Posted on 06/14/2005 7:32:32 AM PDT by Asphalt
Michael Jackson's fans were cheering and hugging each other Monday outside the courtroom where he was acquitted on all counts in his child molestation case. But it was impossible for us to get excited over the verdict. You could feel relief that this case was over and the 46-year-old "King of Pop" had gotten his day in court, but no number of "not guilty" pronouncements could erase the taint of the "lifestyle" choices that got him into trouble.
As Jackson was driven away in a funereal black vehicle, under the gaze of a now standard-issue helicopter camera, we wondered how he will respond to being freed of accusations some experts were sure he would be convicted of and even those who thought otherwise acknowledged came dangerously close to criminal behavior. Will the owner and aging lost boy of Neverland continue to insist he is pure of heart and spirit, did nothing wrong in sleeping with underage boys and faces no greater challenge than being misunderstood? Or will he respond to his brush with years in prison by facing up to his psychological problems and seeking help for them?
In saying "the healing process must begin," Jesse Jackson may have been talking about recovering from the grueling trial and its coverage. But Michael Jackson has deeper personal issues to deal with -- including, possibly, being in a state of denial. His strange appearance at the courtroom in his pajamas, his stomping on the roof of his SUV, his mystery trips to the E.R. certainly did nothing to establish his stability.
He will live with the knowledge that he owes his freedom to the prosecution's haphazard case as much as his pleas of innocence or any skillful turns by the defense to support them. This was a case, built and rebuilt over a decade by Santa Barbara County District Attorney Thomas Sneddon, undone by prosecution witnesses seemingly hired by the defense. They included a young accuser who kept changing his story; the accuser's mother, who came off as a gold digger and, in allowing him to sleep in Jackson's bed, a derelict parent, and an ex-wife of Jackson's, Debbie Rowe, who was brought in by prosecutors to testify against him but spoke of what a wonderful father he was. This despite being involved in a custody battle with him.
In the end, even as this verdict is applauded for showing you're not guilty until proven so in this country, it will, for some, confirm the notion that celebrities get their way in the justice system. Will Jackson's biggest media moment since "Thriller" recharge his career, which was on an artistic and commercial decline before the molestation charges were raised? Perhaps if he stops blaming other people for his misfortunes and starts taking responsibility for them. But if he continues living in his fantasy world, any buzz from this trial will wear off as fast as cable news can find another scandal to obsess over.
Good luck to your friend, hopefully he will get more justice than was served in this case.
Just when you thought things couldn't get any stranger...
Calkin, Robeson and the other one. Defense witnesses.
Actually, the majority of men - if not all - who molest boys are gay.
The other aspect that people don't discuss is that many of these children may have mixed feelings about Jackson and their experience with him. THat is not uncommon in pedophilia. They may have genuine affection and regard for him, and may have enjoyed some aspects of spending time with him. That can be one of the most difficult aspects of dealing with child molestation is that children sometimes have affection and regard for the molester and may have some positive interactions with him which make it difficult for them to come forward and accuse him of these things. Also, as children they are still forming of course, and may not know the effects of the molesters acts upon them for years to come. Sometimes it takes the maturity of hindsight to understand the damage that was done. This is why we as adults have to step in as we can recognize the damage that children cannot.
You wrote: don't agree, alas. I don't think this jury gives a damn. I don't think they care if Jackson was molesting these children or not. I think they'd give him a pass even if he did it right in front of them. I truly don't believe they care. This was an opportunity to stop this man from molesting children, and they let it go. WHy? They just don't care. They'd rather go on TV and try to make some money for themselves. Too much of America has become a nation of crooks , weasels and degenerates.
My Reply: My oh my you are awfully cynical aren't you? 12 people came to a unanimous decision, surely thay all can't have book deals in the wings can they?
She can't put one sentence together!!!
Do you mean they think these 3 actually WERE molested by Jackson and were lying? And they found him not guilty anyway? What bizarre reasoning!
Dear Michael, just go. Leave the country. Now. In fact, "Beat it!"
They can all have hopes. :) and they can all be stupid. and they can all be gutless. and they can all not give a damn. or actually any combination of the above. I think a big part of it is the THOU SHALT NOT JUDGE culture that we are now in. No one want's to critcize or judge anyone else's actions so people get away with all kinds of crap. Basically it's an unwillingess to take responsibility as a member of society. They all took the easy way out.
You wrote:If you have actually HEARD these people talking today, I think you would have to be honest and just admit...they ARE morons. Frankly even if they agreed with me, well...I'd be kinder in my verbiage, but these folks are not Mensa candidates. They're a bunch of witless dummies -whether they agree with me or not. A moron is a moron.
My Reply: Just becasue people do not "perform" well on televison does not mean they are morons. Being on tv can be intimidating. I read their Jury forms over on www.CourtTV well I read some of them. They do not appear to me to be morons. Just average Joe Aericans, called in to do their duty and they did it.
Well said, blueblazes. That is what is happening to my friend who was molested by his child psychiatrist as a kid. The guy was kind to him - kind of a substitute father figure to him when his parents were separated. That's why it is so confusing when they are molested. It is hard for them to turn against the man who has been kind to them.
Are you by chance a prosecutor in the area of sex crimes, or a psychologist ? You seem to have a good handle on the dynamics of the perpetrator/victim.
Well, what can I say, rose, the jury has given him a pass to go forth and molest. and he will.
Missed it. They need to put Abrams on at another time--I hate to miss Brit Hume, on at this time.
I hope you're wrong because if you were right the average American would be a moron. I suspect that is the case, but I'd hate to see it proven.
God they are DUMB on Dan Abrams ! And that poor Ray guy who believed the video of the victim. Sounds like he allowed himself to be bulldozed by the others into changing his mind. Bet he is henpecked by the Missus....
No, but I live in Boston and unfortunately we've been one of the hubs of the pedophile priest scandal. In fact, I had one of these pedophile priests when I was a kid (yes, he was weird). He didn't bother me as I was a girl.
I've had close friends who were molested so I also know their experiences. I've seen the damage. I guess it's a combination of what I've observed and read. I think it is such a tragic area as it is so soul destroying for these youngsters. People have no idea of how much it can impact these kids growing up and the problem they face in having a strong ego and developing normal relationships. The damage is horrible.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Yep. The more they talk......I am actually beginning to laugh at them.
Sheeple.
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