Michael Jackson & The Man in the mirror
This post was inspired by a comment I received raising concerns that in the previous blog I did not give direct attention and commentary on the child molestation legal case and controversy that engulfed Michael Jackson in the latter part of his life. The person felt that I was dismissive of the entire controversy and that the safety of children was too important to give MJ “a pass”. Well I’m going to respond here as briefly as I can, realizing the subject is much too weighty for a single blog posting.
For the record, I and just about everyone else agree that children and their safety are paramount. Secondly I am not going to put up a defense for MJ either, because that is why we have attorneys and a judicial system. Which leads me to my first point, we have a legal system to handle such matters. And in MJ’s case, they did. Is it posssible they got it wrong? Of course. There are so many instances of 
poorly administered justice in America, particularly for Black men it is an untold nightmare. Yet the legal system demands that we live with the results. And typically, we do. No retrying of cases. The law is the law we are told. This is what it means to live in an orderly society. So if we are going to begin reviewing guilt and innocence, I think the numbers favor not beginning with MJ, but with the tens of thousands of people whose lives were destroyed or tarnished by false convictions. That would be the starting point for a serious discussion about law and justice.
But that is not really what this is. It is not actually a critique of the legal system
. Nah, it is more simple than that. It is about the power of media. The media is a master at taking people’s personal business and making it public. Giving everyone the power to weigh in on other people’s personal matters as though they are reading a salacious novel. Whether reality tv, local news, court cases, talk shows, or blogs (ouch) people tune in and pass judgement on others with free reign and little discretion. We are all guilty of this. We love it. And we know we love it. So the media feeds that craving with an endless slew of allegations, gossip, innuendos, suspicion, personal details and the like.
And not suprising, it is all good until we are the one’s being exposed. Then we want understanding, respect, empathy, and privacy. If our live’s were up for public review and commentary, “oh my” then we would be outraged becasue we know we are not perfect enough to stand up to heavy scrutiny. Well that is the second point, treat others as you would want to be treated.
In MJ’s case he was tried and accuitted. And if the families who brought the allegations felt strongly about the inferred injustice then they could appeal the decision or leverage the media and sway public opinion to help them get justice. This is what Ron Goldman’s family did in the OJ Simpson case. And if those families had led that charge then the conversation might have appeared more driven by principle. But that wasn’t the case.
The conversation was and is driven by the media feeding the mob’s appettite and resentment that he (MJ) may have beat the system. Well that is not my intention, motivation, nor issue. I am not leading that charge. Nor am I using my blog to indulge that conversation.
See I grew up a Christian. I listened to my pastor, my mom, and my grandmothers when they taught me “Judge ye not least ye be judged.” As I child I didn’t really get it, but as a man I have come to see how things aren’t always as simple as they appear.
People are complex. The seeds of human behavior are often unseen and planted deeply beneath the surface and as a result we can’t appreciate why people act the way they do. Nor do we even understand our own shortcomings and behavior. But yet we are required to do our best. Sometimes we are even required to serve as jurors in each other’s cases. But my admonishion to you is to tread the waters of judgement carefully and only take that plunge when you really have to because it is a power that works two ways. Judgement is a mirror.
See that new testament lesson actually goes a bit like this, those who judge will get judged and the same measure they use to judge, shall be used to judge them. So unless you are near perfect . Unflawed. Principled in all your dealings, at all times, and under all circumstances then I suggest you take MJ advice when he said, 
“I’m starting with the man in the mirror. I’m asking him to change his ways. And no message can be any clearer,
If you wanna make the world a better place take a look at your self and then make a change!”
Thank you. Share this blog with others.
And thanks to the reader whose comment inspired the blog. M. Billi
Tags: Judgement, Media, Michael Jackson