It was brought to my attention on January 31 this year that this was the date in 2005 when Michael stood before a judge and plead 'not guilty' to unthinkable charges which were brought against him by a money hungry family and a greedy politician. I couldn't get the imagined picture of him standing in that courtroom proclaiming his innocence out of my mind. Other images of his famous walks to and from the courthouse in Santa Maria, California, during the 5 month trial that followed his official plea flooded my thoughts as well. And I couldn't help thinking about all the events leading up to that time as well as the events that followed the jury's verdict of "Not Guilty" 14 times on June 13, 2005. This date will stand out in history as the day Michael Jackson was declared innocent of child molestation; but even though he was exonerated, the truth is, his life would never be the same after that. And we continued to hear slanderous remarks and innuendoes regurgitated by the media and the public from those who just couldn't seem to believe in his innocence. It's an unfortunate and an unjustified misconception we are still dealing with today.
This is not the first time I have thought of these things, nor is it the first time I have cried many tears over the injustice of this insane situation and how it crushed Michael's soul! But this is the first time I found the words to express all that was occupying my heart and mind when these images - these memories - came flooding back all at once.
This remarkable journey I've been on with Michael since June 25, 2009, has led me through some extreme highs and lows along the way, learning new things at every turn about this innocent and generous man we all love so very much. I just keep loving him more and more as time goes on and I want him to know how much of a difference he has made in my life. I want him to know that everything he gave us...all he sacrificed...all he endured was somehow not in vain. The impact he has made on my life and the lives of so many around the world is a powerful testimony to the effectiveness of his life's work and the mission he was here to accomplish! I bow before him in humble gratitude for the precious gifts he shared with us at such a high cost! And I thank God every day for the gift of Michael in this world!
His message was love, pure and simple... we got it!... And we're not letting it go!
Innocent!
An innocent man went to trial today
Accused of things he couldn't even say
Seventy officers invaded his home
Ransacked and pillaged through everything he owned
The paradise he'd created
Lost its soul that day
And Neverland lost its Peter Pan
Because they couldn't accept
He was an innocent man
Handcuffed, paraded before all of humanity
Viscious tongues lashed out in glee, "He's Guilty!"
The lynching began before the trial even started
This innocent man was hate's favorite target
Thirsty for blood, they couldn't wait
For him to meet his presumed fate
Humble and proud, he stood before the judge
"I'm not guilty, your honor
And I want you to know I won't hold a grudge
I forgive them, you see
For they know not what they do
I'll face the jury
Then the world will know the truth"
His innocent nature was not an act
Some found it hard to believe
'Cause the truth is, as a matter of fact
On stage he was a 'beast'
A sensitive man to the very core
An artist, a genius, a master of his craft
We'd never seen anything... or anyone
Quite like him before
His love of children
Was the whole of his existence
Without them, you see, he wouldn't want to be
The children of the world were his reason for living
They knew his true soul
His innocence they could see
A healer of the sick
And a lover of all things pure
He believed in magic, this innocent man
And he only wanted to share it
With everyone throughout the land
Bringing joy and escapism
To this hurting world
He gave us all he had to give
His love, energy and light
Put our spirits in a whirl
Growing wings to fly
Like Peter Pan
Above the clouds so high
A child at heart
God's innocent delight
He inspired us all to be child-like
To love as a child loves
And to remember their plight
But the media vultures
And their pandering public
Didn't understand
The purity of his soul
They really believed
He was capable of hurting
The very thing
That made him feel whole
They judged and ridiculed
Laughed and pointed
Chewed him up and spit him out
They were ugly and mean
They just didn't understand
What this innocent man
Was really all about
The trial was a farce
It should never have been
And ultimately
They couldn't convict
This innocent man
But they took his soul
In two thousand and five
And even though
He came back to show us
He was ever alive
This innocent man
Would leave us again
When the doctor contrived
To let him die
In the year two thousand and nine
Although his body is gone from this earth
His spirit lives on
A new day, a new birth!
His love penetrates
The hearts of those who believe
'Cause he planted the seed
In you and in me
The gifts God gave him for us to see
How to live and love and just how to be
Have inspired us to be the very best that we can be
He gave us insight to heal this planet
So, we're workin' day and night to put some love back in it
I’m so sorry I was not there To lift you up, let you know I cared When things got tough, the world so cruel It wasn’t enough just to say “those fools!”
Your dignity was trampled Your light snuffed out Your faith in humanity Was plagued with doubt
How could one so gentle and pure Be tortured more than anyone could endure?
You always gave your love and kindness Showing us how to be our best For this they told the horrid lies For money and greed, to claim the prize
Your soul did not matter They held your heart on a platter To be diced and sliced, chopped into bits They were not nice, but you took the hits Held yourself with dignity and grace You stood tall, the demons to face
And even though you were found innocent The light in your eyes would remain reticent Never to quite fully recover Its former brilliance went undercover
Safe and protected from the enemies of your heart Cushioned from harm you made a new start Healed a bit, but still not the same Your light was beginning to burn through the shame Peaking through the shield of pain It started to shine from your soul once again
This Is It was the plan A gift for the fans We were thrilled beyond measure Singing and dancing your dream, your adventure You would give us such pleasure!
To us, your brilliance was never gone We held you in our hearts all along Waiting for your wounded soul to heal Returning to the stage to make us feel The heat and passion of your love and affection We would once again be wooed by your amazing perfection!
Then….out of the blue your life was taken from this world On June twenty-fifth, our minds were in a whirl Can it be true? Is this for real? In shock and disbelief, we could not feel
Numbed by the news, the world went silent The stage was now empty, your light stolen from it
Is there something we could’ve done to prevent it? Loved you more? Healed the planet? Would that have changed your story in the end? Would sleep have been your friend? Did we not do enough while you were here To show appreciation for your gifts so dear?
For sacrifices made to deliver the message, was our offering no more than a mere vestige? A sample so small, you couldn’t see That you were making a difference How could this be?
We let you down, fell prey to the shadow Apathy conveyed through our lives so shallow Did you have to die for us to know The importance of your life, your message, your show?
If we had only been more like a true friend Listened to your heart from the start You knew all along that what you had to share Was critical for the world to hear You tried… gave us everything you had Your joy, your anger, the good and the “Bad”
We heard your message, but didn’t respond We just wanted a piece of you ’cause we were so fond Your love was pure, your beauty bright Your sweetness made our hearts take flight
And even though you loved our adoration It wasn’t enough to prevent your ultimate submission The pain was too much, the darkness very real It took you from us, I don’t think we’ll ever heal
I’m not sure what I could’ve done Written a letter? Called you on the phone? I am nobody… would you have known? Could I have made a difference, kept you from goin’?
Put the light back in your eyes for the world to see? Restored your faith in humanity? Taken your pain? Kissed and made it all better? Turned the rain into sunshine with just a letter?
Now that I know, now that you’re gone I cannot change it, the past is said and done But I can beg forgiveness for my apathy Try to make a difference in your name… throughout eternity
The messages you worked so hard to impart Continue to be real, still rendered from your heart Now free of limitations I can do my part Heal the world, change human relations What I should’ve done from the very start
Making amends to you in this way Will not bring you back, but it will make “them” pay Justice for you will take a new form For love and kindness will become the norm
All who love you are joining hands A gesture of unity among your fans creating a new community With love at the center of all we do Your lessons remembered, this is our cue To make the world a better place…for you!
Let us not forget, always respect Your example was perfect No need to change it…dissect it…or reject it
May the Force of Love continue in your name, Dear Michael… One who is most like God
