If I Had To Choose

Last night I watched 'This Is It' - the documented performance of what was to be Michael Jackson's 50 sold-out concerts.

Some of you may be Michael Jackson fans - some not. In the end it doesn't matter. What does matter is the message that Michael wanted to give the world. The message that the earth needed protecting and it needed help. But most importantly - one of love. That we need to love one another and not to judge each other. The earth would be a better place if we all just tried.

When the film ended I was left feeling profoundly sad that this incredible performer was gone just days before his attempt to heal the world with his music. I went off into the bathroom and had a good cry because it seemed like such a waste to me. To lose someone who might have eventually made a difference with all his fans - and maybe those that weren't as well.

I personally do not care what the media has had to say about Michael over the years. I had always wished they would just leave the man alone. Can you imagine living in a glass house and under a microscope all of your life with big faces peering down at you - and the word here is 'down'.

When I awoke this morning I read a story about a local hero who had been stabbed and was recovering in the hospital. This hero was not just your ordinary guy - but a homeless man who lived under a bridge. He had saved 2 different people from drowning and because of it had moved into a government owned apartment block. It was here that he was stabbed.

From that story I moved on to one about tainted cocaine laced with levamisole - a veterinarian drug used to treat intestinal worms. This combination can eventually kill the person if left untreated. But the world of drugs is one of profit and it doesn't matter to the dealer how that profit comes about or what it might do to others.

Now - I have admitted that I did cocaine in my youth. I spent a year trying to run away from the abusive relationship I was in by doing cocaine as often as I could. I knew it was cut with something but at the time I didn't care. Just reading this story made my stomach clench and I thought of how lucky I really was to have survived that stupid habit.

Put this all together and we have the harsh reality of life mixed with Michael Jackson's desire to bring peace and love to the world.

It clashes horribly doesn't it? It makes one's mind almost twist if you juxtapose one over the other.

I've been on the other side - the hard side - and even though everyday is a party - it's not that fun. Believe me.

For me - I'd choose Michael Jackson's world any day. One of love and the joy of music and singing and dancing and giving your all so that it would be a better world today.