作者：艾爾•沙普敦牧師（Rev. Al Sharpton）
來源：MJJCN.COM / huffingtonpost.com 翻譯：ilmj1314
Michael Jackson & Al Sharpton. 2002 – conflictul cu SONY 2011年10月2日 — 很難相信距離“流行音樂之王”（King of Pop）的離世也有兩年時間。2009年6月25日一些歌迷表達悔恨之意的同時，很多人知道邁克爾·傑克遜（ Michael Jackson）死亡的代價遠遠超過了他無可挑剔的音樂。儘管娛樂界依然嚴重缺乏這樣邁克爾無與倫比的天賦，而或許更加深刻的是，這個星球上很多慈善組織和孩子們不再能得益於他的慷慨。這周，康納德·莫里（Conrad Murray ）的過失殺人罪正在進行，重要的是牢記於心的是誰是兇手 —— 誰是受害者。
在我少年時，我第一次有幸認識了邁克爾。我們都有幸受到已逝靈魂樂教父詹姆斯·布朗（James Brown）的指導和指引，很快我們建立了緊密的關係，我們幾乎就是一家人。儘管我將重點放在宣傳和運動上，他放在創作音樂上，但我們站在同樣的社會和政治角度，通過各自的領域將光明帶到任何我們見到的不公之處。我們的友誼保持了幾十年，共同經歷了所有荒誕無稽的錯誤指控和媒體的狂轟，他只是突出了我們社會自身的異常，而這些東西卻竭盡所能將他描繪成怪異或特殊。
1984年，在邁克爾的“勝利”巡演（ Victory Tour）期間，我擔任了他社區關係總監一職。在這樣的位置工作，我再一次見證了社會各界人士對這個男人、他的音樂和對世界的影響前所未有的反應。不管他公開的提醒我們“治癒這世界”或是撕下為窮困的人們捐助上千萬自己的財富，邁克爾所到之處都留下了不可磨滅的卓越印象。但是，讓然有許多人不知為何將他描繪為怪異。
莫里的審判這周開始，他被指控違反了醫療護理的標準程式，無監護下經邁克爾獨自留在房裏被未及時撥打911，他的辯護團隊將使出各種伎倆使他免受牢獄之災。他們質疑他的純真，他這些年來的貢獻，最重要的是，他們將試圖將邁克爾再次置於審判之中。我們已在這周聽說辯護團隊聲稱邁克爾死於多種鎮靜劑和外科麻醉劑的混合，這些藥物是莫里不知情的情況下，邁克爾自己注射的。辯護律師埃德·切爾諾夫（ Ed Chernoff）甚至聲稱邁克爾服用了“能使6個人睡覺”的處方藥，並自行注射了異丙酚。這是一個無恥的言論，事實上，是莫里自己面臨為邁克爾注射了過量的異丙酚並留下邁克爾無人照顧的指控。
作為藝術家，當你如此錯綜複雜的投入感情，更加深度的思考和感知，當你不遵照傳統規範時，會常常被當做一個局外人。這是邁克爾一生都在經歷的一把雙刃劍。我有幸有這樣獨一無二的機會瞭解他，與他工作。2001年，邁克爾來到我們在哈林區的國家行動網路（National Action Network）的總部，我們同幾百名支持人遊行到索尼總部，討回他的所有權。我看過很多一次又一次嘗試誹謗他的人，當然他們都以失敗告終。就像我在邁克爾的葬禮上告訴他孩子的一樣，你們父親不奇怪，奇怪的是他必須面對處理的這些事。
不幸的是，在邁克爾去世兩年後，又一出怪事在法庭鬧劇上上演，讓我們準確的記住，誰才是被審判的人！
Rev. Al Sharpton talking about Conrad Murray Trial
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-al..._b_987164.html
It's hard to believe that it's been over two years since the world first mourned the loss of the King of Pop. While some of his fans expressed remorse on June 25, 2009, many knew that the cost of Michael Jackson's death went far beyond his impeccable music. Although entertainment remains severely devoid of Michael's unmatched talent, perhaps even more profoundly, many charities and innocents around the planet no longer have the ability to benefit from his overwhelming generosity. And for his children and family, Michael's departure was and is felt on the deepest level as the daily battle to carry on without him continues. This week, as the involuntary manslaughter trial for Dr. Conrad Murray (his doctor at the time) gets underway, it's important to keep in mind precisely who the accused criminal is -- and who the victim was.
During my teenage years, I had the pleasure of first being introduced to Michael. Both blessed to have received mentorship and guidance from the late great Godfather of soul, James Brown, we quickly formed a kinship and bond that was virtually like family. Even though I focused on advocacy/activism and he on creating incredible music, we were on the same social and political page and worked through our respective fields to bring light to inequality wherever and whenever we viewed it. Our friendship lasted through the decades, through all of the ridiculous false accusations and through a media frenzy that tried its hardest to paint him as somehow odd or peculiar when he was only highlighting our own abnormality as a society.
In 1984, during Michael's Victory Tour, I took on the role of his community relations director. Working in such a capacity, I again witnessed the unprecedented reaction people from all walks of life had towards this man, his music and impact in the world. And whether it was openly reminding all of us to 'heal the world' or quietly giving away hundreds of millions of his own wealth to the impoverished, Michael's imprint everywhere was remarkable. And yet, many still attempted to portray him as somehow peculiar.
Dr. Conrad Murray is on trial this week. Accused of violating standards of medical care by leaving Michael unattended and failing to call 911, his defense will do whatever they can to keep him from serving jail time. They'll argue his innocence, his years of service and most importantly, they will attempt to put Michael on trial yet again. Already this week, we heard the defense argue that Michael died from a combination of tranquilizers and a surgical anesthetic he took without Murray 's knowledge. Defense attorney Ed Chernoff even stated that Michael took enough prescription drugs to 'put six of you to sleep' and then somehow he self-administered Propofol (anesthetic usually used in hospitals). It is an outrageous statement compounded by the fact that it is Dr. Murray himself that stands accused of administering Propofol in excessive quantities and then leaving Michael unattended.
Great talent comes with great consequences. As an artist, when you are so intricately in touch with emotions, and think and feel on a deeper level than most, you are often viewed as an outsider when you don't conform to conventional norms. That is the double-edged sword Michael dealt with throughout his lifetime. I had the unique pleasure of getting to know him for years and working with him on a host of issues. In 2002, Michael came to our National Action Network headquarters in Harlem as we marched together to Sony Music along with hundreds of supporters to demand his right to ownership of the very masterpieces he created. And I watched as many often tried -- and of course failed -- to vilify him over and over again. As I told Michael's children during his funeral in '09, there was nothing strange about your daddy, it was strange what your daddy had to deal with.
As the strangeness unfortunately plays out yet again in another court drama over two years after Michael's passing, let's be sure to remember precisely who is on trial here.
During my teenage years, I had the pleasure of first being introduced to Michael. Both blessed to have received mentorship and guidance from the late great Godfather of soul, James Brown, we quickly formed a kinship and bond that was virtually like family. Even though I focused on advocacy/activism and he on creating incredible music, we were on the same social and political page and worked through our respective fields to bring light to inequality wherever and whenever we viewed it. Our friendship lasted through the decades, through all of the ridiculous false accusations and through a media frenzy that tried its hardest to paint him as somehow odd or peculiar when he was only highlighting our own abnormality as a society.
In 1984, during Michael's Victory Tour, I took on the role of his community relations director. Working in such a capacity, I again witnessed the unprecedented reaction people from all walks of life had towards this man, his music and impact in the world. And whether it was openly reminding all of us to 'heal the world' or quietly giving away hundreds of millions of his own wealth to the impoverished, Michael's imprint everywhere was remarkable. And yet, many still attempted to portray him as somehow peculiar.
Dr. Conrad Murray is on trial this week. Accused of violating standards of medical care by leaving Michael unattended and failing to call 911, his defense will do whatever they can to keep him from serving jail time. They'll argue his innocence, his years of service and most importantly, they will attempt to put Michael on trial yet again. Already this week, we heard the defense argue that Michael died from a combination of tranquilizers and a surgical anesthetic he took without Murray 's knowledge. Defense attorney Ed Chernoff even stated that Michael took enough prescription drugs to 'put six of you to sleep' and then somehow he self-administered Propofol (anesthetic usually used in hospitals). It is an outrageous statement compounded by the fact that it is Dr. Murray himself that stands accused of administering Propofol in excessive quantities and then leaving Michael unattended.
Great talent comes with great consequences. As an artist, when you are so intricately in touch with emotions, and think and feel on a deeper level than most, you are often viewed as an outsider when you don't conform to conventional norms. That is the double-edged sword Michael dealt with throughout his lifetime. I had the unique pleasure of getting to know him for years and working with him on a host of issues. In 2002, Michael came to our National Action Network headquarters in Harlem as we marched together to Sony Music along with hundreds of supporters to demand his right to ownership of the very masterpieces he created. And I watched as many often tried -- and of course failed -- to vilify him over and over again. As I told Michael's children during his funeral in '09, there was nothing strange about your daddy, it was strange what your daddy had to deal with.
As the strangeness unfortunately plays out yet again in another court drama over two years after Michael's passing, let's be sure to remember precisely who is on trial here.
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