« Games pedophiles play | Main | Prosecutors looking to beef up sex-abuse case against priest »
February 22, 2005
Michael Jackson and a lesson in Psyche 101
In 1984 Michael Jackson built “Neverland” ranch to — according to the has-been pop star — compensate for his missed childhood while touring non-stop with “The Jackson Five.” Thus the petting zoo with exotic animals and carnival rides.
That was over 20 years ago, and Jackson STILL claims to be living the childhood he never enjoyed. In British journalist Martin Bashir's documentary on Jackson, the singer declares his favorite things to do currently are — and I quote — “water-balloon fights and climbing trees.” He explains, "I am Peter Pan. I'm Peter Pan in my heart."
What the alleged child abuser hasn’t had, as a 46-year-old, is an ADULTHOOD!
Sociology professor at the University of Kent at Canterbury, Frank Furedi, speaks of this “Peter Pan Syndrome.” “Our society is full of lost boys and girls hanging out at the edge of adulthood. ... Society has come to accept the idea that people do not become adults until they are in their late 30s. As a result, adolescence has extended well into the 20s.” (Or in Jackson’s case, nearly 50.)
If I remember Psych 101, adulthood is characterized by the following traits:
Self-acceptance
Apparently Jackson has never felt comfortable in his own black, male skin and, so, has become a poster child for cosmetic surgery turned self-mutilation. You’ve got to have pity on someone who is so delusional to believe his androgonist appearance is an improvement over his handsome “Thriller” look. And that is NOT a Gary, Ind., accent!
Adapting to cultural and social norms
The time to dress rebelliously is during adolescence. I cringe when I see high school pictures of me with my striped bell bottoms, black anti-war arm band and paisley shirt. (“Paisley” is actually Greek for “that which the dog coughed up.”)
And the time of sleepovers should be over well before adulthood. But Jackson admits he has “slept in bed with many children.” Claiming there is nothing sexual about these sleepovers at Neverland, he says, “It's very charming; it's very sweet.” Asked if it was appropriate, Jackson answered that he is a child himself.
Self-sufficiency
Jackson is surrounded by a paid staff that not only carries his umbrella for him in and out of court, but caters to his every need and desire. The danger with being surrounded by paid “yes” people is that Jackson apparently has never had an honest friend in his life. Friends don’t let friends go out in public dressed like a deranged drum major. Friends don’t let friends wear kabuki makeup to their arraignment. Friends don’t let friends shop at Wal-Mart in a ski mask.
Mature, responsible behavior
One of my college textbooks noted that maturity is “the ability to act on and react to life circumstances with intelligence, sound judgment and wisdom.” Adults don’t hang their children over fourth-story balconies, sleep in the same bed with non-related children or “moonwalk” on top of an SUV just moments after being arraigned for nine criminal charges.
I did a LOT of stupid things in my teens and 20s (although my lawyer will not allow me to discuss any of them in print since statutes of limitation may still apply). Hopefully, though, I’ve learned to delay gratification, accept consequences of my actions, put others’ welfare above my own and stop wearing striped bellbottoms with paisley shirts.
Saint Paul writes, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
Good advice for 46-year-old who is facing ADULT prison if convicted of child abuse.
Posted by Nealus at February 22, 2005 12:55 AM
