Innocent Until Proven Guilty
Reader comment on item: Islamists Respond to Michael Jackson
in response to reader comment: Islamists respond to Michael Jackson- Surprising Islam thinks Jackson was such a role model.

Submitted by Alana Ronald (Canada), Jul 18, 2009 at 21:01

"I will never excuse what happened to these children", says Anne A.

What happened is UNKNOWN to both you and I. We were not there. Please do not leap to conclusions, mistake surmise for certainty, nor equate an allegation of molestation with an actual murder.

Our legal system presumes innocence. A child accurately describing Jackson's genitals does not a molestation make. At least one of these children publicly recanted, and there are transcripts available online of court procedings, including a taped conversation with Jordie Chandler's father who clearly outlines his extortion plot. Interestingly, Jordie has since taken out a restraining order against his father, charging HIM with abuse. The case has not, to my knowledge, been settled.

Michael Jackson's scalp was severely and irrevocably burned, he suffered from vitiligo and lupus, resulting in chronic severe pain. He needed painkillers to function. I challenge anyone who villifies this man to go through what he did and not only survive, but become a top-selling, innovative artist who consistently gave more to his 39 charities than any other entertainer. He donated 46 tons of food to Sarajevo during and following the war, helped Live Aid supply 6 African nations through famine and drought. Yet these acheivements do not get headlines.

I agree, Anne, Jackson needed help and instead he got enablers, sycophants and leeches. Please temper judgement with compassion, and think, "there but for the grace of G-d go I."

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