The enigma that was Michael Jackson

June 25, 11:05 PMDallas Parenting ExaminerChristy Coffman

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The news today of Michael Jackson's death really saddened me, along with millions of other fans.  It wasn't the eccentric and controversial Michael of today that I mourned, but the young man who I watched introduce the "moonwalk", the man who scared my little brother and sister with his "Thriller" video, the man who stood behind young Ryan White as he died from AIDS, the man who helped organize and create the whole "We Are the World" platform, the man who shook President Ronald Reagan's hand as he accepted an award for his support in the war against drugs.  Then I think of the videos and the video premiers.  I would get so excited when a new one was coming out.  I even had a pair of the zipper pants when "Beat It" was so popular.  Don't laugh, if you didn't have those, you had the red jacket or the silver glove...

I grew up during the prime of Michael's career and was a huge fan.  It has always been difficult to reconcile "that Michael" with the one that has been accused of all of the things that he has been.  He has really disappointed me during the past decade or so and I no longer considered myself a fan.  I was appalled at the allegations and, frankly, no longer viewed him as a talented artist, but as a very disturbed and unlikeable man.   I do not know what was true or what was false.  I do believe that being a celebrity was both a blessing for him and a death for him. 

While I was discussing the news of his death with my mother tonight and we were talking about what an impact he made on my generation in particular, she made an interesting observation.  She said, "you know, it's kind of sad that what most of today's generation will remember of him is the weirdness, the face masks, the surgeries, not the icon that he was."  And, she's right.  I am sure there are alot of parents out there tonight trying to answer the question of who Michael Jackson was.  I am glad my son is too young to realize what's going on because I honestly do not know the right way to answer such a complicated question.  I would want to explain that during the first half of his life he revolutionized music and dance, that he was why MTV is what it is today and what a big heart he had for those in need.  But then how do you then explain the second half of Michael's life? Like I said before, I'm glad I don't have to. 

Tonight, I will watch the videos and listen to the music that brought us all together and feel a huge sadness for the loss of such a talented man who ended up with such a tortured soul.