作者：Linda Higgins
來源：新浪博客 翻譯： shell88
邁克爾.傑克遜去世後，世界各地的歌迷為了一個共同的目標聯合起來：為一個遭受了諸多不公正的人尋求公正。出於某種原因，某些MJ團體之外的人感到不適。他們嘲笑我們的忠誠、我們的努力，甚至是我們的理智。我已見過一些評論把歌迷稱為“和他一樣瘋狂”。
他們認為我們是瘋狂的，我們愛的人，被他們批評，因為他改變的外表。也許他們不明白膚色並不能成就一個人。當他有黑色的外表時，我們愛他，當他有白色的外表時，我們愛他，他的膚色與我們無關。他們不明白我們不在乎他做或沒做整形手術，這是他私人的事情……
他們不明白我們不介意他的與眾不同，對我們來說，他對動物和孩子的愛並不奇怪；他們不明白，在公眾觀點的法庭上，我們不認為他有罪。因為我們的觀點是基於他的品質，而不是謊言，正如John Wooden所說，“你的品質才是真正的你，你的名聲只是別人怎麼看你。”
他們迷惑為什麼我們仍然沉湎於“邁克爾.傑克遜”。他們不能相信我們仍每天想他。他們驚愕於我們對他的離世仍帶著強烈的感情。
我們對他的愛遠比讚賞一個偶像要深刻，已成為一種真誠的尊敬。除了他的音樂，不言而喻的音樂，我們還欽佩他在面臨挑戰時的力量和韌性。他的善良、關愛和對人類的悲憫是我們所努力追隨的，但我們中的大多數人愛他，是因為他帶給我們的感覺。
是否有任何人曾向你展現無條件的愛？是否曾有人直接而反復地告訴你：你是重要的？是否見過有人把整個生命獻給了你？那就是邁克爾為我們做的。
他明白表達愛的力量，他與我們之間的情感互動使我們感覺自己是重要的。無論是面對賓館窗戶外粉絲人海一個興奮的招手，演唱會上一句衷心的“我更愛你”，還是因為激烈的演唱而在舞臺上流淚崩潰，這些事情都影響著我們。
2001年的牛津演講中，他說出了稱為“兒童權利要約”的信條；第一條就是“無需去爭取就能被愛的權利”，他可能沒有意識到，這就是他對待我們的方式。
他明白感激歌迷的重要性，其程度其他藝人少有能領會的。這幫助他獲得巨大的成功，同時也付出其他人不願付出的犧牲。他離開屋子時總被歌迷包圍，但這並不妨礙他向他們表達愛。這裏有些例子：
2002年在迪士尼世界，他離開彼得潘遊戲後被歌迷包圍，當時他的旁邊是兒子普林斯，隨從跟在後面，他花時間停下來感謝歌迷並為他們簽名。
另一次，他在商店裏和女兒帕麗斯一起買生日禮物，突然有一隊人跟著他，狂熱地想要接近他。他仍然和藹和關愛，伸手去握許多歌迷的手，再次表達對他們的愛。
在演出時，他時常用話語和身體語言來表達對歌迷的感激。用揮舞手臂的姿勢，及將手放在靠近心口的位置，宣佈他對我們永恆的愛。他會讓一個女孩登上舞臺，用幾分鐘時間表達愛的情感。熱情的擁抱，用大掌托著他的頭，直接對她唱著愛之歌，舞步那樣動人以至於有的女孩暈倒在他臂彎裏。
他不僅在舞臺上展現對歌迷的愛。許多次他寫下他的愛。在一封寫給歌迷的信中，他寫道：“我想感謝你們在我的生日送給我的漂亮卡片、照片、資訊、視頻和禮物。我沉浸在你們的善意中，你們持續不斷的愛和支持對我意味良多。我打心底裏真的愛著和感激你們所有人。”
甚至在審判期間，他花時間感謝歌迷們的到來和愛，多於對媒體的批評。他對歌迷們最後的姿態之一是在計畫《就是這樣》演唱會時，他想要唱我們想聽的歌，於是他建立了一個網站，讓我們來決定要演出什麼歌曲，這表明了他認為誰是重要的。
他給予了歌迷們許多，現在我們感覺有責任以愛來表達對他的敬意。雖然每個歌迷有不同的方式，有些覺得表達愛的最好方式就是確保真相傳播，其他人感覺有責任使他的死亡案件得到公正。有些歌迷覺得尊敬他的最好方式是繼續他的兒童慈善工作，因此他們傳承他的人道主義事業。有些歌迷就是想傳揚他愛的資訊。我感覺表達敬意的最好方式就是通過文章和視頻讓他活在歌迷們的心中。Jerry Biederman覺得最好的方式就是組織一個致敬；David Ilan覺得最好的致敬方式就是通過他的畫作。這就是為什麼我們這個邁克爾.傑克遜致敬肖像項目存在的原因……對那些疑惑為何邁克爾.傑克遜的歌迷如此忠誠的人，那是因為他對我們忠誠，如果你質疑我們為他作出的努力，那是因為他為我們付出的努力。他對歌迷們永恆的愛、認可和感激，對世界各地的人們，他是不同的，外界的人可能難以瞭解。有些歌迷甚至認為他拯救了他們的生命。
他的誠摯造就了歌迷們與他的聯繫，我們對他的擁戴是堅不可破的。那是愛之力量的證明，留給我們的是難以忘懷的感謝之情……
這就是為什麼我們熱愛邁克爾.傑克遜。
Why We Love Michael Jackson
With the passing of Michael Jackson, fans all over the world have joined together in a common purpose; to do justice for a man who experienced so much injustice. For some reason, this tends to baffle those outside of the MJ Community. They mock our loyalty, our dedication, and sometimes even our sanity. I’ve seen several references of fans being labeled "as crazy as he was."
They think we are crazy for loving a man who they criticized for his changing appearance. Maybe they don’t understand that the color of a man’s skin doesn’t make the man. We loved him when he had the appearance of a black man and we loved him when he had the appearance of a white man. His skin color was irrelevant to us. They don’t understand that we didn’t care how many plastic surgeries he did or didn’t have. That was a personal matter for him.
They don’t understand that we weren’t bothered by his eccentricities, and his love of animals and children wasn’t strange to us. They don’t understand why we didn’t convict him in the court of public opinion. It’s because our opinion of him was based on his character, not lies. In the words of John Wooden "Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
They wonder how we could still be caught up in "Michael Jackson." They can’t believe we still think about him every day. They are blown away by the fact that we can still get emotional about his death.
The love we have for him goes deeper than the admiration of an Icon. It has developed into a genuine respect for the man. Apart from his music, which speaks for itself, we admire the strength and resilience he exhibited in the face of challenges he encountered. His kindness, caring and compassion for humanity is something we all now strive to emulate, but most of all we love him because of how he made us feel.
Have you ever had anybody show you unconditional love? Have you ever been told directly and repeatedly that you are important? Have you ever had anybody dedicate their entire life to you? That’s what Michael did for us.
He understood the power of expressing love. It was his emotional interactions with us that made us feel like we mattered. Whether it was an excited wave outside his hotel window to a sea of fans, a heartfelt "I love you more" during a concert, or him singing so intensely that he broke down in tears on stage; those things had an impact on us.
Michael spoke the tenets of what he referred to as a "Children’s Bill of Rights," in his Oxford Speech in 2001; the first of which was "The right to be loved without having to earn it." He may not have realized it, but that’s also how he treated us.
He understood the significance of appreciating fans in a way that few other entertainers have grasped. It helped him become very successful, but the sacrifice that came with it is one that most others are unwilling to make. He couldn’t leave his house without being mobbed by fans, yet he didn’t let that stop him from showing love to them. Here are some examples:
At a trip to Disney World in 2002, he was mobbed after exiting the Peter Pan ride. With his entourage in tow, and his son Prince by his side, he took the time to stop and acknowledge some fans and sign autographs for them.
Another time, he was shopping for a birthday present at a mall with his daughter Paris, when he suddenly had a trail of people following him, all feverishly trying to get near him. Still, he was gracious and loving, reaching out to shake the hands of several fans, and once again expressing his love to them.
When he performed, he constantly expressed his appreciation verbally and physically to his fans. With a sweeping gesture of his arms and a hand held close to his heart, he would declare his undying love to us. He would let one girl come up on stage and spend a few minutes showering her with affection. A passionate embrace, her head supported with the palm of his hand, and a love song sung directly to her, was a move so poignant that some girls would faint in his arms.
He didn’t only show his love to fans on stage. There were many times he expressed it in writing. In an excerpt in one such letter released to his fans via various fan clubs, he wrote: "I would like to thank you for the beautiful cards, photographs, messages, videos, and gifts sent to me on my birthday. I was overwhelmed by your kindness. Your continued love and support means so much to me. I really love and appreciate you all... from the bottom of my heart."
Even at his trial, he took the time to acknowledge the presence and love of his fans, much to the criticism of the press. One of his last gestures to his fans was during the planning stages of his concert This Is It. He wanted to sing the songs we wanted to hear, so he put up a website and let us decide which of his songs would be included in the show; a great way to illustrate who really mattered.
He gave so much to his fans, that we now feel an obligation to honor him with love. How each fan goes about that is different. Some feel they can best show their love by making sure the truth is told. Others feel a sense of responsibility to ensure justice is served in his death. His humanitarian work is carried out by fans who feel they can honor him best by continuing his work with children. Some fans simply want to spread his message of love. I feel I can honor him best by keeping him alive in the hearts of fans through my articles and videos. Jerry Biederman felt he could honor him best by organizing a tribute. David Ilan felt he could honor him best through his artwork. That’s why the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait exists today.
To those of you who wonder why Michael Jackson’s fans are so loyal, it’s because he was loyal to us. If you question why we are so dedicated to him, it’s because he was dedicated to us. His constant love, acknowledgment and appreciation of his fans, has made a difference for people all over the world in ways outsiders couldn’t possibly know. Some fans have even credited him with saving their lives.
His sincerity in those gestures has created a bond with him and an allegiance to him that is unbreakable. It is a testament to the power of Love and it has left us with a feeling of gratitude that we will never forget.
That is why we love Michael Jackson!
Linda Higgins
Director of Community Development
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