The Journal Times Online - Racine, Wisconsin

Posted by: StormyKnight on June 26, 2009 12:35PM CST Who killed Michael Jackson? Everyone who pushed him as a kid to go out and perform before he was able to have a real childhood. It's no coincidence he became more childlike as he grew older.

Posted by: Ann on June 26, 2009 1:00PM CST Yeah, Paul, I'd have to agree with StormyKnight on this one. Did MJ's fame shape his life and therefore his struggles? Absolutely. But his father was abusive and pretty much did not allow MJ to have any semblance of a childhood. The result was a man who never grew up, was obsessed with childhood, and who had so much fame and fortune that he could surround himself with enablers who allowed him to live in his little fantasy world. There are plenty of people who achieve fame similar to Jacko's and who do not self-destruct as he did. Madonna is one example. She does some strange things, but she's always remained relatively healthy.

Posted by: psloth on June 26, 2009 1:19PM CST You'll get no argument from me. His family was messed up. And sure, there's a little hyperbole in this blog. I'm just trying to make sense of our collective obsession with fame and stardom. I have to guess that spending your life performing for millions of screaming fans has to mess with a guy's head. For all of his talent, his life was a train wreck and we all got to watch. Like I said, it's part of the deal ... right?

Posted by: CanDo Kid on June 26, 2009 1:20PM CST Wow, raise your hand if you had to look up 'hagiography'. Where'd ya pull that one out? You've been waiting to use it for years, haven't you? Just waiting for something like this to happen. :)

Posted by: psloth on June 26, 2009 1:28PM CST Yeah, I'm gonna get theological up in here. If we break out a big word every now and then, we keep our minds exercised. Plus, it never hurts to get the good book out. ;)

Posted by: RWWackoStu on June 26, 2009 2:32PM CST What a steaming pantload. Blame Joe Jackson, not me.

Posted by: Alleluia on June 26, 2009 2:35PM CST Nice blog Paul

Posted by: psloth on June 26, 2009 2:56PM CST Wow. I don't know if I should be appalled or pleased Mr. Stu that you bothered to read this blog and then offer such a scatological review. I guess I'll just thank you for dropping by.

Posted by: Edge Distance on June 26, 2009 3:08PM CST I agree he had a terrible upbringing, so do many people. It doesn't excuse his pedophile behavior. He could dance and had some good songs. I liked him with the Jackson 5. I don't agree that we killed him. That being said, he is still a criminal, and many children are safer today.

Posted by: Underdog on June 26, 2009 3:10PM CST It was Bush and Cheney.

Posted by: Go Packers! on June 26, 2009 3:15PM CST They never had evidence regarding any of the cases in which he allegedly mollested a kid. Perhaps these kids' parents were after his money. Perhaps the kids lied. Oh wait no... kids don't lie. And people dont sue people for money these days. I like how everybody acts like they knew him personally and know the actual truth of these allegations. He was my favorite musician of all time. And every where you go there is not a single person who doesn't know who Michael Jackson is. This was a terrible tragedy and at 50 years old, he was too young to die. But God wanted him for a reason.

Posted by: gergames on June 26, 2009 3:45PM CST ItalianChick is right, if you didn't know him, why care? I don't think his family would care if my brother was to die, why should I about theirs? The guy was an entertainer, & was compensated quite well for it. Its a business. The only thing they care about their fans is that they buy their albuns & attend their concerts. Its all about money, people idolize these so called icons to much.

Posted by: crazy4cars on June 26, 2009 4:00PM CST Have to agree with Stu... What a steaming pant load, Paul. If what you think is true that we did, why isn't every celebrity dead at an early age??? Also, it seems to me maybe his supposed Doctor killed him if I'm reading the news right.

Posted by: psloth on June 26, 2009 4:23PM CST Sorry crazy. I do not mean this LITERALLY, but thanks for yet another "steamin pant load" comparison. Always a pleasure. If I have to explain it, then either I've missed my mark or you've missed my point. Either way, thanks for reading.

Posted by: gsp21 on June 26, 2009 4:24PM CST i'm just glad theres plenty of other things to talk about now in the media besides jon and kate gossling

Posted by: Huck Finn on June 26, 2009 5:14PM CST Paul, I accept your guilt and absolve you. I didn't buy his albums, read about him in an issue of people I don't subscribe to, or feel guilty in anyway. Maybe as a reporter you feel a bit of guilt due to rubbing elbows with other newshounds and feel associative guilt from the hounds that dogged his steps. I don't. It is unfortunate he died, but my night will still see me sleeping sound and in the morning I'll wake refreshed. Never felt the need to live vicariously through another, but many do. Maybe those are the ones that should feel guilty. If so, I absolve them too. He had good music and I danced to his beat a number of times. Other than that, Micheal who?

Posted by: psloth on June 26, 2009 5:33PM CST Rest soundly Huck. I shall, too. I'm just trying to provoke some good ol' fashioned chit chat. So thanks for taking part in the conversation. Now, how do you suggest I get "P.Y.T." out of my head?

Posted by: Winger on June 26, 2009 6:34PM CST Who killed Farah Fawcett. We did. Who killed Ed McMahon. We did. Your last name adequately belies your intellectual depth.

Posted by: Edge Distance on June 26, 2009 6:35PM CST Italian Chick, He was aquitted of one case. He paid the rest off. To me, if you are not guilty, you go to trial, not pay off.

Posted by: psloth on June 26, 2009 6:50PM CST Well Winger, I hate to break it to you smart guy, but you wouldn't be the first to say that. Nice try though. Listen, if you're going to come on here just to take cheap shots, then move along or at the very least, be creative and call it a 'steaming pantload' or something equally graphic.

Posted by: Bottom Line on June 26, 2009 7:33PM CST I would expect better from a journalist. Pandering is a bad profession.

Posted by: gergames on June 26, 2009 7:39PM CST Well judging from the news, looks his his physician that they can't find might know more about who killed him? As far as your insinuation that "we killed him", I fail to see that? Who are we, & is your context meaning idol worshippers? i never bought a Jackson's cd, 5 or Micheal. I never watched mtv, & have never seen a video of him. I do remember seeing the Jackson 5 as a kid on TV shows, thats about it. Now of course I seen or heard about his court battles on the news, not by choice, I watch the news. I don't see where how I might be at fault for his death, or that it affects my life one way or the other? Entertainment is a matter of taste, one might get as much or more from watch'n a flea circus, or a clown perform? You want to worship some real hero's, try doing a story on, & put a name to one of the flag draped coffin's comming home from overseas?

Posted by: Winger on June 26, 2009 9:09PM CST Hey Paul. Are you going to be at a Pick and Save tomorrow begging people to take a free newspaper?

Posted by: roadmixer on June 26, 2009 10:10PM CST who cares

Posted by: Go Packers! on June 26, 2009 10:17PM CST This is what I dont get. If people really thought he was a child mollester, why were parents still sending their kids to spend the night even after charges in 1993. That makes no sense! If they firmly believed he was mollesting kids, they shouldnt have been sending their kids over there. Those parents were after something. This is a HUGE loss. I have always been a Michael Jackson fan and I will always stick up for him. We may not like the plastic surgeries he's had or the way he looked, but his talent was undeniably flawless. I am still in disbelief. I am waiting for the news report where they say this is all a joke. But I know that he is gone. R.I.P. Michael Jackson

Posted by: Freedom of speech = just my opinion on June 27, 2009 8:41AM CST Paul, I went to school with you and I can say that I never bought a Jackson album. I don't feel that "we", as you say, killed him. He was a very talented artist with many issues. I would be more apt to say that his back problems were the culprit in this one. I have had back issues and know that they are no fun, from first hand life issues. But I don't feel that "we" killed him bud, sorry.

Posted by: Freedom of speech = just my opinion on June 27, 2009 8:42AM CST Nice pic by the way. You were kind of a silly guy in high school as I remember.

Posted by: ravenstone on June 28, 2009 12:41AM CST Thanks a lot, Paul. Now P.Y.T. is stuck in MY head!

Posted by: BBennett on June 28, 2009 2:33AM CST No, I am not to blame in the least. If you can't take the heat, at least have the brains to get out of the kitchen. He was talented. Lots of people are. He died. Lots of people die - ever go to Children's Hospital? THAT'S where the real tragedies are. There are more important things in the world than 23 1/2 hour coverage of someone who died. COME ON!!!!

Posted by: The Raytown Kid on June 28, 2009 9:50AM CST it's really insane how stupid some of you are.

Posted by: EvenKiel on June 28, 2009 9:58AM CST What drives people like him, or Cris Allen, or Danny Gokey to want to become "American Idols"? There is plenty of fame out there for the local church choir participant, the local talent that plays at local places. But some feel the need to put themselves out there in front of as much of the world as they can. They are driven from within, long after they were driven by others who get their cut and run with it. Who killed Jackson? The same guy that killed Heath, and Elvis, and Jimmy, and Bob, And John, and Chris. The guy who filled the desire, or the guy who needed the desire to be filled?

Posted by: Attached Mommy to 4 Kiddos on June 28, 2009 10:57AM CST what is that commandment in the Bible...have no other idols? Paul, I see some reference to an MJ song (although, not strong)...the man in the mirror. I think when we look in the mirror and we don't like what we see, then we should remember who we want to be, need to be, should be to be happy...I think we need to get back to basics, away from reality tv, away from the pop stars and sports heros...after all, reality is all around us, pop stars are within us and sports games are meant to be played by little kids...

Posted by: psloth on June 28, 2009 1:40PM CST Oh FOS=JMO you've piqued my curiosity. I went to HS with hundreds of people. It will take forever to figure out who you are. As you might have guessed, I'm kind of a silly adult. BBennett, EvenKiel and Attached Mommy, you all make excellent points. Whatever you do, "Don't stop til you get enough."

Posted by: Go Packers! on June 28, 2009 3:24PM CST I think its a huge loss, sorry. A lot and I mean a lot of people idolized Michael Jackson. Its just too bad that he didn't have the same love for himself that his fans had for him.

Posted by: drewsue on June 28, 2009 5:38PM CST I think MJ died of a broken heart...not a heart attack. I don't think he ever got over the stupid molestation trial. MJ did everything he could for the world he lived in and how did we (not me...I never believed that crap for a minute) re pay him? By damaging his pride...hurting his feelings and pretty much shunning him altogether. MJ was just a large boy who loved children. He had no childhood, so now he was enjoying what he should have done years ago. He never molested anyone and for anyone to believe such crap should be ashamed. He spent his fortune trying to clear his name..and also trying to get away from the negativity. It is really a sad, sad story. To all of you who are morning MJ...I really hope you truly feel that he is innocent of all those ridiculous charges and was just trying to make everyone around him happy. I do and I always felt that way. I can say good-bye with a clear conscience...can you?

Posted by: concerned4 on June 29, 2009 7:26AM CST We are all given gifts and challenges. Apparently his challenges were as big as his gifts. This is not anyone's fault, it's God's will. I hope he is at peace!

Posted by: concerned4 on June 29, 2009 7:27AM CST We are all given gifts and challenges. Apparently his challenges were as big as his gifts. This is not anyone's fault, it's God's will. I hope he is at peace!

Posted by: Poe on June 29, 2009 1:57PM CST You are Crazy, and I hope you do not express your self anymore in this paper.

Posted by: algernon on June 29, 2009 2:24PM CST Right on EK!

Posted by: lots of fun in the sun on June 29, 2009 6:13PM CST Really who cares. If he did not molest any children why did he pay a few off? I would not trust the perv with any child. I am already sick of hearing about him. Good riddance and bad rubbish.

Posted by: psloth on June 29, 2009 6:52PM CST To whom are you referring Poe?

Posted by: nothingtoadd on June 30, 2009 1:06AM CST What killed him are the greedy people he had surrounding him who pushed this psychologically damaged, frail, unhealthy man into agreeing to do FIFTY performances in London. He was physically and emotionally not capable of handling that and the stress of it all is what did him in with help from too many drugs. He had decided to do concerts only in England because of the USA's feelings towards him since the trial. England was a little less judgemental. If everyone had been so full of love and admiration like they are now, I don't think he would be dead right now.

Posted by: racinetransplant on June 30, 2009 8:21AM CST I see your point and would somewhat agree however I think there is more to this situation than the mass public. He was a sick dude, and I’m not just speaking of the kid situation. As many stars find it is easy to get caught inside a bubble and before they know it have a horrendous addiction to one substance or another. These people have the mass majority of their time free and unaccounted for, while at the same time having more money than they know what do to with. They hire others to do the normal day to day things that you and I have to do for ourselves, which only gives them more time to do NOTHING. The people they hire are in a unique situation; their employer is unraveling in front of them over a period of months to years and their responsible to hide these things and keep as pretty a face for the public as possible. After their entire livelihood depends on their boss’s status and public image and it's their job to run damage control. Everyone wants to get these cats as loaded as possible and bend to their every whim and want. Doctors write scripts these days like they are going out of style and we have become a society that believes every aliment or ill that we find can be solved with a bottle of pills. Not to diminish their actions or hand in their own demise, but our society has had a lot to do with this. Poor personal choices and having to live in a box do to societies crazy facination with fame has assisted in the deaths of many famous people.

Posted by: Poguey on June 30, 2009 2:15PM CST "I'm starting with the man in the mirror--he he!--I'm asking him to change his ways..." Seems to me that Michael knew who killed Michael. Dude. The guy was 50. Blaming your parents or society or bad luck is fine for your shrink's couch, but at SOME point aren't we responsible for our own lives?! Gimme a break.

Posted by: Leighton on June 30, 2009 2:39PM CST I also would like to know who Poe is calling "crazy"? Drewsue, I'll have to say that I'm with you and your take on MJ, completely. In additiong to what ever any ones personal thoughts are about the man, he was pure artistic genius in the field of music and the dance. This is not something thats going to clear up in a few days. I think the longer he is gone the more it will be realized just how exceptional MJ was, and how extensive the damage to him was, through his formative years.

Posted by: Leighton on June 30, 2009 3:16PM CST I'll also add here that I have never been a fan of his. I don't care for rock music for starters. I came to my conclusions using information previously available on line. It was more interesting and in some cases more shocking than I had ever expected. Thanks Paul, for the blog. It's a lot more thought provoking than I recognized in the first few readings that I did of it. :-)

Posted by: algernon on July 2, 2009 9:20AM CST He killed himself with drugs. Very sad. He takes all that talent with him.