Thank you for your appetising psychological analysis of the late Michael Jackson, via his 'songs' (The Gleaner, July1).
Over the years while he was enduring his legal persecutions - I use the term 'persecution' since, even if he was culpable of the misdeeds of which he was accused - the vehemence with which 'the system' attacked him took on the crusading vigilantism of a 'lynch mob' determined to crucify him.
Protestations of innocence
Having lived through Jackson's many protestations of innocence, and after initially being cynical about his claims to 'not being able to hurt a fly'; and after replaying these scenes repeatedly, it became quite gut-wrenchingly clear to me that Michael's innocence was less about his carelessness in allowing children to sleep in his bed with him, and more that in his naivete/ innocence, he was blind to the perceptions of those, who from the outside looking in, only saw what they wanted to see. Unfortunately, what these onlookers thought they saw was sufficient for them to demand his 'blood'.
Yet, for some of us who had reasons to go deeply into his music and parse every word of every song he composed, danced to, and sang, they were pregnant incentives to attend to the cries in his intonations and pleas in his several voices.
Too much emphasis
In as much as I have been criticised by my associates for having put 'too much emphasis on meaningless, nonsense lyrics', it is some vindication to read the article in Wednesday's Gleaner, as it shows that I am not the only one to attach import to the lyrics of Michael's songs as they, for the most part, are messages to the world to help/ love/understand him.
There is nothing in the lyrics of Bad, Black & White, Cry, Dangerous, Heal the World, Man in the Mirror, Thriller, to name a few, that are nonsense syllables.
In them are Jackson's pleas about his loneliness, fear of abuse, lack of friendship, search for love, trust and understanding.
Again, thanks for your article.
I am, etc.,
E. PATRICK HARDING
jamaicakidcool64@yahoo.com
New York