MJJNews

“Earth Song” is the last song Michael Jackson ever sang on stage, on June 24, 2009, the night before he died.

Although it was released in 1995, the first demos of “Earth Song” (then entitled “What About Us?”) were recorded as early as 1989.

Michael felt this song was even more relevant today than it was when he wrote it 20 years before, and it was important to him to perform this song during the This Is It! concerts in London.

In a 2007 interview with Ebony magazine, Michael mentioned “Earth Song”:

“I’m very concerned about the plight of the international global warming phenomenon. I knew it was coming, but I wish they would have gotten people’s interest sooner. But it’s never too late. It’s been described as a runaway train; if we don’t stop it, we’ll never get it back. So we have to fix it, now. That’s what I was trying to do with “Earth Song,” “Heal the World,” “We Are the World,” writing those songs to open up people’s consciousness. I wish people would listen to every word.”

Let’s just fulfill his wish and take a moment to carefully read every word from the lyrics of “Earth Song”:

What about sunrise
What about rain
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain…
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine…
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we’ve shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores?

Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh

What have we done to the world
Look what we’ve done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son…
What about flowering fields
Is there a time
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine…
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores

Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh

I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don’t know where we are
Although I know we’ve drifted far

Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh
Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh

Hey, what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
I can’t even breathe
(What about us)
What about the bleeding Earth
(What about us)
Can’t we feel its wounds
(What about us)
What about nature’s worth
(ooo, ooo)
It’s our planet’s womb
(What about us)
What about animals
(What about it)
We’ve turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us)
What about elephants
(What about us)
Have we lost their trust
(What about us)
What about crying whales
(What about us)
We’re ravaging the seas
(What about us)
What about forest trails
(ooo, ooo)
Burnt despite our pleas
(What about us)
What about the holy land
(What about it)
Torn apart by creed
(What about us)
What about the common man
(What about us)
Can’t we set him free
(What about us)
What about children dying
(What about us)
Can’t you hear them cry
(What about us)
Where did we go wrong
(ooo, ooo)
Someone tell me why
(What about us)
What about babies
(What about it)
What about the days
(What about us)
What about all their joy
(What about us)
What about the man
(What about us)
What about the crying man
(What about us)
What about Abraham
(What was us)
What about death again
(ooo, ooo)
Do we give a damn

Aaaaaaaaah Oooooooooh

List of witnesses in the order of which the prosecution is expected to call them during the trial:

1. Kenneth “Kenny” Ortega – Director/choreographer who was helping to direct Jackson’s upcoming “This Is It” world tour

2. Paul Gongaware – AEG Live CEO

3. Michael Williams – Michael Jackson’s Personal Assistant

4. Faheem Muhammad – Head of Michael Jackson’s security detail

5. Alberto Alvarez – Michael Jackson’s director of logistics

6. Kai Chase – Michael Jackson’s personal chef

7. Richard Senneff – Los Angeles fire fighter/paramedic

8. Martin Blount – Los Angeles fire fighter/paramedic

9. Harry Daliwal – Regional retail sales manager with AT&T, retrieved text
messages from Murray’s phone

10. Jeff Strohn – Records custodian for Sprint/Nextel

11. Dr. Richelle Cooper – Physician who was working at the UCLA Medical
Center emergency room the day Michael Jackson was brought in

12. Dr. Thao Nguyen – Cardiology fellow at UCLA, she was present in the
emergency room when Jackson was brought in

13. Dan Myers – Senior Homicide Detective with the LAPD

14. Sade Anding – Houston cocktail waitress who dated Conrad Murray, she
was on the phone with Murray when Michael Jackson went into distress

15. Bridgette Morgan – Friend of Conrad Murray, she called him 30 minutes
before Jackson went into distress

16. Nicole Alvarez – Actress and ex-girlfriend of Conrad Murray, with whom
he had a child in April 2009

17. Elissa Fleak – Investigator for the Los Angeles County Coroner

18. Stephen Marx – DEA computer forensics examiner

19. Tim Lopez – Pharmacist, testified Conrad Murray purchased several drugs including propofol

20. Jaime Lintemoot – Senior Criminalist for the Los Angeles County Coroner

21. Orlando Martinez – LAPD Detective

22. Dr. Christopher Rogers – Forensic pathologist with the L.A. County
Coroner’s Office

23. Dr. Richard Ruffalo – Anesthesiologist and clinical pharmacologist

REMINDER from MJTruthNow: Coping with the Conrad Murray Trial:

Many Michael Jackson advocates have expressed dread at the prospect of Michael’s life being dirtied by Murray’s lawyers as part of their defense strategy. Tom Mesereau says we should expect this to happen.

In our opinion, however, the greater travesty will be committed via coverage by Nancy Grace (HLN), Diane Dimond (TruTV) and others of their ilk. HLN has begun marathon presentations of “The Life and Death of Michael Jackson,” a tantalizing hook to lure viewers to its full court coverage of the Dr. Conrad Murray Trial.

The same cast of disreputable talking heads who diced Michael Jackson while he lived will provide color commentary for the Murray trial.

Scott Safon, Executive Producer of CNN sister channel HLN, has been quoted as saying he expects ad revenues for the Murray trial to be multiples of the Casey Anthony trial. Indeed, the Anthony trial revived the flaging fortunes of HLN and Nancy Grace.

“Dr. Conrad Murray Trial: The Next Court Case To Get HLN Treatment”

http://tinyurl.com/HLNtrial

We are all aware how unlikely it is that any of them will speak of Michael with respect or compassion. We strenuously request Michael’s fans to deny them what they want—a ratings bonanza—by not tuning in to HLN for the entire duration of the trial.

“Rutten: The Threat of Nancy Grace”

http://tinyurl.com/TimRutten

[Quote] Why Does HLN, a sister channel of CNN, give [Nancy] Grace this sort of abusive license? The answer is simple. Ever since it aboandoned its straightforward news cycle some years ago, the one-time Headline News has struggled to find an audience—and, of course, revenue. An unremitting focus on sensational criminal cases […] with Grace’s snarl at the center of the coverage has provided that audience HLN’s saturation coverage of the Anthony trial doubled its daytime ratings and nearly tripled its share of the lucrative prime-time audience. [Quote]

Scott Safon, who runs the channel, told The New York Times: “I want to replicate this when the Conrad Murray trial starts.”

Here’s a question to consider. Is Turner Broadcasting’s abuse of its power as a news organization through the biased coverage of criminal trials really any less a betrayal of public trust than the Murdock tabloid scandal now underway in Britain?

Here are two sites where you can view the Dr. Conrad Murray court proceedings and NOT support HLN, TruTV, or an other medialoid outlet.

http://tinyurl.com/MurrayTrial1

http://tinyurl.com/MurrayTrial2

We implore Michael’s fans to do in his honor what we failed to do for him while he lived: rob the print and television tabloids of the very oxygen they breathe—sensational, biased, false and self-serving coverage of the exquisite artist and humanitarian, Michael Jackson, for nothing more than money.

It is best said in Michael’s song “Money.”

Video: http://tinyurl.com/AnythingForMoney

Send a message to medialoid and don’t buy its wares. Thank you.

(Read the full interview of legal analyst Matt Semino by the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait Magazine here)

MJTP Magazine:  Many fans, friends and advocates for Michael are angry, and feel powerless to stop the anticipated smear campaign by the defense. What are your thoughts on that issue? Is there any concrete action that can be taken to avoid or lessen this trauma?

Matt Semino:  In order to convict Dr. Conrad Murray on the charges of involuntary manslaughter, the prosecution through the presentation of its case, must convince a jury of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Reasonable doubt is a standard of proof used in criminal trials. In a criminal case such as that of Dr. Conrad Murray, if the jury has any reasonable doubt as to the defendant’s guilt the jury should pronounce the defendant not guilty. Conversely, if the jurors have no doubt as to the defendant’s guilt or if their only doubts are unreasonable doubts, then the prosecution has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and the defendant should be pronounced guilty.

The sole object of Dr. Murray’s defense team will be to present its case in any manner that it believes within permissible ethical and legal boundaries, will place reasonable doubt in the minds of jurors to ensure that their client is found not guilty.

To the distress of many of Michael’s fans, accomplishing this will likely mean that the defense will dig up and play to past negative stereotypes and public perceptions of Jackson. The defense will also likely paint a picture of Michael Jackson as a demanding, drug dependent pop star who used the power of his celebrity to force Dr. Murray to obtain, and give him excessive amounts of propofol and other prescription drugs. It is also anticipated that the defense is planning to go as far to claim that Jackson injected himself with the lethal dose of propofol while Dr. Murray stepped out of his bedroom. While Dr. Murray’s legal team has every procedural right to present the strongest case possible, their arguments will no doubt be grounded in a classic ‘blame the victim’ defense.       

It is inevitable that some segments of the media will cling to the defense’s less than favorable depiction of Michael Jackson. However, Jackson fans can take concrete actions in response. As the trial proceeds, fans can continue to petition and peacefully campaign against and/or boycott news programming and reporting that is perceived to support the distortion of facts, and that blurs the boundaries of ethical journalistic practice. The Michael Jackson fan base was highly successful in preventing the airing of a Discovery Channel show depicting a simulated autopsy on the star through these powerful means of collective action. Fans should continue to employ such tactics wherever they see factually false stories or inaccurate depictions of Jackson being presented to the public.

The Michael Jackson fan base can also engage in its own form of citizen journalism and attempt to shape the news through their personal interpretations of events. With the explosion of online media and blogs, there are many new opportunities and outlets for individuals with a viewpoint to share their perspective with a global audience. Such venues can provide vocal and informed Michael Jackson fans with a platform to counter what they believe is tabloid journalism by some mainstream media outlets. Finally, the Michael Jackson fan base can seek to promote and place into the mainstream media those journalists, commentators and media personalities that they believe best exemplify integrity and ethical practice in their reporting, and who will provide balanced analysis of the issues at hand.       

[…]

MJTP Magazine:  Michael’s fans are repeatedly marginalized in the media as ‘crazy’. What has been your experience with those you have had contact with?

Matt Semino:  Michael Jackson fans across the world are passionate people. Rightly so, millions of them are emotionally connected to what he symbolized as an artist, a humanitarian and a man who faced his own personal struggles throughout life. People from all races, religions and nationalities feel that they can relate to Jackson on many different levels and for a diverse range of reasons. Ultimately, he connected humanity. 

Because Michael Jackson truly inspired and gave tremendous hope to so many people around the world, fans are angry that he was taken so soon by circumstances that could have easily been prevented. They are justified in their emotions. Michael’s fans have felt distressed for a number of years that a human being who they viewed was so talented, compassionate, kind and generous could be bullied in such a highly destructive manner by certain elements of society. Michael’s fans see injustice, and because they are highly vocal and visible they have been incorrectly labeled as ‘crazy.’ 

Since I began to write about Michael Jackson following his death, I have been contacted directly by legions of his fans from every corner of the earth. From Russia to Egypt, India to England and everywhere in between, the Michael Jackson fans that I have communicated with are some of the most sensitive, caring, thoughtful and eloquent people I have ever spoken with. Each has shared personal stories with me about how Michael Jackson touched their lives and how he gave them hope amidst their own personal challenges. They have also expressed to me highly intelligent thoughts and analysis on why they believe Michael’s rich life was cut short, and have offered their interpretations of the facts in the Dr. Conrad Murray case helping to shape my analysis along the way. 

One of the most impressive aspects of the Michael Jackson fan base has been their ability to peacefully organize through the establishment of a powerful online community and tangible advocacy groups, to further Michael Jackson’s cultural legacy and humanitarian efforts. They should continue these activities also through the establishment of nonprofit entities that will advance the causes Michael Jackson supported. 

Ultimately, Michael’s fans have the collective power to right what they view as wrongs in society whether it concerns Michael Jackson or other issues, by employing their strong voice and unified vision. Michael Jackson fans should never be discouraged by disparaging labels!            

(by Raven Woods)

This week marks the end and yet beginning of what has been a long road for Michael Jackson’s family and fans. It is the start of what we hope will be justice, as the man accused of being directly responsible for his death faces his music at long last-and I don’t mean MJ’s music (okay, haha, not so funny but…)

Anyway, what occurred to me this morning, as I scoured many headlines devoted to this topic, is how the media insists on calling this “The Michael Jackson Trial” rather than “The Conrad Murray Trial.”  Rest assured, that is no accident. It certainly makes one want to shout, “Hello people, Michael Jackson had HIS trial back in 2005…this trial is for his accused killer! Last time I checked, Michael Jackson was the victim in this case.” Did they call “The Casey Anthony Trial” the “Caylee Anthony Trial?” Or the OJ Simpson Trial “The Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman Trial? Of course not! So why all this insistence on labeling this case “the Michael Jackson Trial?”

Well, two simple reasons which should be obvious. First of all-and this is how the media would defend it-the name Michael Jackson is the one that grabs headlines, is immediatly recognizable, and that guarantees both ratings and hits. If someone says the Conrad Murray trial, people might scratch their heads and go, “Who?” But call it “the Michael Jackson Trial” and everyone is immediately on the right page! Now THAT gets attention. Now people will go, “Okay, yeah, I’m with you.”

But it also means something much  more subliminal, and insidious. It is also a not-so-subtle reminder that as far as the media is concerned, this IS Michael Jackson’s trial, all over again. What better golden opportunity could they have to recreate the mass ratings of 2005? Let’s face it, justice for Michael Jackson is the least of the media’s concerns. For them, it is just another excuse to present “the freak show” and garner massive ratings as they tear into “analyzing” every aspect of Michael Jackson’s character. We’ve all known this for months, that the price of justice for Michael would be another mass character assassination in the media-the fans have known it; his family knows it. After all, the only defense Murray and his team have is to present MJ in the worst possible light, the same way that the only defense a person accused of rape has is to tear into their victim’s character. We have been gearing ourselves for this for a long time.

Yet, now that the trial date looms just around the corner-this week-the bricks are really starting to sweat. I think a lot of people who have reason to be concerned are nervous. We don’t really know what curves and dodgeballs the defense is going to throw-worse yet, how the media will respond to those throws (second thought, we do know; that’s the scary part). The bottom line is that it’s tough to hear someone you love being assassinated in media headlines. You would think society would be on the victim’s side but these days, in our super hyped up cynicism towards celebrity, it seems to be just the opposite. Ever since the OJ trial, when many were convinced Simpson “got away with it” because of his celebrity status, the public appetite to see some celebrity-ANY celebrity-lynched has been at an all time fever high. These days, it seems almost any celebrity accused is somehow supposed to pay penitence for OJ’s crime, or else they unfairly become the scapegoats. I have always held a deeply seated belief that this was the root cause of the public’s condemnation of Michael Jackson following his acquittal on all counts in 2005. And with all the idiot talking heads spewing their “we let a child molester off” spiel, is it any wonder the public outcry was at fever pitch?

Now, to add further fuel to that fire, we had the much publicized Casey Anthony trial earlier this year, in which once again, a highly suspect accuser was let off the hook. Casey Anthony wasn’t a celebrity, but the trial certainly made her one, if albeit an infamous one!

From the media’s perspective, it doesn’t seem to matter that now the shoe has been reversed. A celebrity is not on trial for committing a crime-rather, we now have a celebrity who has been the VICTIM of a crime. It is an altogether different dynamic, yet the media seems to be playing by the same rules. It’s a no brainer. Putting the celebrity and the celebrity’s lifestyle on trial is what will guarantee ratings, and no celebrity’s personal life ever made greater copy than Michael Jackson’s! Rest assured, the would-be, yellow  journalists and legal analysts have been salivating over this one for-as Led Zeppelin said-“a long, long, lonely long time.”

But as the heat fires up, maybe it is a good idea to take a deep breath and really look at the bigger picture here. We as fans have known from Day One what this process is going to entail. Now it is time to bite the bullet and be strong. Remember that at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what the yammering twits have to say-or shouldn’t.  What should  ultimately matters is what those twelve men and women on the jury decide. It really comes down to one simple question. Or maybe two. Did Conrad Murray or did he not administer the lethal dose of propofol that killed Michael Jackson, and if so, did he behave negligently in the aftermath, when precious minutes meant the difference between life and death? I think for most reasonable people, the answer to the second question is obvious. What is murkier-and will be the real issue for the jury-is Question #1. The defense, as we know, will try to argue that Michael self administered the propofol and/or demanded it to the point that Murray had no choice. But any reasonable thinking person also knows that Murray DID have a choice. He is a physician who knows his patients’ lives depend on the actions he takes. As to the argument that Michael self-administered, I think it is a ludicrous defense as the coroner has already pointed out but in the end, it all comes down to how well the defense presents their case-and how well the prosecution can tear it down.

Michael sang about keeping the faith. We have to keep the faith now that justice will prevail. In her own recent and wonderful blog, Deborah Kunesh of Reflections On The Dance reminded us that justice prevailed for Michael in 2005. http://www.facebook.com/#!/note.php?note_id=213875445343716  We can’t really blame the legal system for the fact that the media turned the event into a public lynching. But nevertheless, it did happen, and as a result, left a permanently bitter taste.

So what happens now? I don’t know how the verdict will go, of course. But I have a very strong feeling-and a very strong faith-that justice will be on Michael’s side again. While Murray’s defense will be to bring up every possible mitigating circumstance and every mitigating bit of evidence to cloud the jurors’ minds, the bottom line is that the facts of this case speak loud and clear.

However, it is those very mitigating circumstances and evidence that we know the media will run with. We already know they will be looking to pounce on anything relating to Michael’s character, his alleged drug use, and even the allegations, which will undoubtedly be brought into the mix even though they have no bearing whatsoever on the current case. Ultimately, we know it is not the media who decides Murray’s fate or the person Michael Jackson was, for better or worse. But the media DOES have the power to influence and sway public opinion. That’s what they do. Regardless of the eventual verdict, they are going to have a field day with this. It is the last, golden opportunity for them to suck the last drop of blood they can from the name Michael Jackson. Don’t forget, these are the people who hurt him, bullied him, and ran him ragged while he lived. After he died, they felt bad for all of five minutes, paid a few “tributes” and then went right back to their old tricks. It was the same with Princess Diana. The public outrage over the media’s role in her death evaporated quickly to apathy; we were right back to where we started, as if nothing had happened. If the world had heeded the public’s outcry THEN to curb the media’s bloodlust, it’s possible that Michael Jackson might still be alive. Why? Simply because the very things that drove him to depression and chronic insomnia might never have been a factor.

Michael Jackson “won” in 2005, but at what cost? By the end of that trial, his health was wracked, his spirit broken, and his reputation as a beloved superstar forever tarnished. Although he still had fame and money, his life became a sort of vagabond existence. He no longer had a permanent home; he wandered with his children from country to country. Part of that, of course, was a search for respite. He was looking for a safe haven where he could regain his health and replenish his spirit. But what had been done to him in his homeland still haunted him, wherever he went.

Likewise now, in 2011, any form of justice for Michael will only come at a very heavy price. By the end of October or early November, when the verdict comes down, Murray may or may not be facing prison time. But even if he is sentenced, I have a feeling that we will be left feeling much as Michael did in June of 2005. The sweet sensation of victory will be tainted by a heavy burden.

I think this trial will probably vindicate Michael on several levels. There will be things that will come out of it that will be in Michael’s favor. On the other hand, I fully suspect a good many things may come out of it that fans really don’t want to hear. That is going to be the nature of the beast. And of course, how the media chooses to present/analyze those things will be crucial. Even though the actual trial will be televised (and hopefully this will eliminate some of the rampant twisting of facts such as what we saw in 2005) the public’s opinion of this trial will, as stated, largely depend on the media’s influence. After all, only the most diehard Jackson fans are going to sit and watch the full trial, minute by minute. I don’t think this is going to carry the same weight as the Casey Anthony trial (where an innocent child was involved, thus inviting a kind of national outrage and vested interest in the case). Of course, Michael Jackson fans will be following it closely. But I think it is safe to say that most Americans, if they watch at all, will be doing so mostly out of a sense of morbid curiosity; they will be tuning in and only casually watching, perhaps, while at work or while multi-tasking their daily household duties; most will probably not watch at all (after all, most of us have to work for a living, and having access to TV and even internet is not an option for everyone)-these are the people who will rely, instead, on evening news broadcasts and legal pundit shows to “fill them in” on what transpired in court that day. And therein lies the danger, because it is those people who will be most apt to fall prey to the media’s manipulation of this case. After all, a testimony that might be viewed one way to a viewer when watching themselves can be perceived quite differently once that same testimony  is filtered and cross examined by the likes of a Nancy Grace or a-God forbid!-Diane Dimond.

To cut to the chase here, we as Michael Jackson fans know that a lot of stones are going to be thrown over the next few weeks. Those stones can’t hurt Michael anymore, but we know how they can still hurt US. We feel their bruises, as surely as Michael did. And because he is no longer here, we have, in essence, taken those stones upon ourselves. I think we have to ask ourselves many crucial questions. How are we going to deal with the insanity of these next few weeks? How are we going to react when trial testimony may reveal things that aren’t exactly pleasant to us? And can we control our gloating when things do go in our favor? The world, after all, is going to be watching us. This is not only a test of faith, but a test of courage and grace under fire as well.

As I said, I do feel strongly that justice will prevail. But yes, it will come at a price, and it will not come without scars. It was that way for Michael. It will be that way for us.

In the early 1980s, I sent him a letter telling him about a black family whose property I had listed for sale right near the Coliseum. The 87-year-old father, who had severe heart disease, had three younger children ranging in age from 16 to 19, still struggling to get through their schooling. This elderly father took care of them as best he could. He sent them to school and prepared meals for them. They helped with house cleaning chores and did their own laundry. (There was no mother in the house; the drug addicted white mother had committed suicide a few years earlier.)

I told Michael Jackson the story and I told him that the 50-year-old nephew had taken over this caring for the teenagers when the father died at Good Samaritan Hospital. They were about to lose their home to foreclosure; even though I had the property listed for sale, no one was buying it. I felt compelled to get help for them so they could continue to attend school. Michael telephoned me after receiving my letter.

“Well, I want to help,” he said, “so give me the address and the telephone numbers.”

Michael then sent someone to visit them with gifts. He talked to the 50-year-old nephew who was taking care of these younger children after his uncle had passed away. Michael kept the house payments up so it wouldn’t be seized through foreclosure and could remain on the market until it sold. It went into probate for open bidding by potential buyers because the elderly man did not leave a will or a trust for his children. Michael sent someone down there to keep bidding up the price. Finally the property was sold, and the children went to live with the cousin at his apartment. Michael arranged for them to get a larger 3-bedroom apartment so that this gentleman could take care of his niece and two nephews. These three teenagers graduated high school and went to college while staying with their cousin. Since there wasn’t even burial insurance, Michael also helped to pay for their father’s burial, a man he had never met. And, of course, he continued helping these three teenagers until they graduated from high school and went to college on special grants. I hope this provides insight into the charitable, warm-hearted Michael that reached out to help these children. His generosity touched my heart.

Gloria Rhoads Berlin (2010). Michael Jackson: In Search of Neverland
www.vallieegirl67.wordpress.com