I was very sad to hear the news that Michael Jackson had died. It hardly seems possible. I remember Michael as the precocious little performer who sang with his brothers in the Jackson Five. I watched him grow up and change from that precocious little performer to the King of Pop.
It was clear that Michael Jackson was a gifted musician, but that's a limited definition of gifted. Michael certainly had incredible talent. And he was creative and original. Like many gifted people, he marched to his own drummer. Sadly, he wasn't always able to withstand the kind of attention and criticism that is aimed at those who choose to be unique. It had to be even harder for Michael since the criticism and attention was magnified by his monumental popularity.
I remember his song "Leave Me Alone." The lyrics indicate that it's addressed to a woman, but the video seems to indicate that he was addressing all the people who relentlessly hounded him. I remember watching that video and thinking, "Good for you, Michael. You tell 'em!"
Parents of highly sensitive gifted children should be able to sympathize with Jackson. For those kids, emotional molehills really are emotional mountains. Every hurt and slight is exaggerated. And as we all know, the love just doesn't cancel out the hurt.
Now Michael no longer has to hear all the criticism. May he finally rest in peace.
More about the deaths of Michael Jackson:
King of Pop Michael Jackson Dead at 50
Icons of My Tween Years Are Gone
The Flaws of Icons
Thanks for that short and straight to the point artice. Yes, I know for a fact this was a gifted child, who grew up to be a gifted, talented entertainer. Being around psychologists I have heard over and over that he displayed all the characteristics of what is termed as “gifted”. The Sensitivity level is magnified, demanding perfection out of ones self, extreme empathy for others beyond what “ordinary” people can see or even understand.
Its sad but true to say that the American people are not educated about these few people that walk this earth. Always labeling them as strange and in this case demoralizing a human being out of rumors that were totally unfounded. Yes, his popularity soared and the better he was the more determined that “some people” wanted to destroy him. He knew this and what a tragedy for the music world. He tried to help children all over the world, and he was magnificent to watch as a performer. I also think that some of his own family members were not educated enough about this man. I want him to rest in peace, but the guilty people who caused him to suffer, will be tormented all the days of their lives.