It was about unconditional love.
Today marks, what would have been his 55th birthday and predictably, his international fan-base (myself included) numbering into the hundreds of millions have been celebrating the life of a true entertainment giant for days now. But as much as I love Michael's remarkable body of work and the seismic impact of his historic career, I am more impressed with his dedication to "make the world a better place."
Michael Jackson, for decades, donated and pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to a litany of charitable causes and foundations while selflessly investing huge amounts of his time and energy into people all around the world who were less fortunate and underprivileged. He wrote and performed songs that were constructed to serve as uplifting anthems of love, self-progression and hope. Not only was MJ a tireless proponent of helping people, but he also used his global platform to encourage all of us to take better care of animals and the environment. For all of his legendary pop music hits, the altruistic "Earth Song" may be the most passionate masterpiece of pure substance he's ever crafted.
Jackson's "Heal the World" foundation is just one of his crowning achievements of giving back. And when he was burned during filming of a Pepsi ad in January 1984, he opted to donate the settlement money to create the "Michael Jackson Burn Center" to help other victims of fire-based accidents or tragedies. His sprawling, and elaborate performance during halftime of the 1993 Super Bowl is a perfect example of how powerfully he was able to share his positive message of love and healing. Sure, he performed his classic pop hits with great energy and ferocity, but the focal point was his singing of "Heal the World" and the troupe of children he brought to assist him in the breathtaking visual (holding synchronized placards that formed a message of peace).
So, while Michael Jackson will forever reign as a seminal force of unmatched talent and achievement in the world of music and entertainment, his most lasting legacy is in fact his inspirational message and actions of love, peace and hope. Not only was MJ the ultimate humanitarian, but he was also one of the most important people in the history of the world. Love or hate the man, we all benefited from his 50 year presence on Earth.
Happy Birthday, Michael. I will love you forever!
