No more judging
No more anger
No more worrying
No more frustration
No more yelling
No more probing
No more toughness
No more pride
No more thinking
No more arguing
No more selfishness
No more inconsideration
No more doing things on my own
No more being absent from important people around me
No more letting the Devil win!!
With this I change rest assured,
Cuz God is telling me no more!!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Top 10 movies
These are my top 10 favorite movies of all-time. After the 1st listing, all the rest are not in any particular order. I could not really rank the rest b/c they're like your kids, it's hard to pick a favorite. Here they go:
1. Coming to America- This will always be my all-time favorite movie. This is the first Rated R movie me and my sister was allowed to watch. It was so good, when we got to the end, we rewound it and watched it all over again. Prince Hakeem, Semi, King Jafe Jofer, Lisa McDowell, Darryl, Soul Glo, the barber shop crew, etc etc. This movie got really got me onto Eddie Murphy and displayed his extreme comedic and acting talents, solitifying his place as my all-time favorite comedian/actor (that's another list for another time).
3. I'm Gonna Git You Sucka- Like Coming To America, this movie was among my early welcomes into Rated R movies. I still crack up when I see this movie. Before In Living Colour, Keenan Ivory Wayans blessed us with this cult classic comedy which only a mind like his could offer. They don't speak much about this movie now but in terms of comedic performances, this should be an all-timer.
8.Ace Ventura- Jim Carrey bursted out after In Living Colour with this one. I used to imitate Ace all the time in school and considered him to be my long lost uncle for a while (I know that's dorky but whatever). They did a sequel to this movie but the sequel was not nearly as good as the 1st (plus, it was sort of ignorant and could possibly offend african-americans that see it as a stereotype).
4. Malcolm X- For those of 'us' who understood what this movie was about, this should be on all of our top 10 lists. Spike Lee has a way of entertaining us and educating us at the same time. No matter the length of this movie, it's enjoyable and intriguing from beginning to end. And Denzel's depiction of Malcolm should have won him an Oscar long before Training Day. I understand the academy would not have given him one for his portrayal of someone who they were scared of anyway, so we'll give them a pass on that one. I still see Denzel saying, "we didn't land on Plymouth rock, Plymouth Rock landed on us." Damnit Denzel, it sure did. LOL.
2. The Last Dragon- Up until I saw Coming To America, this was my favorite all-time movie growing up. Bruce Leroy made every young, black kid want to learn the martial arts. We would all kid around in the playground and 'shadow fight' to try to imitate what Leroy gave us. And, of course, who could deny "Sho Nuff" (God rest his soul). Every young boy watching that movie had to have a crush on Laura Charles (and if you didn't, check your.....you know). The movie, the music, it was all good with me, and still is. They are supposed to be doing a remake soon, but I doubt it will live up to anything the original did, at least for me (but I'm pretty sure i'm not alone). "Am I the meanest, am I the prettiest, am I the baddest mo' fo' down around this town...I can't hear you."
10.Anchorman- Ha ha ha, i'm laughing just thinking of this movie making my top 10, but it has. This is a recent addition to the list but I could not deny Will Ferrell. The comedy is more simple than anything but I can't get enough. This is one I recite the lines to at work (with my crazy co-worker Mike) all the time. It is one of those movies that may not be for everybody but for those who dig it really, really like it. Stay classy San Diego!!
6. The Temptations- If you're a Tempts fan (or I should say, if you're 'colored') and don't like this movie go shoot yourselves now. I can spit this movie verbatim. Most of us may have known at least most of the Temptations story but this movie depicted it in a way that you feel like you didn't know the half. As triumphant as the Temptations story is, it is a sad one as well. So much can happen to a music group and it is so hard to keep a group together (egos, drugs, money, etc). But the tragic ending of the original members' lives go far beyond the group. God bless Otis Williams for his life and keeping the tradition alive (as well as Dennis Edwards with his own version of the Temptations). Now, no matter how much Otis and Dennis, respectively, continue to carry on the Temptations name, there will never be a group like the originals (and the 2nd & 3rd tiers). My mom continues to support the new Otis Temptations, but I can't do it. It will never come close, no matter what they do now. I will stick with the memories of the golden oldies.
9. Forrest Gump- Yes, "stupid is as stupid does", but Tom Hanks showed his genius at work. A lot of people don't realize that Hanks came into the business as a comedian, but has since well diversified his acting talents. I can still watch this movie over and over again. It is probably one of the most imitated movies of all time, to boot. The sadness of it, the joy of it, it could even be an inspiration if you looked at it that way. I will always love Jenny, Leiutenant Dan, Mama, and, of course, Bubba.
5. The Exorcist- The best scary movie of ALL TIME. None of today's movies comes close, and none after it can beat it. My parents told me that when this one came out, people were literally running out of the movie theaters, crying, screaming. They had never seen anything like it. It set a trend for movies to come. Now, it does take a while to get to the plot, the meat of the movie. But, just be patient, it will come, trust me. Don't be a punk though, turn out the lights. When that spirit enters her body, it's on!! There have been many movies on 'possession' after the Exorcist but, again, nothing can beat the original to me.
1. Coming to America- This will always be my all-time favorite movie. This is the first Rated R movie me and my sister was allowed to watch. It was so good, when we got to the end, we rewound it and watched it all over again. Prince Hakeem, Semi, King Jafe Jofer, Lisa McDowell, Darryl, Soul Glo, the barber shop crew, etc etc. This movie got really got me onto Eddie Murphy and displayed his extreme comedic and acting talents, solitifying his place as my all-time favorite comedian/actor (that's another list for another time).
3. I'm Gonna Git You Sucka- Like Coming To America, this movie was among my early welcomes into Rated R movies. I still crack up when I see this movie. Before In Living Colour, Keenan Ivory Wayans blessed us with this cult classic comedy which only a mind like his could offer. They don't speak much about this movie now but in terms of comedic performances, this should be an all-timer.
8.Ace Ventura- Jim Carrey bursted out after In Living Colour with this one. I used to imitate Ace all the time in school and considered him to be my long lost uncle for a while (I know that's dorky but whatever). They did a sequel to this movie but the sequel was not nearly as good as the 1st (plus, it was sort of ignorant and could possibly offend african-americans that see it as a stereotype).
4. Malcolm X- For those of 'us' who understood what this movie was about, this should be on all of our top 10 lists. Spike Lee has a way of entertaining us and educating us at the same time. No matter the length of this movie, it's enjoyable and intriguing from beginning to end. And Denzel's depiction of Malcolm should have won him an Oscar long before Training Day. I understand the academy would not have given him one for his portrayal of someone who they were scared of anyway, so we'll give them a pass on that one. I still see Denzel saying, "we didn't land on Plymouth rock, Plymouth Rock landed on us." Damnit Denzel, it sure did. LOL.
2. The Last Dragon- Up until I saw Coming To America, this was my favorite all-time movie growing up. Bruce Leroy made every young, black kid want to learn the martial arts. We would all kid around in the playground and 'shadow fight' to try to imitate what Leroy gave us. And, of course, who could deny "Sho Nuff" (God rest his soul). Every young boy watching that movie had to have a crush on Laura Charles (and if you didn't, check your.....you know). The movie, the music, it was all good with me, and still is. They are supposed to be doing a remake soon, but I doubt it will live up to anything the original did, at least for me (but I'm pretty sure i'm not alone). "Am I the meanest, am I the prettiest, am I the baddest mo' fo' down around this town...I can't hear you."
10.Anchorman- Ha ha ha, i'm laughing just thinking of this movie making my top 10, but it has. This is a recent addition to the list but I could not deny Will Ferrell. The comedy is more simple than anything but I can't get enough. This is one I recite the lines to at work (with my crazy co-worker Mike) all the time. It is one of those movies that may not be for everybody but for those who dig it really, really like it. Stay classy San Diego!!
6. The Temptations- If you're a Tempts fan (or I should say, if you're 'colored') and don't like this movie go shoot yourselves now. I can spit this movie verbatim. Most of us may have known at least most of the Temptations story but this movie depicted it in a way that you feel like you didn't know the half. As triumphant as the Temptations story is, it is a sad one as well. So much can happen to a music group and it is so hard to keep a group together (egos, drugs, money, etc). But the tragic ending of the original members' lives go far beyond the group. God bless Otis Williams for his life and keeping the tradition alive (as well as Dennis Edwards with his own version of the Temptations). Now, no matter how much Otis and Dennis, respectively, continue to carry on the Temptations name, there will never be a group like the originals (and the 2nd & 3rd tiers). My mom continues to support the new Otis Temptations, but I can't do it. It will never come close, no matter what they do now. I will stick with the memories of the golden oldies.
9. Forrest Gump- Yes, "stupid is as stupid does", but Tom Hanks showed his genius at work. A lot of people don't realize that Hanks came into the business as a comedian, but has since well diversified his acting talents. I can still watch this movie over and over again. It is probably one of the most imitated movies of all time, to boot. The sadness of it, the joy of it, it could even be an inspiration if you looked at it that way. I will always love Jenny, Leiutenant Dan, Mama, and, of course, Bubba.
5. The Exorcist- The best scary movie of ALL TIME. None of today's movies comes close, and none after it can beat it. My parents told me that when this one came out, people were literally running out of the movie theaters, crying, screaming. They had never seen anything like it. It set a trend for movies to come. Now, it does take a while to get to the plot, the meat of the movie. But, just be patient, it will come, trust me. Don't be a punk though, turn out the lights. When that spirit enters her body, it's on!! There have been many movies on 'possession' after the Exorcist but, again, nothing can beat the original to me.
7. Harlem Nights- This had to make the cut. To be able to get the ORIGINAL KINGS OF COMEDY together before they left us, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and Redd Foxx, was classic in itself. (screw what you heard about the 2000 version, these are the ORIGINALS and that is the end of that argument, period). This was a mixture of a ganster movie and, of course, the comedic talents of the legends put together. Also, the likes of the late Ricky Harris, Dela Reese (who was hilarious also- "oh, so now you want to shoot me in my pinky toe"), Jasmine Guy, Charlie Murphy (yes, pay attention, Charlie Murphy was in a couple of Eddie's earlier movies), the list goes on. My favorite part in the movie came from my man Arsenio Hall though. I felll out at his part just a couple of days ago like I had never seen it before. He only has a guest appearance in the movie but it's not how much you get, it's what you do with it. And I felt Arsenio certainly left his mark on this one.
*Now, notice there are numbers next to each selection. After drafting the list and looking it over, I realized that I actually could rank each movie. Unfortunately, I cannot copy and paste the selections, for some reason, to allocate them in order according to their ranking. So bare with the selections and their numbers.*
Big Bad Yankees!
Yes to all you New Yorkers who support the best team in the majors, the New York Yankees. We just ended a huge weekend against the Red Sox. This 4 game sweep indicates that this may be the year we go on to do big things. The Yankees started this cycle of signing players of big status to huge contracts and since 2000 we do not have that championship to show for it. Of course, we have continue to make the playoffs (with the exception of a couple of years) and that is good enough for most teams in sports period, but the Yankees put so much on themselves and build a roster of teams to which anything less than a World Series win is a dissapointing year.
As unfortunate as it is, it's how the Steinbrenner clan has built this organization. And especially this year, with the big free agent signings in the off-season, the Yankees are primed to go all the way. Now, I am not getting too happy about this 4-game sweep of the Sox, which make sit 7 straight wins for the Yankes, but it was a big series to put them up even further in the division. Plus, it sends a message to the Red Sox themselves, who have all but owned us the past couple of seasons. It is good for our psyche as well as letting the Red Sox know that this year we are here and they will have to contend with us. Anything the Yanks can build on the Red Sox is big money. So, as much as we can enjoy this weekend and the way the Yanks have been playing so far this summer, let's not get overjoyed, but continue to ride this train out. Let's hope I will be blogging in October over the Yankees in the World Series.
By the way, who the hell let all these Red Sox fans into Yankee Stadium. Their fans sound almost as loud as ours. Get them the hell out of here!!
As unfortunate as it is, it's how the Steinbrenner clan has built this organization. And especially this year, with the big free agent signings in the off-season, the Yankees are primed to go all the way. Now, I am not getting too happy about this 4-game sweep of the Sox, which make sit 7 straight wins for the Yankes, but it was a big series to put them up even further in the division. Plus, it sends a message to the Red Sox themselves, who have all but owned us the past couple of seasons. It is good for our psyche as well as letting the Red Sox know that this year we are here and they will have to contend with us. Anything the Yanks can build on the Red Sox is big money. So, as much as we can enjoy this weekend and the way the Yanks have been playing so far this summer, let's not get overjoyed, but continue to ride this train out. Let's hope I will be blogging in October over the Yankees in the World Series.
By the way, who the hell let all these Red Sox fans into Yankee Stadium. Their fans sound almost as loud as ours. Get them the hell out of here!!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
To The Bride & Groom
What a lovely day it was yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell Walker are now one. What better way to celebrate the union of two beautiful people than they did yesterday. It was wonderful. The ceremony, the reception, the celebration, couldn't have asked for anything more. So many people take the vows of marriage to be unsacred, as many people now quickly look for the divorce papers as opposed to sticking to what they have vowed to do in the eyes of the Lord. Not to be judgmental in the least, but it seems that many take the easy way out when it comes to marriage and opposed to standing and fighting, which is what marriage was meant for. Even if it is nessary to create space from each other from time-to-time, that is probably natural. But, come back to each other and let the space progress you, not further divide you. Pray about everything, hang on to nothing. Whatever we hang on to will only create distress within ourselves and those around us. God is in the house so we don't have to handle things on our own. And he will certainly be there now for my good friends.
I've known Max for almost 6 years now. He's been like a big brother to me. We have a lot in common. He certainly has a good head on his shoulders, which I wouldn't say is common for a lot of people these days. He is a true friend, has always done things the right way, and certainly is deservant of God's blessings, in this case Mrs. Monica Walker. I've known Monica for 2 years now. Of course, our first meeting was at a New Edition concert (yall better recognize, both N.E. fans so you know they're going to work out). She, like Max, is a wonderful person.
If you saw these 2 together, you would see how much in love they are. Their interaction is so natural and cohesive that there is no way an ordinary person could not see the love these two share. This love has spilled over to their 1 1/2 year old son, Brock. He is such a joy, just like his parents, silly, fun loving, and will go on to do great things like his parents.
May God bless this union and keep them in his grace and his guidance FOREVER. I will hope to always be a part of their lives and will try my absolute best to be here for whatever they need. So here is....TO THE BRIDE & GROOM.....CHEERS!! (my drink does not contain alcohol though- be quiet Max!!)
I've known Max for almost 6 years now. He's been like a big brother to me. We have a lot in common. He certainly has a good head on his shoulders, which I wouldn't say is common for a lot of people these days. He is a true friend, has always done things the right way, and certainly is deservant of God's blessings, in this case Mrs. Monica Walker. I've known Monica for 2 years now. Of course, our first meeting was at a New Edition concert (yall better recognize, both N.E. fans so you know they're going to work out). She, like Max, is a wonderful person.
If you saw these 2 together, you would see how much in love they are. Their interaction is so natural and cohesive that there is no way an ordinary person could not see the love these two share. This love has spilled over to their 1 1/2 year old son, Brock. He is such a joy, just like his parents, silly, fun loving, and will go on to do great things like his parents.
May God bless this union and keep them in his grace and his guidance FOREVER. I will hope to always be a part of their lives and will try my absolute best to be here for whatever they need. So here is....TO THE BRIDE & GROOM.....CHEERS!! (my drink does not contain alcohol though- be quiet Max!!)
Friday, August 7, 2009
It's The God In Me
"YOU ARE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR THROUGH HIM WHO LOVES YOU!!" and "..."YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS YOU!!" (-@ask4me)
Is it hard to believe sometimes? Does it seem like things will never get better? Sure, you can get caught up in thinking this way, but that is (what I believe) part of the test. God will give things to believers but in order to see who truly believes in Him, he has to take them on a journey. I like to refer to the journey as 'boot camp.' It is there where you have to work, train, sweat, cry, and run your emotions high. That is where He can see if you're still standing for Him. Also, if you're still praising him through tough times, that's when you're a true believer. Don't be fooled all the time by what you see, because the devil uses vulnerable people to deceive you and alter your perception. Get through all of that stuff the devil displays and continue to run right to the end, with Jesus in mind.
For me, a common thing I always say is "God is good, God is good", and just keep repeating that until I feel better even if things are looking dim. Scream for Him, clap for Him, raise your hands towards Him, just as you would at any music concert or any movie that we go crazy over. Do those same things for Him. Sometimes, that is all he asks for. Don't LOOK for a reward, it will come when you least expect it. Your prayers will be answered, your praises will be heard, your cries will be seen, and your worries will be understood. As I type this blog, I feel pain, I feel worry, and must keep this in mind for my own personal tribulations right at this moment. Continue to improve and better yourself. Just like any parent, our heavenly father is there for us no matter what. Keep Him in your hearts. Amen!!
This blog was inspired by and dedicated to twitter user @ask4me. God puts different people in your path, sometimes unexpected people from unexpected places. Thank you again bro. (follow him if you're not already).
Is it hard to believe sometimes? Does it seem like things will never get better? Sure, you can get caught up in thinking this way, but that is (what I believe) part of the test. God will give things to believers but in order to see who truly believes in Him, he has to take them on a journey. I like to refer to the journey as 'boot camp.' It is there where you have to work, train, sweat, cry, and run your emotions high. That is where He can see if you're still standing for Him. Also, if you're still praising him through tough times, that's when you're a true believer. Don't be fooled all the time by what you see, because the devil uses vulnerable people to deceive you and alter your perception. Get through all of that stuff the devil displays and continue to run right to the end, with Jesus in mind.
For me, a common thing I always say is "God is good, God is good", and just keep repeating that until I feel better even if things are looking dim. Scream for Him, clap for Him, raise your hands towards Him, just as you would at any music concert or any movie that we go crazy over. Do those same things for Him. Sometimes, that is all he asks for. Don't LOOK for a reward, it will come when you least expect it. Your prayers will be answered, your praises will be heard, your cries will be seen, and your worries will be understood. As I type this blog, I feel pain, I feel worry, and must keep this in mind for my own personal tribulations right at this moment. Continue to improve and better yourself. Just like any parent, our heavenly father is there for us no matter what. Keep Him in your hearts. Amen!!
This blog was inspired by and dedicated to twitter user @ask4me. God puts different people in your path, sometimes unexpected people from unexpected places. Thank you again bro. (follow him if you're not already).
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
We're Only Human
I've had so much time this year to do so much thinking and reflecting due to my own personal issues. When you lose things or people in your lives, it causes you to do that. Especially if your heart was into what you lost. We're all going to face it, whether we lose people in passing or whether we lose them in life. The inevitability of this fact does not take away the hurt, though. It can only try to help us prepare for it when it comes. And the only preparation we can exercise is through our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, who through Him can make all things possible, and can ease all pains.
If you do happen to lose someone and they may find other means of friendship/love/etc, do not fret. For if it is in their hearts, and if it is meant, they certainly will find their way back to you. It is not for us to have total control over everything, for we are not equipped or capable of handling things such as He handles them. He is a controlling Father who does not need us meddling in his affairs, even if it is referring to our own lives. So, let the person go as they are. And it may not always be letting them go, but simply giving them space, letting them figure things out, letting the situation grow. It will hurt, it will sting, but it's sometimes necessary for the situation to mature. Situations cannot always prosper with you and them always in the same space, no matter what the capacity is. The person will eventually find that their other means of companionship is not what they want and that you are still in their hearts. A situation that is true will face adversity, and the adversity only strengthens the bond between you and the other person.
Again, it is hard and extremely trying, but prayer and the word gets you through. You need to concentrate on taking things day-by-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute. Don't look too far and try not to look back (not too much). Naturally, we all tend to hold on to good memories, but in order to move forward, all memories need to stay memories. When we try to re-enact, we lose the good memories we had and potentially squander new ones.
So to anybody who feels like someone close to them has strayed away, wait and see, they will find you again. And it will be just like old times. Just be sure that when the situation does come back, you're not the same person, but even BETTER, and stronger. So, when you guys go through adversity again, you will already have gone through the test before to know how to handle it again when it arises. These things are the epitime of what life is about.
God is good, God is able,
For through him, we are enabled.
If you do happen to lose someone and they may find other means of friendship/love/etc, do not fret. For if it is in their hearts, and if it is meant, they certainly will find their way back to you. It is not for us to have total control over everything, for we are not equipped or capable of handling things such as He handles them. He is a controlling Father who does not need us meddling in his affairs, even if it is referring to our own lives. So, let the person go as they are. And it may not always be letting them go, but simply giving them space, letting them figure things out, letting the situation grow. It will hurt, it will sting, but it's sometimes necessary for the situation to mature. Situations cannot always prosper with you and them always in the same space, no matter what the capacity is. The person will eventually find that their other means of companionship is not what they want and that you are still in their hearts. A situation that is true will face adversity, and the adversity only strengthens the bond between you and the other person.
Again, it is hard and extremely trying, but prayer and the word gets you through. You need to concentrate on taking things day-by-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute. Don't look too far and try not to look back (not too much). Naturally, we all tend to hold on to good memories, but in order to move forward, all memories need to stay memories. When we try to re-enact, we lose the good memories we had and potentially squander new ones.
So to anybody who feels like someone close to them has strayed away, wait and see, they will find you again. And it will be just like old times. Just be sure that when the situation does come back, you're not the same person, but even BETTER, and stronger. So, when you guys go through adversity again, you will already have gone through the test before to know how to handle it again when it arises. These things are the epitime of what life is about.
God is good, God is able,
For through him, we are enabled.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Day 26 by default!
So, we have been fortunate to be able to experience music groups such as The Temps, The Tops, The Stylistics, The O'Jays, The Supremes, The Miracles (from back in the day), New Edition, Jodeci, Guy, Dru Hill, 112, & Jagged Edge, to name a few. As we finish out the decade and get deeper into the new millenium, who do we have to look forward to?
Umm..i'm thinking...i'm thinking...oh, there is this group out now called Day 26. Well, they're OK I guess. I won't lie, I did watch Making the Band 4, and it is quite entertaining. The fellas seem like good people. But, what actually turned me off occured on the show itself. During last season's finale, while Dannity Kane was going through more of their drama on the set (we won't get into them, not worth the time, MAYBE in another blog at a future date, TBD). The fellas from Day 26 took the stage to perform a few songs off their album. How was the performance? I'm glad you asked. To put it mildly....the performances SUCKED!! No harmony, no range, no singing ability. They looked like some guys that were picked off the street and asked to come together to form a group (oh wait, that's actually what happened).
Now, I am not knocking the guys hustles, and certainly am all for Day 26 doing their thing. As I say that, though, the "brainwashed" success of Day 26 would have to be attributed to the MTV show, and Diddy's promotion of the group (which, by the way, is all for him, don't think for a second Day 26 is actually for the members of the actual group). Diddy has done a good job with doing what he normally does, and getting Day 26 into the mainstream. And marketing himself in the process, as always. Let's not get it twisted though, once Diddy is done with these guys that will be a wrap. Someone will go into real estate, someone else into production, someone else will just go back home like all this Day 26 stuff never happened. Either way, if you view this group of quality, formidable, all-time, you are surely mistaken. This is a temporary gig so you all better enjoy Day 26 while you can. Because this train is not headed to Paris!!
Umm..i'm thinking...i'm thinking...oh, there is this group out now called Day 26. Well, they're OK I guess. I won't lie, I did watch Making the Band 4, and it is quite entertaining. The fellas seem like good people. But, what actually turned me off occured on the show itself. During last season's finale, while Dannity Kane was going through more of their drama on the set (we won't get into them, not worth the time, MAYBE in another blog at a future date, TBD). The fellas from Day 26 took the stage to perform a few songs off their album. How was the performance? I'm glad you asked. To put it mildly....the performances SUCKED!! No harmony, no range, no singing ability. They looked like some guys that were picked off the street and asked to come together to form a group (oh wait, that's actually what happened).
Now, I am not knocking the guys hustles, and certainly am all for Day 26 doing their thing. As I say that, though, the "brainwashed" success of Day 26 would have to be attributed to the MTV show, and Diddy's promotion of the group (which, by the way, is all for him, don't think for a second Day 26 is actually for the members of the actual group). Diddy has done a good job with doing what he normally does, and getting Day 26 into the mainstream. And marketing himself in the process, as always. Let's not get it twisted though, once Diddy is done with these guys that will be a wrap. Someone will go into real estate, someone else into production, someone else will just go back home like all this Day 26 stuff never happened. Either way, if you view this group of quality, formidable, all-time, you are surely mistaken. This is a temporary gig so you all better enjoy Day 26 while you can. Because this train is not headed to Paris!!
The Innocence of Michael
This is my first-time, so you can say i'm "losing my virginity" to internet blogging. Sometimes, there's so much I want to say about certain things or just life in general and twitter only allows 140 characters. Not a lot when you like to express yourself extensively. So, here it goes. I feel it was only fitting to dedictae my first blog to the man I grew up on, the myth, the legend, the greatest of all time...Mr. Michael Joseph Jackson.
So much has been made of this man by so many media and press over the many years that Michael held the crown as the King of Pop. And even before that, when he was the biggest child star to ever walk the earth. The question is not really of what was wrong, the question is who can understand Michael and his mindset as he became an adult. So many of us like to judge and put people down before we try to know the person. So, who was Michael?
If you ask me Michael was someone who was extremely untrustworthy, afraid to open up, relunctant to let people into his world. You couldn't have just simply walked into Michael's life and been apart of his world. There were so many things he had to endure to let just anyone know him. That's where his love for children came into play. See, it wasn't that Michael was inappropriate or had anything sexual to do with those kids. Because I honestly believe to this day that he had NOT done anything of the sorts. What it was with him was a sense of living the childhood he never had through them. And the innocence they displayed that made Michael feel much more comfortable than adults could ever have made him. He once told Martin Bershir (who is not even worth mentioning in this blog but I will just to make my point) that adults will dissapoint you, adults will let you down. Michael felt that children are too innocent, too pure to do what adults are capable of. He saw kids, and the world, different than any of us can imagine. He admired nature, animals, things that we take for granted that are of the spiritual world that Michael endowed in his heart. He was able to imagine things we couldn't see, feel things we couldn't feel. And for that, he was labeled strange, weird, unusual ("Wacko Jacko"). Also, not to mention, all of the many, many things he did for people and children all around the world for so long. He was a movement in himself.
Is it simply an issue of strange? No, people will always view others as strange when they don't understand them. We all have an aspect about ourselves, in one way or another, that others may not understand. For the most part, we would keep it to ourselves. Michael did not have that luxury though. Since 5 years old he was in the spotlight. So anything that Michael did or felt was open for the world to see. So when he wanted to dubb himself "Peter Pan", it wasn't something he could simply close in on a diary. The eyes of the world through media, television, radio and cameras were always there to capture the moments that we deem private.
We all go through life. We all can say that we have, at least, a sense of relunctancy or fear of opening up to our fellow adults. Because they will let you down, they will dissapoint. And that in itself could make anybody shut down to what may be normal in the eyes of society. There are so many times (past and present) where I wish I didn't have to deal with adults, OR that I wished some were different than they are. When you have a kind-hearted person, people with either take advantage or view it as strange in some way. A lot cannot accept the good in people and will always turn it around to bad, whether that means spreading the evilness of their ways into your world or by simply by, somehow, making you feel that the kindness in your heart is not worthy of anything.
With that, my view of Michael is, in fact, his purity, his strength (which he had to have been to endure all that he did for over 3 decades). Now in his passing many feel the need to mourn him and honor him. And I am not mad at that, because the man surely deserves it. But there are a lot of us fans that were always there for him in support, no matter what he was facing. Those of us who understood the innocence of Michael Jackson.
So much has been made of this man by so many media and press over the many years that Michael held the crown as the King of Pop. And even before that, when he was the biggest child star to ever walk the earth. The question is not really of what was wrong, the question is who can understand Michael and his mindset as he became an adult. So many of us like to judge and put people down before we try to know the person. So, who was Michael?
If you ask me Michael was someone who was extremely untrustworthy, afraid to open up, relunctant to let people into his world. You couldn't have just simply walked into Michael's life and been apart of his world. There were so many things he had to endure to let just anyone know him. That's where his love for children came into play. See, it wasn't that Michael was inappropriate or had anything sexual to do with those kids. Because I honestly believe to this day that he had NOT done anything of the sorts. What it was with him was a sense of living the childhood he never had through them. And the innocence they displayed that made Michael feel much more comfortable than adults could ever have made him. He once told Martin Bershir (who is not even worth mentioning in this blog but I will just to make my point) that adults will dissapoint you, adults will let you down. Michael felt that children are too innocent, too pure to do what adults are capable of. He saw kids, and the world, different than any of us can imagine. He admired nature, animals, things that we take for granted that are of the spiritual world that Michael endowed in his heart. He was able to imagine things we couldn't see, feel things we couldn't feel. And for that, he was labeled strange, weird, unusual ("Wacko Jacko"). Also, not to mention, all of the many, many things he did for people and children all around the world for so long. He was a movement in himself.
Is it simply an issue of strange? No, people will always view others as strange when they don't understand them. We all have an aspect about ourselves, in one way or another, that others may not understand. For the most part, we would keep it to ourselves. Michael did not have that luxury though. Since 5 years old he was in the spotlight. So anything that Michael did or felt was open for the world to see. So when he wanted to dubb himself "Peter Pan", it wasn't something he could simply close in on a diary. The eyes of the world through media, television, radio and cameras were always there to capture the moments that we deem private.
We all go through life. We all can say that we have, at least, a sense of relunctancy or fear of opening up to our fellow adults. Because they will let you down, they will dissapoint. And that in itself could make anybody shut down to what may be normal in the eyes of society. There are so many times (past and present) where I wish I didn't have to deal with adults, OR that I wished some were different than they are. When you have a kind-hearted person, people with either take advantage or view it as strange in some way. A lot cannot accept the good in people and will always turn it around to bad, whether that means spreading the evilness of their ways into your world or by simply by, somehow, making you feel that the kindness in your heart is not worthy of anything.
With that, my view of Michael is, in fact, his purity, his strength (which he had to have been to endure all that he did for over 3 decades). Now in his passing many feel the need to mourn him and honor him. And I am not mad at that, because the man surely deserves it. But there are a lot of us fans that were always there for him in support, no matter what he was facing. Those of us who understood the innocence of Michael Jackson.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
