And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
~ St. Luke 24.51.52 (words from the stony book at the entry of the Great Mausoleum)
May peace be upon him: MJ´s last resting place Forest Lawn Cementery;Great Mausoleum
Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there.
I did not die.
~ Mary Elizabeth
*
Thank you
for still being with us in spirit.
Thank you
for having us all brought together.
Thank you
for having us taught what is really important:
L.O.V.E.
"Michael lives through each and everyone of us ."~VPB_Maria
It started out a normal Thursday, but by afternoon it became a day Michael Jackson’s fans would never forget. Some fans had never left MJ, others had recently returned with the announcement of his upcoming shows at the O2, while more of them subsequently rediscovered his music and smooth moves after his untimely death was announced in Los Angeles. Michael the performer, the artist, the humanitarian, the philanthropist and the father of three children was gone forever.
Michael’s death brought his international fans together in a way not possible a few years earlier. The Internet and social networking web sites brought people together to remember and to grieve; new friendships began and old ones rekindled.
The loss of Michael meant no more “hee-hees,” no more Moonwalks and no more fixing French toast for breakfast for his children. The public finally saw his daughter and two sons without their masks. Grieving children who were beautiful, polite, well-spoken and poised in extreme circumstances; normal children.
While I do morn the loss of Michael the public celebrity, performer and humanitarian, the loss I feel most deeply is the loss of a father who loved and protected his children as much as possible. I would gladly give up the music, dancing, Moonwalks, new friends and old, if it would restore Michael the man, the father to his children.
I have always drawn from a young age at the age of 11 it became more important to me. Wanting to make it as real as I can fascinated by how photos can be so real I wanted to try to get my drawing as close as I could.
Art is an escapism I feel able to draw freely and not judge myself only looking at what I could improve on its always been a fun journey for me. I love drawing emotion and challenging myself. Art is an expression rather than a picture. Age 19 I hope to pursue art as a career.
"There is nothing better than escaping into a scene into a emotion and atmosphere definitely a persons feeling then portraying and recreating that in your expression"
Michael Jackson has given me a guidance to making life better for me and people around hes given me music that I love and I enjoy and when im down lightens me and hes given me freinds freinds that show the love like he did true freinds hes still here in spirit and the Jacksons are beautiful like him and give guidence to a better life I wanted to draw these drawings 4 him showing and portraying the emotion and drawing him because of all hes done.
click on photos for larger image
[!] Please respect our contributors and do not reproduce the photos or words without the explicit consent of the author.
White fedora, sparkling glove on You are the light all over THE place Your dance, your moves... All what you've done, We're thank you for everything. Your voice is so amazing We hear it in every day On radio, TV, mp3, that's the only way It doesn't matter when you come back Just be happy, smile and stay in safe Watch how your soldiers of L.O.V.E. Are spreading love in every day We're trying to do our BEST Sometimes we succeed, other times we're losing faith But in the end, a voice whispers to us " It's all for L.O.V.E. " and we continue our mission again. Time by time, day by day Time IS ticking fast or slow It hasn't arrived that special day...not YET... We hope TO hear that magical voice again We are waiting for you to COME in a sunny day Much L.O.V.E. to you, sweet angel MJ.
click on images for larger view
[!] Please respect our contributors and do not reproduce the photos or words without the explicit consent of the author.
I've been looking for words. When I couldn't find them I went on an old idea and made the photo above. I used other people's words - they so well make up for a portrait of the man, the artist, the humanitarian.
My trouble with writing today came from not finding the right words to express what I'm feeling. 2 years on and the pain is just as intense.
For the past 2 days I got this song stuck in my head - Coldplay's "Fix You". I thought it was just business as usual (they are one of my favorite bands and "Fix You" is usually one of my pick me up songs) until I finally sat down and played it. And I got to the bridge.
"Tears stream down on your face
When you lose something you cannot replace"
This is why. I miss him. It's not going to change - it's a loss that cannot be replaced. His energy, his talent, his creativity, his dedication, his love. Him as a person and personality. As an artist and a role model.
And I figures what I wanted to write. Something I learned from Michael.
Work hard. At times certain people will take swings at you. It's sad, nerve wracking. Better yourself, build on you resilience and put the energy into your work. You will get back love.
A lot has been said on Michael Jackson. Usually the media presented just one side of the story and most of the time it did so while distorting or fully replacing reality.
As a father, there wasn't really to much talk of him apart from one happening in Germany, the extent to which he went to protect his children from media frenzy and the short marriage he had with Price and Paris' mother.
But there is more. He knew what a blessing was to have them and he didn't took any moment of their time together for granted.
The conduct and actions of his three young children after his death reveal the solid upbringing they got from their dad. As I said before, the speech they gave at the 2010 Grammy Awards are proof of Michael's strength and human quality.
"Speechless" is a song that came out of joy. And later, in a online chat with fans Michael picked it as one of his favorites.
"I was with these kids in Germany, and we had a big water balloon fight, and I was so happy after the fight that I ran upstairs in their house and wrote Speechless. Fun inspires me. I hate to say that, because it's such a romantic song, but it was the fight that did it. I was happy, and I wrote it in its entirety right there. I felt it would be good enough for the album. Out of the bliss comes magic, wonderment, and creativity."
Michael Jackson
The song had mixed reviews and most of them were based on the authors own idea of what Michael Jackson's music should sound like and what themes he should have approached, regardless of what Michael Jackson cared about and the message he wanted to send out.
Michael Jackson is one of the most sincere artist out there. His songs some from personal experience and it is that honesty that helped create the bond between him and his fans.
"Speechless" is also a perfect example of his power as a vocalist.
"Everything with Michael is a stand-out moment,
but an absolutely gorgeous piece of music called Speechless was really an event.
Michael sings the first eight bars A capella.
At the end, he closes it off A cappella - it was Michael's idea to add the A cappella parts."
Bruce Swedien
Your love is magical, that's how I feel
But I have not the words here to explain
Gone is the grace for expressions of passion
But there are worlds and worlds of ways to explain
To tell you how I feel
But I am speechless, speechless
That's how you make me feel
Though I'm with you I am far away and nothing is for real
When I'm with you I am lost for words, I don't know what to say
My head's spinning like a carousel, so silently I pray
Helpless and hopeless, that's how I feel inside
Nothing's real, but all is possible if God is on my side
When I'm with you I am in the light where I cannot be found
It's as though I am standing in the place called Hallowed Ground
Speechless, speechless, that's how you make me feel
Though I'm with you I am far away and nothing is for real
I'll go anywhere and do anything just to touch your face
There's no mountain high I cannot climb
I'm humbled in your grace
Speechless, speechless, that's how you make me feel
Though I'm with you I am lost for words and nothing is for real
Speechless, speechless, that's how you make me feel
Though I'm with you I am far away, and nothing is for real
Speechless, speechless, that's how you make me feel
Though I'm with you I am lost for words and nothing is for real
Speechless
Your love is magical, that's how I feel
But in your presence I am lost for words
Words like, “I love you.”
Speechless
Written and composed by Michael Jackson
Produced by Michael Jackson
Arranged by Michael Jackson
Lead vocals by Michael Jackson
Orchestra arranged and conducted by Michael Jackson and Jeremy Lubbock
Keyboards performed by Brad Buxer
Background vocals by Andrae Crouch and The Andrae Crouch Singers: Alfie Silas Durio, Valerie Doby, Maxi Anderson, Kristie Murden, Patrice Morris, Yvonne Williams, Yonciele Faggett, Tenika Johns, Angel Johnson, Linda McCrary, Sue Merriett, Deborah Sharp-Tayler, Marja Dozier, Zaneta M. Johnson, Gloria Augustus, Alice Jean McRath, Sandra Crouch, Zandra Williams, Judy Gossett, Geary Lanier Faggett, Johnnie Walker, Ron Taylor, Daniel Johnson, Harold Green, Laquentan Jordan, Tim Brown, Howard McCrary, Sam McCrary, Kevin Dorsey and Andrae Crouch
Viola/contractor: Novi Novoq
Viola: Thomas Tally
Violins: Peter Kent, Gina Kronstadt, Robin Lorentz, Kristin Fife and John Wittenberg
Digital editing by Brad Buxer and Stuart Brawley
Recorded by Bruce Swedien, Brad Buxer and Stuart Brawley
Forced labor, slavery, modern day slavery - whatever the name used is the same reality.
To this day people fall to this cruel practice and are kept bound by visible or invisible chains into a life of labor without pay and without hope.
A great number of them are children.
UNICEF:For every child
According to UNICEF, "an estimated 158 million children aged 5-14 are engaged in child labour - one in six children in the world"
"Children are a quality of life ... when our children are happy, then we are better as human beings."
Whoopi Goldberg
When children are forced into labor, beaten, killed, suffering ... what kind of quality of life can we expect? And it's happening all over the world - developed countries as well as developing countries. Sometimes across the street. It is up to us to make better by our children.
"...perhaps that is what ultimately unites us as a world: the fact that, no matter how prosperous a nation, how developed, all share the plight and embarrassment of having so many suffering children. We are united by our neglect, our abuse, our absence of love. Have we forgotten about the children, and thus forsaken the next generation?"
Audrey Hepburn
I think is time to claim the true bond between us - LOVE.
"Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society,
