, families, proffession, success will never satisfy the needs of everyone. Yet still in the inner heart their is empty place and in that empty place only Jesus Christ can fill it. No matter how we work out our life to be happy their is still sadness because only Jesus Christ can make us glad. If we have Jesus Christ in our life and let Him the master piece everything will be alright even how hard life is. With Jesus Christ we have everything. He is our freedom, our wisdom, our treasure, our best friend. And with Him we can move mountains, we can trample down the snakes and scorpion, we can shut up lion's mouth. We can smile at the storm. We can sleep in difficult hour. We are conqueror. To God be the glory. To the Holy One of Israel. The King of kings. AMEN.