Emotions tend to run high
amongst Michael’s fans. Which is
understandable to an extent. I do
believe it is important for all to express their opinions and thoughts in a
respectful manner. We must all respect
each other and when necessary agree to disagree. We are not always going to like the same things, nor
have the same thoughts on anything and everything especially, pertaining to
Michael. However, I like to believe that
is what makes his fan base so unique and amazing. So
much diversity. His global reach
never ceases to amaze me. All of the
opinions run from one extreme to the other, with many in the middle. Unfortunately there are those who feel the
need to argue their opinion and try to force it down our throats. That is when it gets ugly and hate begins to
spew. Who benefits from that? NO ONE
has to justify or explain their feelings or why they have a certain
opinion. It is great to hear the
complete range of opinions without hate.
Many times I may learn something I didn’t know or look at something in a
way I hadn’t thought of before. It’s all
positive.
I am not going to like a person or not like a person because they may purchase
or attend something that I am not. I
would hope others would offer me the same courtesy and not friend or unfriend
me because I am either not buying or attending something or I am buying or
attending something that they may not agree with. Same thing goes for our opinions on
different eras of Michael and pictures.
We all have feelings about certain eras and pictures. That is all personal, it can be discussed but
not debated. Beauty is and has always
been in the eye of the beholder. I am
not going to judge someone for that either.
None of that is my business. NO ONE needs my blessing or my permission to buy or attend anything or to like or
dislike an era of Michael’s or pictures of Michael.
Every
picture tells a story. Each of us
see something different, while some of us may see the same thing. Pictures, like music, conjure up memories, good
and bad. What may make me happy or sad,
may not do the same to others. I respect
that and I hope others do too.
Who am I?
I am just another fan. Yes, it is
nice to share when we like the same things, or buy the same things, or attend
the same events. That is how we connect to other fans. That is very important. It is also equally important to feel free to
express when we don’t like something or agree about something without fear of
reprisal.
I have been a fan since the Jackson 5 days as
I am a little younger than Michael. I
still remember dancing around the house to “ABC”, singing at the top of my
lungs. We grew up together. Michael has been a part of my life for as
long as I can remember. More present at
different times of course, but always there, even if it was in the corner of my
heart. We are all fans. None of us are better fans than the
other. Not because some of us may have
been a fan since the Jackson 5, while others may have just discovered Michael
since he passed. So what. What does that mean? Nothing.
Beyond being exposed to the music longer and being a fan longer. Longer doesn’t mean better, it means just
that…LONGER.
We need to embrace our similarities as well as our differences and most of all
respect one another. If we don’t, we are
forgetting what has always been at the core of Michael…LOVE
In the end, we are ALL fans of the greatest singer, dancer,
humanitarian, musician, to walk, dance, or moonwalk on this planet. Blessed to have been here to share the ride
for so long.
Peace, LOVE, and MJ
