Michael Jackson: Respect Deserved

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson, the most successful entertainer in history as well as a record breaking humanitarian would have turned 53 years of age today. That makes August 29th a seminal day in history for the many millions he inspired through his artistry and generosity.

Happy Birthday, Michael.

One thing that has forever troubled me about people's treatment of the man is the high level of disrespect he has received over the past 20 years. For a man that reshaped and transformed the music industry and donated multi millions of dollars of his own money and endless amounts of his time to charitable causes, he has never been as celebrated and respected as he deserves to be.

How rude.

I have said many times that the colossal apex of his career, a.k.a. The Thriller Era of the early 1980's was responsible for the best of what happened to him as well as the worst of what happened. He gained the most immense fame and status that any person could ever have. On the flip side, his life became a cocoon of impossibly high standards and salacious tabloid stories, which clearly led him into a life of extreme stress.

While it is very true that Michael was far from perfect and purposely led an eccentric life, he still never deserved to be repudiated so extensively at the expense of giving him the credit and the acclamation that was due him. He perfected pop music as a child superstar in the late '60s and early '70s, then pioneered and mastered the short film as music video with the cultural touchstone that was the Thriller album in 1983. Everything that resulted from that LP changed the rules of music, entertainment and the business that anchors both fields. As a live performer, his showmanship and innovation raised the bar for every other popular artist of any genre of music, and that continues to this day.

Fashion-wise, MJ's style inspired countless trends and sartorial concepts and cultivated his reputation as the ultimate show business megastar top to bottom. The way he embraced philanthropy and giving to those in need was, unfortunately not something that many of his wealthy peers emulated. However, he tirelessly spoke of making the world a better place and took the actions to do it.

He instilled love in every way.

So, today is something of a holiday. Of course, there will always be legions of haters, naysayers and critics of Michael Jackson who will forever hold up the many accusations against him as unquestioned fact that he did anything criminal, and that is grossly unfair.

For the great man he was, he deserves better than that.