Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)
A Tribute to My Friend, Michael Jackson by Dr. Deepak Chopra (En Français plus bas, dedicated to “a loving soul” Grace) Michael Jackson will be remembered, most likely, as a shattered icon, a pop genius who wound up a mutant of fame. That’s not who I will remember, however. His mixture of mystery, isolation, indulgence, overwhelming global fame, and personal loneliness was intimately known to me. For twenty years I observed every aspect, and as easy as it was to love Michael — and to want to protect him — his sudden death yesterday seemed almost fated.
Two days previously he had called me in an upbeat, excited mood. The voice message said, “I’ve got some really good news to share with you.” He was writing a song about the environment, and he wanted me to help informally with the lyrics, as we had done several times before. When I tried to return his call, however, the number was disconnected. (Terminally spooked by his treatment in the press, he changed his phone number often.) So I never got to talk to him, and the music demo he sent me lies on my bedside table as a poignant symbol of an unfinished life.
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Dr. Chopra thank you for the love and support you and your family are bringing to Grace.
Here is the French Translation of your magnificent Tribute to MJ (to be used as you see fit), that is the least I could do for an old time AUC friend and one of the sweetest souls: Grace.
Above and beyond I will keep the word “love” and “joy” what a powerful lesson.
merci.
Joel
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Dr Chopra merci pour l’amour et le réconfort que vous et votre famille apportez à Grace.
Voici la traduction française de votre vibrant hommage à MJ (à utiliser comme vous le souhaitez), c’est le moindre que je puisse faire pour une amie de longue date à l’Université d’AUC et une des âmes les plus douces: Grace.
Et par dessus tout je garderai les mots “amour” et “joie,” quelle leçon extraordinaire.
merci
Joel
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Un hommage à mon ami, Michael Jackson
par Dr. Deepak Chopra
On se souviendra de Michael Jackson, très certainement, comme une icône brisée, un génie de la pop musique, qui est devenu un mutant de la célébrité. Cependant, ce n’est pas ainsi que je m’en souviendrai. Son mélange de mystère, d’isolement, d’indulgence, son immense renommée mondiale, et sa solitude personnelle, tout cela j’en avais une connaissance intime. Depuis vingt ans, j’ai observé tous ces aspects, et aussi facile qu’il était d’aimer Michael – et de vouloir le protéger – sa mort subite hier semblait prédestinée.
Deux jours auparavant, il m’avait appelé dans un élan d’optimisme, tout excité. Le message du répondeur disait: “J’ai de très bonnes nouvelles à partager avec vous.” Il écrivait une chanson sur l’environnement, et il voulait que je l’aide de manière informelle avec les paroles, comme nous l’avions fait plusieurs fois auparavant. Cependant quand j’ai essayé de le rappeller, la ligne téléphonique était déconnectée. (effrayé au plus haut point par l’attitude de la presse, il changait souvent son numéro de téléphone.)
Donc, je n’ai jamais pu lui parler, et la démo de musique qu’il m’avait envoyé est là sur ma table de chevet comme un symbole poignant d’une vie inachevée. Lorsque nous nous sommes rencontrés pour la première fois, vers 1988, j’ai été frappé par la combinaison de charisme et de fragilité qui entouraient Michael. Il était assaillit par la foule à l’aéroport, puis faisait un show exténuant de trois heures, puis passait en coulisses, comme nous l’avions fait une nuit à Bucarest, et buvait de l’eau, jetant un coup d’oeil à une poésie soufie alors que j’entrai dans la salle pour méditer.
Cette personne, que je considère (au risque d’être traité de ridicule) très pur, et l’est resté – lisait des poèmes de Rabindranath Tagore, lorsque nous avons parlé pour la dernière fois, il ya deux semaines. Michael illustre le paradoxe de nombreux artistes célèbres, étant essentiellement timide, un introverti, qui venait chez moi et passait la plupart de son temps seul dans un coin le soir avec ses jeunes enfants. J’ai toujours vu un père aimant lorsqu’ils étaient ensembles (et me demande maintenant, comme toute personne proche de lui, ce qui va leur arriver).
L’hésitation de Michael à grandir fait aussi parti du paradoxe. Mes enfants l’adoraient, et en retour, il répondait d’une manière enfantine. Il déclare souvent, comme les ex-enfants stars le font, qu’on lui a volé son enfance. Compte tenu de la valeur exagérée que porte notre société à la célébrité, dont Michael a été encensée sans répit, le public a été sans pitié vis à vis de sa douleur réelle et personnelle. Il devint une autre partie du tabloïd tape à l’oeil dans le style “Jacko,” décrit comme une créature changeante, étrange et comme quelque chose de bien plus sinistre.
Ce n’est pas à moi de faire des commentaires sur les troubles dont Michael souffrait, qui venait de son passé, et qui ont été amplifiés par ses choix malencontreux dans la vie. Il a été entouré par des “facilitateurs,” y compris un grand nombre de médecins honteux à Los Angeles et ailleurs qui lui ont fourni des médicaments sur ordonnance. De nombreuses fois, quand il avouait franchement qu’il avait un problème, la conversation se terminait toujours par une diversion ou un déni.
Alors que j’écris ce paragraphe, les rapports d’abus de drogues se répandent à travers les médias et chaînes d’information. A l’instant où j’ai appris sa mort cet après-midi, j’ai eu le pressentiment que les médicaments avec ordonnance joueraient un rôle capital. Notre plus grand rapprochement, peut-être, c’est lorsque Michael avait besoin de vendre un livre surtout comme un souvenir pour un concert. Qui contiendrai des images de ses fans, et aussi un court texte composé de fables.
Je m’assayais avec lui pendant des heures, alors qu’il révait de contes sembables aux Fables d’Esope sur les animaux, mélangés de mots sur la musique et de son amour pour toutes les choses musicales. Ce projet est devenu, après avoir arrangé le texte pour lui, “Dancing the Dream,” ceci fait strictement par amitié.C’est ce moment ensemble qui m’a convaincu du modus vivendi que Michael avait conçu pour lui-même: pour contrer la vague de stress qui accompagne le fait d’être une méga-star, il avait construit un refuge privé dans un monde fantastique où les nuages roses voilent l’angoisse intérieure et où Peter Pan était un héros, pas une pathologie.
Ce compromis avec la réalité est progressivement devenue insoutenable. il fit beaucoup d’efforts pour le préserver. Les privilèges sans bornes sont devenus une autre force toxique qui le conduisit à sa perte. Ce qui a commencé comme une manie, la timidité et la vulnérabilité ont été ravagés par des obsessions sur la santé, la paranoïa de la sécurité, et un isolement qui devint de plus en plus malsain. Quand Michael m’a passé la musique de cette dernière chanson , celle sur mon chevet en attente des mots appropriées, la procédure pour me faire parvenir le CD rivalisait avec les opérations secrètes de couverture par la CIA.
Mon souvenir de Michael Jackson restera aussi complexe et confus que pour la plupart des gens. Ses amis les plus proches vont serrer les rangs pour essayer de préserver le meilleur après lui. Allons-nous réussir à le sauver après tant d’années de distorsion des médias? Nul ne peut le dire. Je voulais juste mettre quelques détails dans le dossier en son nom. Mon fils Gotham a voyagé avec Michael comme technicien sur son “Dangerous” tour quand il avait treize ans. Cela aura t’il de l’importance que Michael se soit comporter avec discipline et de manière impeccable avec mon fils? (J’ai des frissons en me rappelant quelque chose qu’il a dit à Gotham: “Je ne veux pas partir comme Marlon Brando. Je veux partir comme Elvis.” Ces deux icônes étaient les obsessions de cet icône.)
La “nanny” de ses enfants, Grace Rwaramba, est comme une fille pour moi. Je l’ai présenté à Michael quand elle avait dix-huit ans, une jolie fille, au coeur chaleureux, du Rwanda, qui est maintenant adulte. Elle a gardé un oeil sur lui pour moi et m’appelait quand il était en baisse de forme ou trop proche du précipice. Combien déchirant pour Grace que personne n’ai eu l’instinct de protection et de véritable amour pour éviter cette journée tragique. Il ya une heure, elle était en sanglots au téléphone à Londres.
En conséquence, je n’ai pas pu m’empêcher d’écrire ce bref hommage dans la tristesse. Mais quand le choc sera passé et que des milliers de voix raconteront la trajectoire de Michael: brillante, joyeuse, conflictuelle, énigmatique, trajectoire bizarre, j’espère que le mot “joie” sera celui qui s’élevera des cendres et brillera comme par le passé.
Writing Songs With My Friend, Mike
by Gotham Chopra When I was in my second year of college living on campus (at Columbia in NYC) with 4 suite mates, every time the phone rang, there was a race to answer it. Everyone wanted to be the guy to hear the “hello” on the other side just in case it was my friend Michael Jackson calling. Most of those days, Michael was holed up on top of the Four Seasons, roughly 60 blocks away from where I lived on the upper Westside of Manhattan just near Harlem.
I’d happily drift downtown, gain clearance from security downstairs who knew I was allowed free access to Michael’s suite, take the elevator all the way up and start ordering room service and watch movies on Mike’s tab. Eventually, Michael and I would get down to work. He was working on a new album and asked me to help him write lyrics for songs. It was an informal relationship – I’d wander downtown with a backpack full of dictionaries, and thesauri, and rhyming books. Michael would hum songs and talk about what he wanted to say with the song and we’d try and marry our skillsets and come up with something.
We came up with great stuff. Michael swore me to secrecy those days. I happily complied. After we were done with those sessions – they’d usually go until about 2 AM or so – Michael would wander into the bathroom and come out with a sack he’d pulled out from under the toilet. In it, he kept several thousands of dollars. He’d ask me how much I wanted. I just sort of shrugged and he’d hand me a couple of thousand dollars. Soon, I’d be packing my dictionaries and thesauri and rhyming books in my backpack, calling my friends and telling them to meet me downtown. Within an hour, we’d be at Flashdancers “making it rain.” Michael was always envious when I told him about my adventures with my friends.
More than a few times, he’d get dressed up – dawning some sort of quasi-disguise – preparing to go with me, only to back down at the last minute or be held back by his security who would shake their heads and plainly say no to his misguided ambitions. Instead, he’d pour himself a tall glass of orange juice and settle in for the night to watch an old movie on TV, telling me to spend a few extra bucks for him. I happily complied. My friendship with Michael was very special to me, and I like to think it was the same for him.
Over the last few years, it always felt awkward to explain the origins of our friendship – that I met him initially when I was fifteen-years-old and that we instantly hit it off. I’d spend days at his Neverland Ranch, my sister, cousins, or other friends joining us in fantastical stretches filled with candy, arcade rides, late night movies and the absolute best chocolate chip cookies of all times. Likewise he’d visit our house in Massachusetts (he was very close to my father as well) where he’d sleep in the guest room. My mom got a great kick out of the fact that every morning Michael stayed, he’d try to make the bed (very badly) and offer to cook breakfast (very badly).
Then when I was about 17, Michael invited me on the road with him – he was heading out to Europe on the biggest rock concert at the time (Dangerous tour) and wanted company. I begged and pleaded with my parents to let me go and they eventually said yes. Not a bad way to spend your summer vacation between junior and senior year of Highschool. Over the years, as Michael faced his scandals, I often reflected on my own experiences with him as a teenager. People would ask me if I had endured anything strange or awkward with him. I’d answer truthfully that in all of my years with him, in every single moment, Michael was nothing but dignified and appropriate, never once doing anything that would be deemed scandalous with me. It was really that simple. Check that.
Back to those college days. One night he did call me in a panic. He had just gotten married to Lisa Marie Presley and needed advice – sex advice. He was incredibly nervous and said that he wanted to make sure that Lisa was impressed with his “moves.” He asked me if I had any advice. I answered with one word: “foreplay.” “Really?” He answered. “Girls really like that?” Over the last few years, Michael’s and my relationship evolved and matured greatly too.
We both became fathers and that was the centerpiece of our most recent conversations the last few months. Returning the favor from my days as his “lyrical advisor,” he’s the one who monikered my half-Indian, half-Chinese son “The Chindian” which little Krishu Chen Xing Hua Chopra will now forever go by. We’d talk about how great it would be for our kids to grow up together, become as good friends as us, and set the world on fire. Michael admired the fact that I was able to find a wife, keep a wife, and gain her trust. I’d joke it was all about the foreplay!
When his daughter Paris befell an accident a few years ago, he called my wife Candice (a physician) pleading for us to come to his house to check her out. We did – Paris had fallen from a tree and cut herself deeply beneath the eye. Michael was devastated and confessed to me that he felt like the world’s worst father. I calmed him as Candice helped Paris get up from the bed where she lay so we could take her to the Emergency room to get some simple stitches.
When I advised Michael of the plan, he pulled me into the bathroom, pulled a sack filled with thousands of dollars from beneath the toilet and asked me how much I needed for the Emergency room. I shook my head: “this one’s on me.”
RIP in peace my friend.
Gotham Chopra
Also read Deepak Chopra’s A Tribute to My Friend, Michael Jackson and Mallika Chopra’s Reflections on Growing Up with Michael Jackson
Reflections on Growing up with Michael Jackson
by Mallika Chopra It is with a sad heart today that I write this blog. My brother, Gotham, and my father, Deepak, have both written beautiful articles remembering our friend, Michael Jackson. I debated writing something or not, and in the end decided to write for my own healing process. My brother and I had a magical childhood, and much of this was because of Michael. For us, Michael let us visit Neverland like it was our own – from movies to playing video games to bumper car rides to playing with the chimps to eating amazing chocolate chip cookies, we were able to take our cousins and friends to this magical place and just have pure fun.
Eating meals with Michael in those days – almost 20 years ago now – was always an experience. He would start humming a tune and then excuse himself. When he came back, he would giggle with delight, explaining how music just came to him and he had to record it to save what came, he always said, came from some place else. Every moment we were with Michael, I would be utterly comfortable and utterly in awe at the same time. My relationship with Michael was very different from that of my father and brothers.
Michael and I shared an absolute love for children, and his heart cried about the pain children around the world faced. One day, while chatting with him about his upcoming Super Bowl performance, Michael was brainstorming how he could use the worldwide exposure for a greater cause, and the Heal The World Foundation was born. My first job, after graduating from college, was to launch the foundation with a small team. I was so proud of the work we did in that short time, only to find that our good intentions came to a halt when Michael was accused the first time of child molestation. Over night, understandably so, non-profits backed away from our efforts and we quietly closed shop.
My family always maintained our belief that Michael was innocent in both cases – for those that were close to Michael, all would admit he was quirky and had bad judgment at times. But to think Michael could abuse a child was unfathomable in my mind. Over the last decade, my relationship with Michael continued to be focused on kids, but now our own. (We remained connected through my best friend, Grace, who served as their nanny for many years.) It was amazing for me to witness in those early years how enamored Michael was with his children.
He changed their diapers through the night, sang and played with them, rocked them to sleep, bathed them and had to change his own outfits when they threw up on him – the same routine that all parents know and love. In the few times we spoke, he would always reflect on the miracle of being a parent. He also protected them in a way that reflected his own lost childhood, and his paranoia about being taken advantage of. Paris, Prince and Blanket are three beautiful children.
With Michael gone, I truly pray that they will find some peace and be spared the heart wrenching pain that their father faced time and time again in his life. I write this blog in London after having a very surreal encounter with the kind of people that Michael was always paranoid about. I will spare the details, but in those few hours, where I felt my kids were in a vulnerable situation, I had just the tiniest insight into why Michael became so paranoid in his life.
So sad that such a trusting soul had to become so distrustful. Because truly he was a loving, trusting soul. Here in London, like in much of the world, every television channel paid tribute to Michael Jackson. As I watched some clips with my two young daughters (7 and 5), I found I had so much to explain to them. Why did he have white skin (he had a skin disease)? Why did he look so different from when he was a kid? (A fascinating discussion about plastic surgery followed). Why did he look so weird? Why did he hide all the time? What’s going to happen to Prince, Paris and Blanket? I patiently answered their questions, focusing on being a mom that needs to help her children understand a confusing world.
The reality is that Michael’s life and story brings up painful questions about how we see the world, see ourselves and treat others. And, as we were watching, the Heal the World video came on. And finally after holding back all morning, my tears streamed down freely, as my two daughters held me. Hearing that song, in which Micheal sang about healing the world… Michael truly had a gift to heal – his music and his sweet soul touched billions – and for that, I hope he will be remembered.
RIP MJ
by Dr. Mani
The King of Rock is no more.
Michael Jackson, icon of the world of pop, child singing sensation, world-famous rock super-star, is dead. At fifty. I’m devastated. Michael Jackson was my all-time favorite pop singer.
Like many million others, I spent hundreds of hours as a young man swaying to his crooning, and letting the music and lyrics merge with my own ambitious and unreal dreams to form a rosy vision of what might be. Today’s news was a splash of cold water dashed against them.
Michael Jackson was a gifted singer, savvy entertainer, and astute brand manager. I’ve read his biography. His career started early. As a five-year old, he was a star, fighting off an intrusive press and his adoring fans.
For his musical genius, he paid a heavy price – it cost him a normal childhood. And the consequences of this manifested as some bizarre PR stunts… though the magic still lingered on.
That magic ended today. If you hadn’t first heard Michael Jackson’s singing as a teen or young adult, you probably don’t understand what exactly many of us are mourning. It’s not just the loss of a super-talented singer.
Not just the demise of a pop icon. Not just the passing of a record-breaking entertainer. It is more.
We’re mourning the loss of a symbol of our youth – of innocence, of romantic possibility, of purposeful change. RIP MJ.
COMMENTS:
joelbomane June 26th, 2009 @11:17 am
My 3 Michael Jackson Secrets
by Dr. Mani
Michael Jackson, ‘King of Pop’, died on Thursday. He was my all-time favorite pop singer. Here are my 3 secrets about Michael Jackson.
1. MJ is the ONLY celebrity I have EVER sent fan-mail to! I wrote him a long letter when I was 18, and hunted high and low to find an address to mail it. Never did get a reply 
2. I cried when I heard the news of Michael Jackson’s death. Because it made me sad to lose such a visible symbol of my younger days – and all that his memory and songs stood for. (Did you?)
3. I still have a letter addressed to Mike in my briefcase. It is about my work with CHD kids. I thought he might help. Don’t know why I didn’t post it sooner. Wish I had. Do you have any Michael Jackson secrets to share? UPDATE:
Bloodsuckers and The World of Michael Jackson
by Mallika Chopra
In the aftermath of Michael Jackson’s death, I found myself in a surreal situation that gave me a glimpse into the dark side of bloodsuckers, media and celebrity.
I also realized that all of us, myself included, who participate in the engagement of that media feed so-called journalists to do anything to get their information. In the end, personalities like Michael are portrayed as freaks and dysfunctional, people who love them are taken advantage of, and those seedy, washed out journalists profit. I share my experience because it involves Grace Rwaramba, who served as the nanny to Michael’s three kids.
Grace is more than my best friend – I refer to her as my sister, and she thinks of my parents as her own (she actually calls my father papa). In the last day in the aftermath of Michaels death, recent quotes have surfaced about her life with Michael, as well as speculation about her role in potential custody battles for the three children. Grace has read this article before I published it.
Michael had a pattern of letting those close to him in and out of his life, and Grace was no exception. Lisa Marie Presley’s reflection on her emotional relationship with Michael expressed beautifully the power Michael had with those he loved. Over the years, Grace faced a similar cycle of wanting to save him and being hurt by him.
It was an endless cycle that seemed similar to those faced by friends and families of other addicts. Michael had a knack of surrounding himself with enablers, and avoiding people who wanted to help him like his family, real friends who cared deeply about him, Grace and my father, Deepak Chopra. Daphne Barak, a so-called journalist who claims to be a friend of the Jackson family and who got to know Grace through them, has been cultivating a friendship with Grace over several years.
Unfortunately, the story with Daphne and Grace seems to be one that echoes the vultures that took advantage of Michael throughout his life. Daphne reached out to Grace a few weeks ago, when she knew she was in a vulnerable place, having recently been let go by Michael yet again (this was a regular pattern). In the 17 years that Grace has worked with Michael, she has never spoken to the press. She loves Michael and his children at her core.
Grace genuinely believed Daphne was her friend who was trying to help her. Daphne had offered to help Grace launch a foundation she was creating to monitor non profit work in Africa. (Grace was originally from Rwanda.) She told Grace that they should record her speaking about the work. However, every time they began to record, her questions would center on Michael. Grace would say she was uncomfortable speaking about him.
On the morning of June 26th, after finding out that Grace was also in London, I rushed to her hotel. She was staying in a suite with Daphne. Daphne told tell me she had invited Grace to stay with her in Switzerland as her guest, and how she had helped Grace with the immediate aftermath of shock hearing about Michael’s death. She said that she had spent several thousand dollars to buy a business class ticket for Grace to fly to LA. She boasted about how close she was to the Jackson family, world leaders, etc.
I witnessed Daphne act as a friend while trying to bait information from Grace on her conversations with Jackson family members and friends about his death. She warned Grace that the family was going to try to set her up for Michaels downfall, and that it was critical that Grace speak with a lawyer before leaving.
As a friend, she had organized a “lawyer” to get Grace’s story before she left for the airport. In essence, Daphne was setting up a scenario to garner more information from Grace before she left for LA. I discovered that one of her friends who happened to be there had made a documentary on Princess Diana. When we tried to leave, Daphne screamed at Grace – in front of my young children who began to cry — that she was an ingrate. She had spent thousands of dollars hosting her, she was her guest, and she wanted to spend the time to say goodbye. (Daphne obviously could not believe her luck that she had baited Grace as a sympathetic friend for stories before he died, and had Grace with her on that sad day.)
Ultimately, Daphne, having obviously drunk a bit much, threatened to release the recordings she had made of their private conversations. Grace was petrified. I held her by the shoulders, looked in her eyes, and said lets just go. So what, let her put it out there. She is a washed up journalist trying to mine a tragic situation. Michael was gone now, and the future is the wellbeing of the children. Grace agreed. Ultimately, I had to get the hotel manager involved to escort Grace out of the hotel.
I also bought Grace’s ticket home myself, discovering that Daphne had misled us about the time and the price. It was a 650 Pound economy ticket, not several thousand dollars. Twenty four hours later, I found that Daphne indeed had written an article full of quotes by Grace for a tabloid magazine. (A quick search of her other work not surprisingly shows she did a recent feature on Amy Winehouse.) Grace’s quotes are now being picked up by other tabloids and will find their way into more magazines and articles. (People Magazine is also featuring some today, including the inaccurate claim the Grace pumped Michael’s stomach several times.
For the record, Grace never pumped Michael’s stomach. She has no idea how she would even do such a thing.) Which quotes are true, which are in context, (many are not) to me frankly doesn’t matter. I will not be surprised if Daphne releases audios or videos soon. Grace feels used, insecure and shaken that she could have been so naïve, particularly having witnessed so many vultures in Michael’s world over the years. She made a mistake. The sad truth is that when you are a celebrity, or a close friend or family of one, in a world of tabloids, you must be impeccable in what you say and to whom.
Michael probably faced the epitome of vultures, bloodsuckers and hanger-ons displayed in his endless cycle of managers, enabling doctors, and new business partners. How could anyone blame him for becoming so paranoid in his life? In the article, Daphne tries to portray a rift between Katherine Jackson and Grace. This is not true. I would like to go on record, with Grace’s permission, to say that Grace firmly hopes that the Jackson family gets custody of Prince, Paris and Michael.
It would be detrimental to the children to be separated, and they should be with Michael’s family. They should know their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and they should learn about who he was as a person, not just as an icon. She has no interest in custody, and just wants the children to be happy and secure. She will be there for them whenever they need or want her.
As for the appetite for the salacious details of Michael’s life, my hope is that we let him go in peace. We already know he led a tortured life. He also led a great one in which he loved, and was loved, by many. Let his family heal, and let his fans celebrate his music and his giving heart.
UPDATE:
by Dr. Deepak Chopra
Statement by Grace Rwaramba Regarding Michael Jackson
Posted Tue, 06/30/2009 – 13:38 June 30th, 2009
“Michael Jackson was an exceptional Human Being. He was gifted, deeply compassionate and brought joy to the lives of so many. He loved his family dearly, and above all, his beautiful children.
In addition to being my employer over the past 17 years and entrusting the care of his beloved children to me, he was my dear friend. While our friendship had challenges, as do all friendships, he was loyal to the end. I cherish and honor his memory.
I am shocked, hurt and deeply saddened by recent statements the press has attributed to me, in particular, the outrageous and patently false claim that I “routinely pumped his stomach after he had ingested a dangerous combination of drugs”. I don’t even know how to pump a stomach!! In addition, I have never spoken to the Times Online, the original source of the story that has now been picked up worldwide. The statements attributed to me confirm the worst in human tendencies to sensationalize tragedy and smear reputations for profit.
I convey my heartfelt and deepest condolences to Prince, Paris, Blanket and the entire Jackson family. The pain and sorrow I feel over the loss of Michael pales in comparison to what has been taken from them forever.”
- Grace Rwaramba
CNN
Anderson Cooper anchors Anderson Cooper 360°
Grace Rwaramba
Deepakchopra.com
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On behalf of all your AUC friends…
Tracy, Michell, Lou, Theresa, Nicole, Ruth, A’Lisa, Cindy, John, Sheila, Jenene, Brad, Elmer, Tracey, Raffy, Vic, Cindy, Laurie, David, Erin, Robert, Cathy, Arline, Lon…and many others
…here is the French translation of your loving statement :
to a sweet, kind and loving soul, to you Grace:)
Love and Hugs
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La déclaration suivante a été faite par Grace Rwaramba au sujet de Michael Jackson :
Le 30 juin 2009
“Michael Jackson était un Être Humain exceptionnel. Il était brillant, d’une grande
compassion et apportait de la joie dans la vie de nombreuses personnes. Il aimait
profondément sa famille, et par dessus tout, ses magnifiques enfants.
En plus d’avoir été mon employeur au cours de ces 17 dernières années en me confiant
la garde de ses enfants bien-aimés, il était pour moi un ami très cher. Bien que
notre amitié ait eu des hauts et des bas, comme dans toutes les amitiés, il
est resté loyal jusqu’à la fin. Je chéris et honore sa mémoire.
Je suis choquée, blessée et profondément attristée par les récentes déclarations que
la Presse m’a attribué, particulièrement la déclaration scandaleuse et clairement
fausse que je “lui faisais régulièrement des lavages d’estomac après qu’il ait ingéré
une combinaison dangereuse de médicaments”. Je ne sais même pas comment on fait un lavage d’estomac!! De plus, je n’ai jamais parlé au Times Online, la source originale
de l’histoire qui a maintenant été reprise dans le monde entier. Les déclarations qui
me sont attribuées confirment ce qu’il y a de pire chez l’être humain à vouloir faire
un reportage à sensation sur une tragédie et à salir une réputation pour le profit.
Je transmets du plus profond de mon coeur mes plus sincères condoléances à Prince,
Paris, et Blanket ainsi qu’à la famille Jackson toute entière. La douleur et le
chagrin avec la perte de Michael sont peu en comparaison de ce qui leur a été enlevé à
tout jamais.”
- Grace Rwaramba
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Empathy is Not a Business Plan:
http://www.joelbomane.com
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Michael Jackson and Kim Jong Il
Posted Sun, 07/05/2009 – 19:03 Tags: Global
News, Euna Lee, Laura Ling, Michael Jackson 5 Comments
The last time I spoke to my friend Michael Jackson was about a month ago, 3
weeks before his shocking death. He had called me late one night to ask
about another of my close friends who he had read about in the news. Laura
Ling, a former colleague and friend, was detained originally by North Korean
border guards along with her colleague Euna Lee on March 17th. Since then,
they have been imprisoned, had very little contact with their families or
western officials, and endured a secretive trial at which they were
sentenced to twelve years hard labor. At this present moment, it is unclear
where Laura and Euna are – whether they remain in a government guesthouse
where they were originally held, in a hospital (due to medical problems for
both of them), or moved to the infamous North Korean labor camps that many
do not survive.
Michael had read some of the details regarding Laura and Euna’s predicament.
As was often the case with him and global events he read about – from famine
in Africa to victims of natural disasters in far off countries, to orphans
created by wars – he felt a deep sense of empathy for Laura and Euna. When I
shared with him that Euna had a four-year-old daughter, he was even more
anguished.
He asked me whether I had had any contact with Laura. I told him I had
written her a few letters and had been assured they were getting through.
Outside of that, her own family had only heard from her twice – brief
monitored phonecalls – in the over three months they had been imprisoned.
When I told him that, Michael paused.
“Do you think,” he said hesitantly, “that the leader of North Korea could be
a fan of mine?”
I didn’t really know how to respond. Not much is known about the reclusive
Kim Jong Il or “Dear leader” as he is called in the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea. Over the years it’s been alleged he has a thing for
Hollywood, certain NBA stars, Elvis, and specific liqueurs. Still, I’d never
heard about any connection between Michael Jackson and Kim Jong Il.
Michael said he had seen some pictures on the internet of the Dear Leader.
“You’know, he wears jackets like mine.”
I couldn’t help but laugh a little. It’s true. Michael always had a
fascination with military-like jackets, the types with markers and badges on
the collars and shoulders. If you search it online, you will indeed find a
lot of images of Michael and Kim Jong Il, similarly bedecked in analogous
outfits.
“I don’t really know,” I answered Michael. “But I can try and find out.”
“Please,” Michael responded without hesitantly, “because maybe if he was a
fan, I could help get those girls home.”
I explained to Michael that there were larger geo-politics involved, nuclear
programs, a new administration trying to assert its foreign policy strategy
(Obama), and another one in NK possibly going through some sort of
transference of power.
“Yeah,” Michael said wistfully, “but if someone wants to do something good,
they just can. They don’t really need to worry about all that other stuff.”
And that was really the end of that conversation. I kept my promise and
tried to see if I might find a connection between MJ and KJI, but sadly I
wasn’t able to. Before I was able to get back to Michael, the news regarding
his tragic passing broke. The tributes and commemoratives began in earnest
and have not stopped.
Then the irony occurred to me, the far out bizarre seemingly impossible
possibility: there is really only one person in the world today that could
make a truly meaningful tribute to Michael Jackson. If indeed Kim Jong Il
ever was a fan of Michael Jackson, ever gasped at Michael’s moonwalk, smiled
at Thriller, hummed along to the Jackson Five or any of Michael’s countess
hits, his pardoning of Laura Ling and Euna Lee and sending them home to
their families would be a profound act of compassion, a true tribute to a
man whose death has left the entire world in mourning. What a better way to
re-invent himself and his own conflicted image than for Kim Jong Il to send
a message of hope, forgiveness, and empathy as a commemoration of possibly
the greatest icon of our times. It’s an act that would be historic, covered
by every news organizations in the world, and be immortalized in the annals
of time.
Alas, maybe I’m naïve to have such dramatic hopes for my friend and her
colleague, to think that leaders of nations may be influenced by the dying
wishes of great artists. Or…maybe not. To me, Michael’s memory will always
be as a great friend and mentor. To many around the world, it will be as an
iconic and brilliant musical artist. Wouldn’t it be staggering if one Kim
Jong Il were to honor him – post-death – as a truly great humanitarian?
- Gotham Chopra
SPECIAL THANKS TO MALLIKA CHOPRA for providing
all these chrystal clear, insightful, and loving news
about MJ and Grace.
http://www.intent.com/mallikachopra/profile
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer, philanthropist and businessman.
The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his debut onto the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1969, then began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred to as the “King of Pop“[2] in subsequent years, his 1982 album Thriller remains the world’s best-selling record of all time[3] and four of his other solo studio albums are among the world’s best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).
In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as “Beat It“, “Billie Jean” and “Thriller“—widely credited with transforming the music video from a promotional tool into an art form—helped bring the relatively new channel to fame. Videos such as “Black or White” and “Scream” made Jackson an enduring staple on MTV in the 1990s.
With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip hop, pop and contemporary R&B artists.
Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundations, charity singles, and support of 39 charities. Other aspects of his personal life, including his often changing appearances and eccentric behavior, generated significant controversy which damaged his public image. Though he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged.
The singer had experienced health concerns since the early 1990s and conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances since the late 1990s. Jackson married twice and fathered three children, all of which caused further controversy. In 2005, Jackson was tried and acquitted of further sexual abuse allegations and several other charges. One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time”—13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career, and the sale of 750 million albums worldwide.[4]
Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009,[5] apparently after suffering a cardiac arrest.[2] Jackson had intended to return to live performance. At the time of his death he was in the middle of preparations for This Is It, a series of 50 concerts that would have been held in London.[6]
Michael Jackson performing
MJ says in…”Man in the Mirror”
live at the 1988 Grammy Awards with a Gospel Choir.
“IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF THEN MAKE THE CHANGE.”
POUR UN RESUME SUR MJ PAR MALLIKA CHOPRA:
http://www.intent.com/intenteditor/blog/intentcom-remembers-michael-jackson
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Topic: - Health, 1. Golden Rule, 1. History, 1. Live, 2. Human Rights, 2. Love, 3. Learn, 4. Leave a Legacy, 5. Earth Citizen Giants, 7. Heart-EQ-Guardian, 8. Soul-SQ-Idealist, A. NEST-UNIVERSE, B. SPACE SHIP-EARTH, C. EGG-EARTH CITIZEN, D. JOEL BOMANE, Religion, Uncategorized Tags: Arts, Celebrity, Deepak Chopra, Elvis Presley, Gotham Chopra, Los Angeles, Mallika Chopra, Marlon Brando, Michael Jackson, Peter Pan
August 9th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
MJ always in my heart
…the legend live on..