Arianna Huffington’s blog has received laurels and kicks since its launch, and as it was the most talked about blog on the net, I naturally stayed away from it till late last night. However, in her treasure trove of celebrity write-ups, an inconspicuous gem of wisdom caught my attention, and the words from a Buddhist scripture (the Lotus Sutra) came to my mind – "Earthly Desires Lead to Enlightenment".
Quincy Jones, a close friend of Michael Jackson's, spoke about how untold fame and success can ruin a man if he does not have a firm religious belief or philosophy to hold on to. To have the world literally at one’s feet, to be treated like a demi-god can easily destroy any man’s sanity and make him the despot of his revised reality. As Quincy says of Michael,
When we made “Thriller,” he was the most beautiful person in the world. Just a beautiful little brother. And you can’t help but wonder if things happened too fast, or does success of this magnitude become emotionally unmanageable?All I know is that, on their own, human beings are not programmed to be able to handle that much fame, that much adulation, that much success. The only way to deal with something that overwhelming — even overwhelming success — is if you are spiritually centered.
Growing up in the eighties I had two favorite popstars that I listened to all the time — Madonna and Michael Jackson. They were the icons of the eighties. They were the darlings of the world known from America to Russia, and we all danced to their beats despite the cultural and even language barriers. But that’s where the similarities between the two ended.
Despite her ups and downs Madonna seems to have evolved into a more stable human being with a normal family and loyal friends. Did she clutch on to Kabbalah to keep herself sane in the transient and superficial world of glamour and fakery or merely to be part of the latest trend? I cannot comment, but what I do perceive is her desire to live the life of a mortal or at least a semblance of it.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Eric Olsen
super super job SP, excellent comparisons and analogies - thanks!
2 - swingingpuss
Eric, sometimes I do feel sad to see MJ go down the road of self-destruction. The man could have left behind a legacy instead he will be remembered for something rotten and sordid.
3 - Aaman
Madonna has done nothing much with her fame and fortune, as far as I know.
Is Michael a survivor? Will he spring back from this precipice? Will society let him?
4 - Eric Olsen
my overarching emotion regarding the last 15 years of Jackson's life is sadness
5 - Prashant
Swingingpuss,
You clearly forget the millions and millions of dollars Michael has given to charity. Do you remember the "Heal the World" campaign? MJ has performed at so many charity events for free. Honestly, by claiming that Michael has done nothing with his fame and money to help any children, it seems obvious that you do not know, or perhaps do not want to accept the good he has done.
Regardless of whether he is guilty or not, Michael has donated his time, money and effort for this cause. That doesn't mean he is necessarily innocent. But the molestation charges also should not mask the effort he has put in for child relief and aid. Call it like you see it, and do not make up such false claims, at the very least.
6 - Eric Olsen
good points Prashant, but his indiscretions have colored his legacy quite darkly
7 - Aaman
Here is a list of Michael's known charitable activities.
Interestingly, at least the Indian organization who took the funds for his Indian charity, the Shiv Sena is a known fundamentalist, communal, corrupt, etc. organization - not relevant, really, just sprung out from the listing
8 - Aaman
Of course, Comment 7 in Eric's thread is kinda relevant
9 - Eric Olsen
exactly, they aren't mutually exclusive. As has been said many times: I have no doubt he "loves children" and wants to help them in the general sense, but I also have no doubt he has had inappropriate relationships with individual boys
10 - swingingpuss
It's like Bono preying on the very people he is trying to help.
The thought gives me the shudders.
Law of nature- one multiplied by zero= zero.
11 - luciana
Quote "good points Prashant, but his indiscretions have colored his legacy quite darkly"
Don't you mean 'alleged' indiscretions? Also, Michael Jackson was not a 'man' when he was thrust into superstardom. He was a very young boy, so the comparisons are not quite equal in my opinion. And No, (before anyone asks), I don't think the fact that he never had a normal life excuses any wrongdoings by him. I absolutely do not believe he held the family against their will, and am not convinced he molested the boy either. Isn't he innocent until proven guilty?
12 - LAUREL
WELL!
I AM SHOCKED TO READ THIS STUPID BLOG THAT MICHAEL JACKSON NEVER DONE ANYTHING FOR THE WORLD, U GUYS U AND QUINCY JONES R THE ONES WHO NEED A REALITY CHECK.
NOT MICHAEL JACKSON.
THIS MOTHA F U C K I N' WORLD IS FULL OF SHIT NO WONDER PEOPLE COMMIT SUICIDE.
AND U DON'T WANT MICHAEL TO CREATE HIS OWN?
IF I WAS A RICH GIRL I WOULD BUY MYSELF AN ISLAND AND BUILD A HOUSE ON IT AND HAVE ALL MY CHILDREN THEN AND RAISE THEM THERE.
CUZ I REFUSE TO RAISE MY KIDS ANYWHERE IN THIS FREAKEN JUDGEMENTAL COUNTRY WHICH IS THE USA.
THEY CONVICT U EVEN BEFORE FINDING OUT THE TRUTH.
AND EVEN IF THEY HAVE IT( THE TRUTH ) THEY ( THE MEDIA ) WON'T LET IT COME OUT.
FOR THE SAKE OF RATING!
WHY?
CUZ GOOD STORIES DON'T SELL, BUT BAD ONES DO.
AND U PRAISE THE LORD AL DAY ON SUNDAYS?
GIVE ME A BREAK.
PEOPLE R WONDERING WHY 9/11 HAPPENED.
I GUESS IT'S PAY BACK TIME FOR ALL THE BAD DEEDS THAT THE USA HAS DONE TO THE WORLD.
AND IT HAS JUST STARTED.
MICHAEL UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE IS NO WAY HE WILL SAVE THE WORLD EVEN IF HE WANTED TO.
THIS F U C K I N' WORLD IS DAMNED.
SO I UNDERSTAND WHY HE CREATED NEVERLAND.
AND IF MICHAEL JACKSON CREATED NEVERLAND TO PREY ON BOYS,
AND U THINK HE IS A CHILD MOLESTER.
SO IS WALT DISNEY WHO CREATED DISNEYLAND FOR KIDS.
SO IS THE CATHOLIC RELIGION WHO BUILT THOSE CHURCHES USED BY PRIESTS TO PREY ON BOYS.
SO IS GOD HIMSELF WHO CREATED THE FOREST USED BY HUMAN KIND TO PREY ON LITTLE GIRLS TO RAPE AND KILL THEM INCLUDING BOYS TOO.
AND U WON'T DARE TO CALL GOD ALMIGHTY A CHILD MOLESTER
WHO CREATED THE FORESTS WHICH ARE USED BY HIS CREATURES SO THEY CAN RAPE KILL AND ABUSE KIDS RIGHT?
CUZ HE CAN'T COME DOWN HERE HIMSELF AND DO THE DIRTY JOB.
WILL U ?
WILL U CALL HIM ( GOD ) A CHILD MOLESTER?
AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED.
HOW DARE ANYONE SAYING THAT MICHAEL NEVER DID ANYTHING FOR CHARITY,
THE MAN SPENT MORE MONEY FOR CHARITY THAN THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT ITSELF.
THE MAN'S GOT ISSUES,
YES BUT DOES THAT MAKE HIM A CHILD MOLESTER?
NO!!!!!!!
THE BTK KILLER WAS THE NICIEST MAN IN TOWN FOR 30 YRS.
HE WAS RESPECTED IN THE CHURCH.
ALWAYS THERE TO HELP
BUT THE MUTHA F U C K A THE MOST NORMAL MAN ON EARTH WAS A KILLER.
JUST CUZ U R WEIRD DOESN'T MEAN THAT U R A KILLER, OTHERWISE MARILYN MANSON IS A KILLER TOO.
AND MICHAEL IS NOT WEIRD FIRST OF ALL, JUST BECAUSE U DON'T TALK ABOUT UR SEX LIFE PUBLICALY DON'T MAKE U A WEIRDO.
BUT TALKING ABOUT IT PUBLICALY WOULD MAKE U LOOK SICK.
OR KISS THE BOYS IN THE BAND R KILLERS TOO.
"IF U WANNA BE COOL HATE MICHAEL JACKSON".
I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A SETUP. FOR 12 YRS.
NOW IT IS TIME TO CLEAN UP THE HOUSE
AND GOD IS SHOWING MICHAEL THAT HE PUT BLACK PEOPLE UNDERGROUND
AND ELEVATED WHITE PEOPLE AND NOW THE WHITE PEOPLE R KICKING HIS BUTT.
AND HE DESERVES IT.
YES SO THIS BUTT KICKING WILL OPEN HIS EYES TO TREAT PEOPLE EQUALLY.
YES THE MAN WANTED TO BE WHITE HE WANTED WHITE BABIES, WAS WHORING WITH WHITES GIRLS ALL OF THEM TOOK ADVANTAGE OF HIM, HE DESERVED IT CUZ U MUST TREAT EVERYONE EQUALLY.
I HAVE A LOT OF WHITE FRIENDS MYSELF.
I LOVE THEM TO DEATH, BUT I LOVE MY OWN RACE TOO.
I DO NOT THINK THAT BLACKS R BETTER THAN WHITE NOR WHITE R BETTER THAN BLACKS, EVERYONE IS EQUAL IN MY BOOK AND ON MY SCALE.
BUT MICHAEL THINKS DIFFERENT.
WORKS WITH BLACKS, SHOWS OFF THE WHITES.
THIS IS THE WAY HE SEES.
GOD IS SHOWING HIM HOW BAD WHAT HE WANTED TO BE IS HURTING HIM,
HE'S GOT 8 WHITE JURORS WHO WILL TELL HIM WHAT TIME IT IS, JUST IN CASE HE DON'T KNOW.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE HOW FAR HE WENT FROM GETTHO TO STARDOM.
AND NOW GOING BACK TO GETTHO AGAIN,
BUT IT IS ONLY FOR A MINUTE.
HE WILL COME BACK TO TOWN. BUT COMPLETELY CHANGED AND MAY BE EVEN MORE SECLUDED.
13 - chello
to compare Madonna, who launched her career half way through mj’s, to mj is a misappropriation of the facts. they were both stars of the eighties but the comparison should objectively end there. i am a strong follower of the Madonna legacy and have deep admiration for her achievements. nevertheless, your statements and comparisons do not tally with reality.
what is spirituality and how does it act as a foundation. Madonna, for a large portion of her shorter career, was as good as an overated porn queen turn pop culture icon defaming the religion she belonged to.
Madonna also had the rare advantage of launching her career at the age of 25, where under normal circumstances many critical life decisions are already made! She, by far and large, lived a very normal life, growing up in a religious family with the most critical incident marring her view of life being the death of her mother at the tender age of 5.
Madonna definitely picked enough notes from the fame and success of acts like mj to know better… This is evidenced in her very savvy and strategic use of alternative pop culture facets like media. This is probably the area where she out classes mj, her ability to court if not manipulate mass media.
One thing that must be noted without fail is that Madonna, like elvis pressly had a natuiral fit with mass media and American culture at the time; she is a white icon! Where as mj had to prove his worth to penetrate MTV, Madonna had her way open.
At the end of the day it’s a case of whom you are talking to. Madonna has never done anything for charity worth noting; and she has a staunch ‘no-nonsense’ policy about this. She has millions but would rather give them to Kabalah and related causes to appease to her strong image management front.
On the other hand, the supposedly non-religious ‘weirdo’ used his fame to front causes that weren’t necessarily priority for American foreign policy of trendy from a mass media perspective " at the peak of his career (1988 1992), he composed ‘we are the world’, ‘heal the world’, visited the continent of Africa (to resounding turn out) and other developing countries, contributed to charity after charity and the list goes on..
I profess again (now almost religiously) that this case is complicated beyond contemplation for the ordinary media consumer…
The past 15yrs have been filled with smear campaign after smear campaign that aim to undermine mj’s overall impact on modern music culture which clearly supercede anything Madonna has ever done or could ever do. Mj is just as much to blame for the current negative press, but we as a people are also very selective in our opinion formation especially when they are formed in the backdrop of our already strongly established prejudices…
…justice is the daughter of time
14 - sandra smallson
First off, to that ignoramus who says Madonna has done nothing with her fame and fortune, I would like to inform you that before MJ knew what AIDS was, Madonna being very active in the gay community was already donating and actively helping sufferers and charities that helped patients. Madonna has ALWAYS given to childrens charities as well as domestic abuse charities and teen pregnancy causes.
Now, because she does not run around like a headless chicken a la Bono making a whole hoopla of whatever charitable act she is now interested in, does not mean she is doing nothing. I refer you to the Great ormond street hospital for children in london and perhaps you will be enlightened about her work there and sneaking in there to read bedtime stories to terminally ill children.
That you do not know, does not mean, it isn't or does not exist. That is a lesson for all ignoramuses.
Chello, now, I understand your point that Madonna was already 25 so she really did not go through the effects of fame on her childhood..after that, Chello my poor over excited misguided cretin, we will have to part ways. Why? You insult Madonna's music and talent. Why? To prove your point about Mj that could have been proven without the ever present jealousy that Mj fans seem to have towards Madonna simply because unlike MJ she has not flown over the cuckoo's nest.
Listen, call Madge what you like. Porn star, belly dancer, or whatever else makes you sleep better at night. The truth of the matter is that she is an icon, she has influenced modern pop culture, her music has stood the test of time, she still HAS a career and is still relevant in social discussions whether good or bad and whatever your personal opinions on her contribution to music in comparison with MJ, she will ALWAYS be mentioned in the same breath as MJ because for want of a better description, she is the female Elvis. She is the female MJ. Success wise, she is the only woman that can be compared to MJ, worldwide with regards to fame, sales and influence.
So, it might be a bitter pill to swallow that while Mj, who I like, mind you, is draining away in a court case because of his strange behaviour and thereby tainting his legacy, the girl who they called the hussy, slut, belly dancer, minnie mouse, and whatever derogatory term they can find is actually STILL HERE. HA!
She is still evolving and bringing out records whether you like them or not, her tracks from the eighties and nineties are still being bought, sung and danced to and from Rolling Stone to the Guiness book of records she is without fail always on the list of most influential artists of the twentieth century. Some even add her name begrudgingly..they would rather not but they can't help it because her record speaks for itself, sales wise, chart wise, and back catalogue wise. Twenty years on, we are still rocking to Madonna.
The test of a great Artiost used to be longevity and how your music stood the test of time. Madonna has passed all the tests but her critics are livid and would like to change tyhe criteria because heaven forbid she be called great artist. alas, there is nowt they can do because she is and I quote "unapologetically Madonna"
Therefore, chello, please, MJ does have an almost incomparable musical legacy and I remain a fully pledged member of his music fan club but you do your own musical knowledge and common intellect damage when you try to take away from Madonna's achievements. the girl done good and she did good because she has the ability to do good not because she is white or blonde or acted like a porn star. There are millions of girls that are white, blonde and act like porn stars, yet, there is only ONE Madonna.
Hope you haven't forgotten that MJ had Quincy helping him write and produce songs. Mj was never viewed as black. he is one of those celebs that transcends the colour issue so your accusation of Madonna and elvis being white as if that was some advantage, is absolute crap.
The reason MJ is in this position today is because he has several nuts loose upstairs. It has nothing to do with his colour. Although Madonna was 25, fame was also new to her, and she knew how to handle the media because she IS intelligent as well as creative. MJ is creative but DAFT. There in lies the difference my dear. Don't blame Madonna because she is smart..it's not her fault that a majority of the artists in the world lack any form of intelligence and when the few that are intelligent use their intelligence to further their careers or creativity, they are spoken of in derogatory terms as if they have no talent whatsoever.
To be creative and intelligent are not mutually exclusive. You CAN be both. It is unfortunate that Mj falls a bit short on the intelligence front.
15 - Eric Olsen
we agree on that Sandra
16 - sandra smallson
....and the angels are singing in heaven, Eric my darling:...I would smile but my keyboard has gone haywire. Can't get my brackets to work, can't get some numbers to work, the @ sign is achieved by pressing shift and 2 instead of shift and the actual key that has the sign..I am going bonkers. If there are any computer superstars around here, please let me know what I can do to rectify this sudden madness.
17 - Aaman
Check yr NumLock key - it may be on
18 - sandra smallson
I have checked the numlock, aaman, it's not on. Some numbers show, some numbers dont..the back space is not working..I have to highlight and delete..this started happening ever since I downloaded yahoo messenger..I shall remove it this instant and see what happens. Thanks for responding anyway...
19 - Aaman
Tell MJ he owes you a keyboard - all the MJ reactions must've fried the membrane.
Try opening up the keyboard and cleaning it out, or ...get a new one:) For a laptop, that can be pricey.
20 - jarboy
Sandra, that happens to me sometimes on my laptop -- I just close all my browser windows and start again. That always fixes it. But sometimes browser processes may be running that you are not aware of, so restarting may work better.
Laurel, don't worry, be happy.
21 - jarboy
Some of you don't seem to get the difference between a comment and a post. If you are going to rave on for multiple paragraphs, you should get your own blog and just insert a link to it.
22 - Victor Plenty
Where's the fun in that, jarboy?
23 - sandra smallson
I've tried everything,jarboy and Aaman and finally I shall remove yahoo and its extras because it was since their arrival that it encountered these problems. Meant to take it out early on today but I became distracted by THE MAN so I have asked him to get me a new keyboard or he will be sleeping in his own bed tonight, in his own flat. I await. Yes, I'm cheap sometimes. A mere computer keyboard will get him everywhere. Perthaps, I should have asked for a laptop, huh, Aaman...BTW, can u get a seperate keyboard for a laptop? You would have to buy a brand new lappie, wouldn't ya?
24 - Aaman
Which model is it? You can get the membrane replaced for a small price normally.
You can also connect an external keyboard through the PS2 port at the back of the laptop - that's about $30 I believe.
25 - swingingpuss
Sandra, if Aaman's solution works your 'MAN' will breathe a sigh of relief. Not only will he still get a warm bed to climb into but that too at a cheap price (kidding)