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MICHAEL JACKSON HAS NEVER LIVED BY OUR RULES
Miami Herald ^ | Mar. 14, 2005 | Leonard Pitts, Jr.

Posted on 03/14/2005 5:16:40 AM PST by JesseHousman

I was in Michael Jackson's bedroom once.

This was long enough ago that he still had brown skin and God's intended nose. Contrary to the allegations that have surfaced in his child molestation trial, Jackson offered me neither ''Jesus juice'' nor pornography. I remember only a rattan chair and shelves full of movie memorabilia, including Disney, the Three Stooges and a likeness of Jackson himself as the scarecrow from The Wiz. His room was the last stop on a tour of the family home in the L.A. suburb of Encino following an interview.

To get inside the Jackson compound, you spoke your name into an electronic box and a heavy black gate swung ponderously open. You drove down a long driveway past a pen where fearsome guard dogs were caged. ''Act like you're going to attack me,'' Jackson said as he pointed them out to me. I obediently lifted a fist and took a step in his direction only to become a mannequin as the dogs hurled themselves against the fence, barking and slavering. As I was concentrating on bladder control, Jackson doubled over, laughing.

LONELY FIGURE

He was a fey creature insubstantial as smoke who slouched about the house as if bored of existence itself. The life he described in that whisper-soft voice of his was lonely, isolated and sad. He complained of being unable to go beyond the gates for fear of being mobbed. Still, he confided, he slipped out sometimes late at night and walked the streets, looking for someone to talk to. I was never sure about that story until years later when a man I knew told me how he had been driving near the Jackson home one night when who should he see but Michael, walking alone.

I left the Jackson home feeling vaguely sorry for the family's most famous son, feeling that here was a guy who was not of us, a pitiable man who desperately needed a guide to instruct him in how things are done here on Planet Earth.

INTO NEVERLAND

It's a feeling that returned in force Thursday when I saw him arrive at court for his trial wearing pajama bottoms.

Jackson, for the three of you who missed it, turned up AWOL when testimony was set to resume. The singer's attorneys explained that Jackson, suffering severe back pain, had been taken to the hospital earlier that morning. An infuriated Judge Rodney Melville threatened to revoke the singer's $3 million bail and slap him in jail. He gave Jackson an hour to get his corpus to court. The singer, disheveled, hobbling in apparent pain and wearing his jammies, showed up an hour and three minutes later.

Now work with me here. You're Michael Jackson. You're on trial on charges that could send you away for 20 years. You have already hacked off the judge by showing up late for an earlier court appearance, dancing on top of an SUV and forcing jury selection to be held up for a week while you are hospitalized with the flu. From here on out, aren't you going to make every effort not to tee the man off anymore?

Yes, you would. Me, too. I don't care if my back aches, if I have to lean on a cane, if I have to be rolled in a chair, if I have to be carried by my bodyguard, if I have to be wheeled into court on a gurney popping painkillers like M&Ms, my body would be present and accounted for when the session was gaveled to order.

NOT LIKE THIS MIKE

That's how we ordinary humans do things on Planet Earth. But that's a place Jackson has not lived for a very long time. He has been working since he was 5, famous since he was 11, sequestered behind gates since shortly after that.

Moreover, he has spent his life surrounded by flunkies who follow his orders, shape his environment to his tastes and say yes a lot. I doubt he can even remember the last time someone could tell him what to do. So what does he know about having to be governed by someone else's orders? What does he know about Earth?

Nothing, that's what.

But if he's not very careful, Jackson will soon have 20 years to learn.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: freakozoid; michaeljackson
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...he still had brown skin and God's intended nose.

That's before he started going to Dr. Frankenstein.

1 posted on 03/14/2005 5:16:41 AM PST by JesseHousman
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To: JesseHousman


Was I suppose to feel sad for him?

He's a freaking child molester, I don't care how he got there.

He needs to be behind bars once and for all. I'm sick to death of money shielding criminals.


2 posted on 03/14/2005 5:23:12 AM PST by SouthernFreebird
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To: JesseHousman
MICHAEL JACKSON HAS NEVER LIVED BY OUR RULES

Before long, he will be living by the wardens rules.

3 posted on 03/14/2005 5:29:45 AM PST by Fierce Allegiance (“Every time a system is made foolproof - a new class of fool emerges.”)
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To: SouthernFreebird

Okay, a person can be weird and disconnected all his life; that does NOT EXCUSE child molesting as his outlet! Jackson has enjoyed a life filled with apologists and groupies. But, his sexual crimes will be confirmed. He will most likely be a suicide worry when convicted. What, me worry?? Put him away to rot.


4 posted on 03/14/2005 5:31:56 AM PST by Galtoid
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To: JesseHousman
I have been hoping that his not living by our 'rules' is at least a 'truth confirmed' by his own refusals to follow Court procedures as well. A refusal that must be always accompanied by a lie.

Why; how. . ., anyone finds an 'innocent' Michael Jackson; knowing the truth of the obvioius; is beyond me.

THINK about it Geraldo. . .. . .and all the rest of the Jackson supporters who are no more than, 'would be enablers' of child abuse.

5 posted on 03/14/2005 5:33:00 AM PST by cricket
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To: JesseHousman
Leonard may have made it to Jackson's bedroom; but it seems he did not - albeit fortunately - make it to Michael's 'secret room'. . .
6 posted on 03/14/2005 5:36:23 AM PST by cricket
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To: JesseHousman
But if he's not very careful Jackson will soon have 20 years to learn

Too bad he wasn't careful before.

7 posted on 03/14/2005 5:59:39 AM PST by KidGlock (W-1)
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To: Fierce Allegiance

When he is convicted.......will his bail be revoked so he can not flee or kill himself before sentencing?

That is something I am very worried about.


8 posted on 03/14/2005 6:15:38 AM PST by alisasny (We get 4 more years, you get OBAMA...: ))
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To: JesseHousman
So how do all those other famous people manage to live a somewhat normal life? I don't have a shred of sympathy for MJ. The people he surrounds himself with, including his parents, are all bought and paid for. That's the only reason they stick by him.

Message to MJ "The world does not revolve around YOU, dear boy"..

sw

9 posted on 03/14/2005 6:23:06 AM PST by spectre (Spectre's wife (Hang up and drive))
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To: alisasny

I understand the question, but have no answer. MJ is not something I like to use up my allotment of worry on.


10 posted on 03/14/2005 6:38:28 AM PST by Fierce Allegiance (“Every time a system is made foolproof - a new class of fool emerges.”)
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To: alisasny
"That is something I am very worried about."

Are you worried that he may have the opportunity to kill himself. . .or that he won't?

11 posted on 03/14/2005 6:51:09 AM PST by cricket
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To: spectre
So how do all those other famous people manage to live a somewhat normal life?

Many celebrities live here in Santa Ynez, and the big city over the hill, Santa Barbara. No one bothers anyone. Oprah does her own shopping in Montecito and she is not "mobbed".

Michael Jackson drove his Benz SUV up to our drive on 4th of July afternoon to ask directions to a local bar. My husband and our young musician friend simply pointed out where Mr. Jackson needed to go.

This is typical behavior from those of us that live in this area. Michael Jackson wants to be "mobbed", but he will not get that sort of treatment from his neighbors around Neverland. He needs to go to the ghetto for that type of rude behavior which he apparently craves.

12 posted on 03/14/2005 7:05:49 AM PST by Zevonismymuse
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To: Zevonismymuse
Thanks, that was an interesting post :~)

sw

13 posted on 03/14/2005 7:20:05 AM PST by spectre (Spectre's wife (Hang up and drive))
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To: SouthernFreebird

bttt


14 posted on 03/14/2005 7:34:18 AM PST by ConservativeMan55 (DON'T FIRE UNTIL YOU SEE THE WHITES OF THE CURTAINS THEY ARE WEARING ON THEIR HEADS !)
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To: SouthernFreebird
He needs to be behind bars once and for all

He'll be acquitted.

I just want you to be prepared for the inevitable. I hope I'm wrong.

15 posted on 03/14/2005 8:51:04 AM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: spectre
Thanks, that was an interesting post

The pleasure is all mine. There is so much about MJ that never is reported. Those of us who live here know a lot.

That said, there are still people who live here who think he is guilty of being strange but they refuse to believe he is a pedophile. Many of the local MJ supporters have benefitted from Michael's spendaholic problem.

16 posted on 03/14/2005 9:07:20 AM PST by Zevonismymuse
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To: JesseHousman
There is very little about Michael Jackson that isn't messed up these days. Poor little man-child is likely history's worst case of arrested development. He is hard to look at and whoever did his plastic surgery should be stripped of their license.

So, while it's hard to give him the benefit of the doubt regarding the child molestation charges, I will try to do so until he hears the verdict by the jury. One thing I do believe is that he is why the "by reason of insanity" plea was conceived. Jocko is nuts.

17 posted on 03/14/2005 12:09:01 PM PST by GBA
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To: JesseHousman
But if he's not very careful, Jackson will soon have 20 years to learn.

Not a chance. Rich people don't serve time like that. Someone gets rich, someone gets off and we all live happily ever after.

18 posted on 03/14/2005 12:11:49 PM PST by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
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To: JesseHousman
"That's how we ordinary humans do things on Planet Earth. But that's a place Jackson has not lived for a very long time"


Oh, that explains it...

19 posted on 03/14/2005 12:34:11 PM PST by hoot2
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To: hoot2
Did everyone see this latest story..

Accuser: Jackson 'Did Nothing to Me'

20 posted on 03/14/2005 1:17:23 PM PST by zippee
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