You make some very good points and I agree with most of what your wrote. I personally believe Michael Jackson did nothing wrong. I feel that his Spirit was too kind and gentle, and that he was too child-like himself, to harm a child.

The only thing you wrote that I have trouble with is your quote that MJ was "not right in the head." Considering his life and all it entailed I think MJ managed to keep his sanity pretty intact. He could have become a drunk, a drug abuser (meaning hard-core), bitter and angry, many things that people who have been abused, or who were child stars, become. But MJ managed to keep his humanity, humor, kindness, and love. And by all accounts he was an amazing father to his children who are, from what I have read, smart, well-mannered, polite, and funny.

Well said, Joan, every bit of it. Unfortunately, that regularly scheduled programming to which so many wish to return played no small part in the trajectory of Michael Jackson's demise.

That's interesting about the settlement out of court. As I understand it, the settlement was for a civil case and not a criminal case, which also lessens the extent to which it implies guilt.

What's most unfortunate about the molestation accusations is that the settlements leave the matter very...unsettled. We know Jackson had young boys over for sleepovers, and we know they slept in the same bed together. We also know some things that were leaked regarding the nature of the charges, and we know that these sorts of accusations occurred more than once.

We also know that Jackson lived in a bubble of unreality, and in a world where most everybody around him was compelled to either pander to him or leave. On top of that we know that Jackson left himself open to opportunists who might attempt to shake him down for money. Also, we know that Jackson was the victim of an abusive and controlling parent, and this might manifest itself in Jackson controlling others, as is the usual mechanism in the chain of parent-child abuse.

What we're left with is open to each person's desired belief. It's wrong to assume Jackson was guilty, but it's self-blinding to assume he was innocent. Jackson was "not right in the head," and it's not unconceivable that untoward things could have occurred.

My opinion is that if such things happened, it is hard to imagine a young teenage boy being damaged by it. It's difficult to imagine Jackson being coercive, as he had a delicate, androgynous personality. I would guess he crossed some boundaries that would normally not be worthy of legal action, but became so because he was a multi-millionaire.

We can stop talking about all this and just talk about his music and talent. Fine with me. But I think it's sad that so many people who admired him weren't around to tell him when he was alive. What other American singer/dancer performers are alive now who have the sheer talent level and superstar influence of Michael Jackson? I can't think of any at the moment. Whoever they are, they should be honored in life so they can be around to enjoy it.

As well, if an artist can only draw self-esteem from success and not just the joy of exercising his gift (or having a life), he's essentially doomed.

That is indeed a really nice letter.

@deborah 1249: an absolutely despicable, loathsome comment about a lovely little girl who just lost her father.

Regarding the comments by many of you who assume MJ's guilt because he settled out of court, please consider this fact, excerpted from a book by Ian Halperin:

"Jackson had not wanted to settle the case. I have obtained legal documents proving that his insurance company forced the settlement on him against his will. The documents state: ‘The [1994 Chandler] settlement agreement was for global claims of negligence and the lawsuit was defended by Mr. Jackson’s insurance carrier. The insurance carrier negotiated and paid the settlement, over the protests of Mr. Jackson and his personal legal counsel.’ Jackson was said to have almost collapsed as the settlement was forced upon him. His aides insist this marked the beginning of his mental and physical breakdown."

I am little conflicted over Michael Jackson in general, in terms of as a public persona, an emblem of the Black community here in the United States. At 22, I was a little young to really know know or be an avid fan of his music, but I do remember enjoying songs like "You are Not Alone" and "Black or White" when I was a little kid. To see the retrospective on him as a child star until his later years, definitely is sad, at the same time it is hard to separate the incomparable talent of this mythic entertainer, from the, quite frankly circus act that seemed to encompass his personal life. I often think about the child molestation charges, these are extremely serious, dire accusations, and the fact that over the years there have been several against MJ, is a definite cause for alarm. This is partially why I am conflicted, the Black community loves to uphold Michael as a some sort of martyr for Black pride and acceptance into mainstream society, when, let's face it Michale himself never actually embraced the Black community and instead spent his whole life trying to disengage himself from it i.e. the plastic surgeries, skin lightening, his White children...On the one hand, I appreciate his immense talent and contribution to pop culture, on the other what exactly are we lauding? No one is perfect I suppose...but is interesting, what is sadder most about this man, is not the fact he was in such abysmal health when he died, or his alleged drug addiction, but the fact that in spite of the gazillion of dollars earned during his lifetime, and world adulation, he clearly was not happy with who he saw in the mirror, self-hate is tragic thing...maybe that is the most important lesson of all to be learned from the Michael Jackson legacy.