CNN iReport

I wanted to wait until I had the words deserving of the legend to post on the sudden passing of Michael Jackson. I've been all-consumed with the coverage, as I find myself turning to CNN because nothing on my TiVo can really hold my interest right now. I'm a little bit obsessed, and I'm not quite sure why; I've always been fascinated with Michael's life, and during his second child molestation trial in 2005 I probably watched and read every pseudo-journalist's attempt at drawing a psychosomatic bridge between his horrid, abused childhood and the high-pitched, timid "Boy Man"  he would grow up to be

...So allow me for a moment to add to the fray. We all know the story by now: He was constantly seeking acceptance from his cold, abusive father, who worked Michael tirelessly from the age of five; his mother was a Jehovah's witness who didn't believe in birthdays or overall merriment; he was forced to sleep in motel rooms while his brothers had sex with groupies. He sang the blues with such passion and raw emotion that it made you wonder how a kid that young could already know such sadness. He would become the greatest entertainer in history, bringing his genius to the music industry and breaking down both musical and racial barriers in the process. In the end, his life would decay into a whirlwind of tabloid covers and legal troubles, his name sullied in every available medium and language.

But here's what I believe: Michael was not a pedophile or a pervert. Michael was not dangerous or deviant. Michael was a sexually stunted child, the Peter Pan cliche that would be so trite if it wasn't so dead on. He didn't want to have sex with the boys; he wanted to play with them, to put the millions he earned by sacrificing his childhood to the use of reliving it. If you've ever seen an interview with him or heard the barrage of character witnesses CNN has been airing in the last few days, you see what I see: an extremely naive, pathetic little boy stuck in an incredibly talented man's body. By all accounts, he was kind, courteous, timid, and soft, and truly wanted to help the world through his art.

I saw a segment on CNN earlier today that really hit this point home. In a joint interview with Ed Rollins and Donna Brazile, both were asked to give their impressions on Michael's death. Brazile, a Democratic strategist who has worked on campaigns for Walter Mondale and Jesse Jackson, said about what you would expect a 50-year-old black liberal to say about the King of Pop. Rollins, on the other hand, is a bald, white 60-something who currently serves as part of CNN's conservative contingent--not exactly someone you would consider among Michael's core audience. Rollins told the story about meeting Michael while he was working in the White House heading Ronald Reagan's reelection campaign. Michael had been invited to Washington after allowing the use of "Beat It" for the administration's anti-drunk driving campaign. His arrival created a frenzy of fans and media around the White House that would put to shame even the most fervent Obama rally. Rollins talked about how Michael was "very shy" and "courteous," even inviting several White House employees to his concert that night at RFK Stadium. In Rollins' words, "It was the greatest show I've ever seen in my life."

That two people as ideologically and sociologically different as Brazile and Rollins gush over this one man's music really shows you something. Michael's genius was that he was a unifier, an unstoppable force that brought people together with his sheer and immense talent. Think about what he did with "We Are the World": He wrote a song (with Lionel Richie) that fit the singing styles of a diverse group of 45 artists that included everyone from Paul Simon to Tina Turner. Black or white, young or old, Democrat or Republican, you could not help but gaze with awe at his ability. The consummate entertainer, he was constantly innovating with dance moves only he could do and a sound that no one else could replicate. In his music, groovy R&B beats collided with rock 'n' roll vocals, producing things that were never before experienced in the sonic universe. He was truly other-worldly.

So thank you, Michael, for so generously sharing your gift with us. You were the man in the mirror, and you forever changed the world. The King of Pop, you shall reign eternally--for there will never be another Michael Jackson.