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SOURCE: http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/goodbye-michael-jackson
Neverland Clock
… I must admit, I suffer from the myopic view, like most historians — amateur or otherwise — that history must always be equated with old. That’s why Graceland was “history” to me, but Neverland never would be — at least not until it was gone. Hours passed, and the desire to see the inside of Neverland grew stronger. I had essentially exhausted all other photographic possibilities down the 101, and I knew this opportunity wouldn’t last long. Then, a day before I began the drive back up to San Francisco, I exited a theater to find what seemed like snow falling on me. I immediately realized they were large flakes of ash from a fire nearby. The sky was dark and orange. It was an eerie, foreboding signal, or at least that’s what I made it out to be. I needed to photograph Neverland, or else — and I had a strong feeling — it would all go to ashes without proper documentation.
Once it was decided, there was no convincing me otherwise. Still, I thought more than once of giving it up altogether and to continue driving North. I tried to convince myself that I had trespassed many times before at other locations — but the implications had never really bothered me until I considered walking into Michael’s private park. As I write this, I still try to justify my actions by thinking how much Michael truly wanted to share his world. It was a genuine wish of his for everyone to understand things the way he did. And the world largely didn’t understand what he was trying to communicate with Neverland, so he abandoned it.
People have asked me over the past year what it felt like to be in Neverland at night, alone. I didn’t want to say anything except that it was the most surreal and incredible experience of my life. Others asked me how I felt about Michael, after seeing Neverland, but I couldn’t completely answer that. I was withholding judgement. Maybe, like all battle-bruised humans, I had the sneaking suspicion that all of my best feelings about the man would be shattered when another allegation would arise. But it never happened, just as I suspected, because everything I saw at the Ranch indicated to me that he was an innocent man.
Bronze Children at Neverland
Strangely enough, the moment I entered, a howling wind spread across the valley. Trees cracked their massive arms and fell; I could hear the Ferris Wheel creaking; the rope drawbridge waved wild and unpredictable. When I walked up to the deserted bumper car tent, the wind had become so strong, that it was tearing the red, canvas roof. It’s fortunate that the wind also allowed me to roam freely around the park without a single bark from the nearby dogs.
In the midst of all of this wind, the only static elements of Neverland were the frozen, bronze faces of the myriad statues that dotted the grounds. The children’s smiles almost seemed sad, in the context; and other than the occasional jolt of fear that hit me when I encountered a new frozen figure (thinking it was a real person), these statues were the subjects that I found my camera most drawn to. The rides themselves could have been found on any county fair in any state in the country. But it was the psyche of Michael Jackson that drew my curiosity. The statues were a conduit; they were my artifacts to catalog before the time of their eventual liquidation arrived.
. . .
Despite how kitschy it all seemed; despite the controversy; and the fact that I could only see Neverland from one perspective (that of night), the times I spent at Neverland are among the most memorable moments of my life. Neverland allowed me to escape the cynical, xenophobic world of a country mired in war, terrorism, and daily reports of suicide bombers. They may have been only a few nights of escapism, at best, but they allowed me to put myself in the shoes of Michael — moon walking my own way among the soon-to-end dreamscape of a truly magnanimous soul. May you rest in peace, Michael; your dream will live on.
July 21st, 2010 8:18 am
Seven – I loved this piece; can’t get enough of your postings.
I have something to say and no forum to say so please forgive placing it here; I hope it doesn’t throw your readers off the track of your beautiful posted piece.
There’s much flux this morning in the mainstream about a government employee of the Agriculture Department, who was fired from her position recently for comments viewed as racially insensitive in dealing with a white farmer years ago. Her comments were (1) taken out of context, (2) broadcast by Fox News, and (3) edited for effect by Fox. A black woman, she was excoriated by the NAACP, the White House, and fired by her boss, the Agriculture Secretary. Now that her words have been put into context, her civil rights record reviewed, and the source (Fox News) considered, the NAACP has apologized, the White House has backtracked, and the AG Sec’y is reconsidering her termination. The mainstream news media can’t get enough of this story; they are salivating in attempts to be forefront in “righting” the wrong done to this woman.
Who else do we know in the past 15 years or so who was villified for statements reported out of context, who was the subject of editorial slash and burn, and outright falsified reporting, and who NEVER received one “mea culpa” from any of the offending mainstream media culprits. Their lies were left out there to fester and poison public opinion. An innocent man was treated like a common criminal in the mainstream media with nothing near an apology being offered by NBC, ABC, or CBS, much less the cable news channels, even after his death caused in part by the continued spreading of their lies and distortions, all of which were sanctioned by the highest level executives of their networks. The closest person I can recall making even a weak retraction of prior negative comments was Larry King, who a few months ago, referred to Michael Jackson thusly: We now know what a nice person he was.
This woman’s situation (of which most should be aware if you watch the morning news programs) instantly brought Michael’s situation to my mind. In her case, the parties involved appear to be doing a quick about face caused by their own knee jerk reaction to media propoganda. Michael’s situation in some ways paralleled this instant fiasco; trouble is, the media has learned NOTHING; in Michael’s case, the “about face” never happened, from the days of the terrible misreporting and persecution, to the day of his death.
July 21st, 2010 12:19 pm
Deeply touching reflection! Thank you for sharing this photographer’s article with us, Seven. Your sensitive, intelligent and creative nature shines through in every piece of artwork, commentary, photo and video that you offer on this site. Your dedication to advancing Michael’s legacy is evident, admirable and invaluable.
Michael’s tragic death, the circumstances surrounding it and everything about and related to this precious soul have launched me into an exploration of, and need to understand, myself in a way that I have never before experienced. I am beginning to feel inklings of my love for Michael deflecting back to myself, and from there to other people and all creation. Michael desired and intended that his message of L.O.V.E. spread like wildfire throughout the world. He used his gifts to this end. Michael is truly loved more profoundly for his humble and sincere intentions, than the marvelous talents which he painstakingly and unselfishly shared. His artistic genius was the vehicle that moved his message of peace and unity.
Seven, these lyrics have come alive for me since reading your current post. My understanding of, and my love for Michael continues to blossom alongside of a growing understanding and love of myself.
“Have you seen my Childhood?
I’m searching for the world that I come from
‘Cause I’ve been looking around
In the lost and found of my heart…
No one understands me… ~MJ
“When I look at your pictures I think I can feel a sparkle of the dream that was already abandoned by it’s creator.” ~from a comment made on the photographer’s site
I also feel a sparkle of the dream. ♥♥♥
July 21st, 2010 1:40 pm
June -
I am aware of that situation with Ms. Sherrod and yes, I too thought of Michael! This is the same issue isn’t it? A rush to judgement based on lies, innuendo, twisted, taken out-of-context, and incomplete facts – and no one – least of all our own government and civil rights leaders, bothered to GET THE FACTS before rushing to judge this woman.
Same thing happened to Michael Jackson. Absolutely. And largely, people still don’t have the facts about MJ. They are still buried beneath decades of lies and distortions from the media and others who were out to destroy him.
July 21st, 2010 2:10 pm
Hi Seven and June:
I saw the Ms. Sherrod piece yesterday on CNN, and as you stated, June, I thought of Michael and how they mistreated him too and when will they smarten up and show him justice? I know this is off topic, and I apologize, but another event brought Michael to mind, (actually he is always on my mind) but this Lindsay Lohan business – “going to jail, what will her first night be like, what will she be eating, will she have a nervous breakdown”. The cottage industry of stories of Michael in prison had he been convicted that Tom Mesereau spoke of. Well, I guess they found a victim. Obscene vultures.
And thank you, Seven, for always showing us beautiful Michael – the Michael so many still refuse to see.
July 21st, 2010 5:42 pm
SEVEN–you are awesome! I am in total agreement to all the replies. With Ms. Sherrod’s case, all media outlets are apologizing ASAP!! With Michael not only are they not ACNOWLEGING the Torture they put him through….they are basically ignoring stories that seem to have redemption written all over it or some hiden story was about to be revealed only to be derailed by a tragic event..When Evan Chandler committed suicide..where was Nancy Grace, ABC News, CBS, FOX, Diane Sawyer,etc..When Michael’s ex-attorney “shot himself in his own yard”-??. Why aren’t there hours and days and weeks of commentary and shows..trying to figture out the mysterious circumstances of this tragic case??
This is why your website and other websites that honor and speak the truth about Michael Jackson are so imparitive to his legacy. I tell my children, when they ask me; “Mom why won’t ____tell me he is sorry?? I am going to hate him until he does..and he better, or else… See, all these parasites, vampires, and attention whores, may NEVER admit to their ignorance and prejudices..and frankly I do not expect them too..becasue it takes courage and heart to do so. Ms. Aprodite Jones author of Conspiracy, seems to be the only who does have these traits..Yet, we must contiue our work..in honoring of a man who deserves all our love for he gave all of his genius and love to us..ALL. In retrospect–yes, I do hope that their conscious will be revealed..again–in the end it is not necassary..the TRUTH does not need their PERMISSION…RIP MY King of Hearts, KING of MUSIC, I will love you forever..
July 21st, 2010 7:02 pm
Hey guys, comparing Sherrod to MJ is an excellent analogy! It’s too bad MJ will never get the apologies that she’s getting. I have some info on Andrew Breitbart, the political commentator who posted the edited video on his website, which was then broadcast by FOX News.
When MJ died, Breitbart wrote a scathing article on him, which was filled with hate and prejudice, and was absolutely DEVOID of any facts of the allegations. He did a great job of INSINUATING that MJ was guilty, but a terrible job of actually PROVING it, and there is a huge difference between the two.
His rationale for MJ being guilty is his association with Marc Schaffel, who was a gay porn producer. MJ initially fired him when he found out about it, but then later rehired him. Here is a quote from Breitbart’s article:
“Why did Michael Jackson bring back the gay porno producer to use a video camera to oversee kid trips to Neverland AFTER it was admitted by Jackson’s own people the Jackson/Schaffel alliance was blatantly improper?”
In Breitbart’s eyes, for MJ to have kids around a gay porn producer, after he “paid off” Jordie Chandler, is tantamount to being guilty of molestation. He claims that MJ “didn’t fight molestation charges” in 1993, and implies that Schaffel was a “dangerous person” to have around kids due to his ties to gay porn. (I wonder if Schaffel produced heterosexual porn, if that would have made a difference?)
The point I’m trying to make is that Breitbart is the TYPICAL MJ hater who lazily uses the settlement as “proof” that MJ was guilty, and that he “got away with it like OJ Simpson” in 2005. Neither he nor any of his contributors made any attempt whatsoever to EXPLAIN how MJ got away with it. (If you do a search of “Michael Jackson” on his website, you’ll see dozens of hateful articles on him.) Too bad, because I’m sure we’d ALL love to read hear their explanations!
The funniest part of the article is that he blames the media for “covering up” for MJ by not reporting this! What planet has he been living on the last few years! If the media didn’t report on this, it’s because it really wasn’t relevant to the molestation case. It wasn’t “sensational” or “lurid” enough to be reported! Besides, Schaffel was MJ’s videographer, and nothing else! He didn’t interact with the kids at Neverland!
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/abreitbart/2009/06/26/a-monster-of-our-own-making-is-dead-and-im-mildly-sad%E2%80%8F/
July 21st, 2010 7:35 pm
Seven – so as of this evening it appears Secretary Vilsack and the White House have apologized to Ms. Sherrod for reacting to the media’s rush to judgment based upon misreporting and innuendo. How nice of them! Rep. Barbara Lee of California, chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus said that many people have lost their jobs and reputations due to erroneous publications by the media. She said nothing about how many people may have lost their LIVES, in part at least due to the media’s rush to judgment. Through all this, I think so much of Michael, who never got an apology from any media outlet and was left out to dry for the vultures to feed upon. As you say, no government or civil rights leaders bothered to obtain any facts before rushing to judgment concerning Ms. Sherrod or concerning Michael Jackson, an innocent man.
July 22nd, 2010 12:58 am
Well It’s goos that Ms. Sherrod got the deserved apology. If only they would have given a sincere one to Michael.
I am a HUGE Peter Pan fan. My friends call me Peter Freak
The beauty of Neverland and the magic that it holds is as AMAAAZING and sorta sacred for me as much as a candy is for a one year old! And I always want a Neverland around me…where there is Faith, Trust and Pixie dust! I know the world is just the opposite but still I can’t give up on these things…cause they keep me safe in this terror stuck world.
When I found out that Michael Jackson had a home called “Neverland” based on Peter Pan’s great island…I was like WOW! I loved the idea instantly. I was mesmerised only at the word of it…but after some time when I heard that he left it…I was so angry! I thought WHY? What would make him leave his dream behind and just abandon his celebration of childhood, the innocence, the fun, the simplicity, the humility. He froze childhood in Neverland, just like the original one
Then again, I found out that he was wrongly accused, vindicated and crucified…still not trusted after they said he is innocent. One man against the odds…:(
I always believed in dreams…I believe that NO ONE should abandon his dream…but sadfully, Michael had to. And that just led me to diabelief and sadness!!! Breaking a person’s heart is the worst thing to do….R.I.P Michael Jackson. He is in the new place, new Neverland!
July 22nd, 2010 8:04 am
Well, Neverland was always like a palace to the outside world…it always will be. Rest in Peace Michael!