Michael Jackson, Over-the-top, and Over-the-edge

Michael Jackson, over-the-top, and over-the-edge. What ought one say about the life of Michael Jackson, other than he was obviously driven by his art? Should we simply say that he was a musical phenomenon; that he thrilled millions of people around the world; that he perhaps sold more records, CDs, or DVDs than anyone else, and leave it at that. Or, should we give more emphasis to the problems that seemed to have dogged Michael's personal and profession life. I think none of these fully defined the Michael Jackson that I observed on the television.

The Michael Jackson that I saw and admired was all about freedom. That's right "freedom" the freedom to be all that he could be. His initial expression of freedom was when he elected to perform as a solo, rather than with the family. He also clashed with many in the the black American community when he took steps to limit, or obscure his racial identity; he clashed with societal conventions when he refused to comply with social mores and finally; we've all read of his apparent clashes with the legal system and finally this apparent ultimate clash with medical protocol.

Was he the NASCAR driver who risked everything for a victory, or a Van Gogh who simply lived too close to the edge. No matter, we shall all miss Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop"

LesW