[Jean]

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's daughter Paris Katherine addressed mourners at the Staples Center on Tuesday,tearfully telling them her father was "the best father you could ever imagine."

"Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine," the 11-year-old girl said. "And I just wanted to say I love him so much."

The girl spoke after Jackson's brothers Jermaine and Marlon bid tearful goodbyes to the King of Pop.

"Michael, when you left us, a part of me went with you," Marlon Jackson said. "And a part of you will live forever within me, but also a part of you will live forever within all of us."

Before the final words Jackson's band members, family, children and celebrities filled the stage to sing Jackson's "Heal the World."

The song followed a performance of "We are the World," the 1985 hit written by Jackson and Lionel Richie to raise money for African famine relief.

During the memorial, a host of friends, stars and politicians gathered to remember the King of Pop.

Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records, called Michael Jackson the "greatest entertainer that ever lived."

"The more I think and talk about Michael Jackson, I feel the King of Pop is not big enough for him," Gordy said as the crowd rose to its feet. "I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived."

Gordy also recalled how when he auditioned the Jackson 5 in 1968, 10-year-old Michael was talented beyond his years.

"He was driven by his hunger to learn, to constantly top himself, to be the best. He was the consummate student. He studied the greats and became greater. He raised the bar and then broke the bar," Gordy said.

Jackson's golden casket was placed in front of the stage at his memorial as a choir sang.

Several of Jackson's older brothers, each wearing one sequined glove, served as pallbearers, carrying the coffin to the stage as the Andrae Crouch choir sang "Soon and Very Soon."

The stage at the Staples Center resembled a church sanctuary with a stain-glassed backdrop.

Mariah Carey was joined by Trey Lorenz singing The Jackson 5's 1970 hit "I'll Be there" as a montage of Jackson photographs appeared on arena screens.

Queen Latifah, saying she was on stage to represent "millions of fans inspired by Michael," said "Michael was the biggest star on earth." Lionel Richie then performed the song "Jesus is Love."

Stevie Wonder took the stage next, sitting at a keyboard.

"This is a moment that I wished that I didn't live to see come, but as much as I can say that and mean it, I do know that God is good," Wonder said. "And I do know that as much as we may feel, and do, that we need Michael with us, God must have needed him more."

Wonder then delivered an emotional version of his 1971 song "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer."

Basketball stars Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson also addressed the crowd. Singer Jennifer Hudson took to the stage and sang Jackson's song "Will You Be There."
The Rev. Al Sharpton addressed the crowd and spoke of Jackson's contribution to the music world.
"When Michael started, it was a different world, but because Michael kept going, because he didn't accept limitations, because he refused to let people decide his boundaries, he opened up the whole world in the music world," Sharpton said. "He put on one glove, pulled his pants up and broke down the color curtain."

Sharpton then addressed Jackson's children.

"There wasn't nothing strange about your daddy," he said. "It was strange what your daddy had to deal with, but he dealt with it."



Entire Article: http://edition.cnn.c...wrap/index.html

======================================

It was sad to see that, I could not stop crying.
He was an icon & idol, I cannot believe he's dead.
I have seen CNN News and the story about the "ghost" that visited Neverland on Michale's bedroom & I believe it was his ghost.
Michael is still alive and he will live forever in our hearts - I do believe in it. mabye It's a wrong thought, but at the moment it is not.

Rest in Peace!

[Andy D]

It was very moving tribute and she was amazing to speak in front of all those people, nevermind worldwide with people watching!

[Jean]

Andy D, on 07 July 2009 - 10:28 PM, said:

It was very moving tribute and she was amazing to speak in front of all those people, nevermind worldwide with people watching!

She is so beautiful girl. I wish her & the rest of Michael Jackson's Family - I wish them the best life, and that they will never know sorrow anymore.

[.Rogue]

It was a very respectful memorial. Michaels daughter Paris had me in tears.

[Marijuana Jesus]

I saw some highlights on the news tonight after Seinfeld, and I don't really watch the news much. I was really surprised. I don't follow MJ, but to find out he had passed, I was just shocked.

[EagleHawk]

I actually managed to hold my tears in up until this point in the remembrance and I'm not even a MJ fan!

[idav]

[rant]
I've gotta be the odd man out here. The outcry and sensationalism that Michael Jackson is receiving is nothing short of cultish. What has Michael Jackson done? Great music... Wow that was a short list. Get over it folks, he wasn't a particularly great person and he didn't solve world hunger as the press coverage would have you believe. He squandered his fortune on senseless habits and possessions and left his family $400 million in debt. Or well, if he was a normal citizen like anyone else, that's what would happen. I'm sure people of his social caliber aren't subject to the laws that bind the rest of us.

And don't get me started on CA footing the bill for his memorial service when CA is already writing IOUs.

Maybe it just bothers me because I can think of several people who have contributed far more to humanity than Michael Jackson that will or have died and not receive even the tiniest fraction this fan fair. Carl Sagan very well could save this entire species and life as we know it by propagating his ideas and insight, Michael Jackson grabbed his crotch on stage and made it possible for Corey Feldman to be more of a looser than he already was.

I'm just not one for irrational sensationalism. Above all else, it's events like this which make me feel utterly alone in this world. These people don't seem like the same kind of animal I am.
[/rant]

[SmashinGarcia]

As negative as this may sound I would never cry if a celebrity died. Why should I? I didn't know them and they didn't know me.

[Andy D]

SmashinGarcia, on 08 July 2009 - 04:24 PM, said:

As negative as this may sound I would never cry if a celebrity died. Why should I? I didn't know them and they didn't know me.

Some do some don't. That's the beauty of the human race, we are all different and react in different ways

[idav]

I don't think there is anything beautiful about human's ability to create and persist meaning where there is none. Case and point:

Jean, on 07 July 2009 - 05:40 PM, said:

She is so beautiful girl. I wish her & the rest of Michael Jackson's Family - I wish them the best life, and that they will never know sorrow anymore.

What the ###### does that mean? Nothing! Call me a cynic if you will.

That said, the words of Mr. Jackson's eldest daughter Paris did choke me up, not because of any resonance with me but purely because of the effect the voice of a small child in anguish can have on someone.

[Andy D]

idav, on 08 July 2009 - 04:38 PM, said:

I don't think there is anything beautiful about human's ability to create and persist meaning where there is none.

That's the beauty of the human race, we are all different and see things in different ways

[Jaggi]

actually i think the final count is his family are still a few hundred million up (overall). secondly he did do alot for charity, (everyone already forgot his charity singles which raised millions). hell i wish i could do 1 millionith of that much for charity, what about you?

[idav]

That is true Jaggi. A quick google retrieved this:

AIDS Project L.A.
American Cancer Society
Angel Food
Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles
BMI Foundation, Inc.
Brotherhood Crusade
Brothman Burn Center
Camp Ronald McDonald
Childhelp U.S.A.
Children's Institute International
Cities and Schools Scholarship Fund
Community Youth Sports & Arts Foundation
Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)
Dakar Foundation
Dreamstreet Kids
Dreams Come True Charity
Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
Love Match
Make-A-Wish Foundation
Minority Aids Project
Motown Museum
NAACP
National Rainbow Coalition
Rotary Club of Australia
Society of Singers
Starlight Foundation
The Carter Center's Atlanta Project
The Sickle Cell Research Foundation
Transafrica
United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
United Negro College Fund Ladder's of Hope
Volunteers of America
Watts Summer Festival
Wish Granting
YMCA - 28th Street/Crenshaw

Aside from the racially motivated ones I'm surprised to find his charitable donations list rather agreeable. No, Christian Charity for Saving the World Because Only Christ Can Save the World...But Only If You Give Him Money Foundation donations in sight. You all know about the CCSWBOCSWBOIYGHMF, right?

[Jaime]

SmashinGarcia, on 08 July 2009 - 03:24 PM, said:

As negative as this may sound I would never cry if a celebrity died. Why should I? I didn't know them and they didn't know me.

You don't need to know someone to feel for them though. Did you shred a tear during 9/11? Millions across the world did, even though they did not know the 9/11 victims.

[SmashinGarcia]

Jaime, on 08 July 2009 - 12:35 PM, said:

You don't need to know someone to feel for them though. Did you shred a tear during 9/11? Millions across the world did, even though they did not know the 9/11 victims.

That it is a little different in my opinion. Did I shed a tear? No because I was to young to understand the true impact it had. Though I am only 2 hours from NYC, it did affect family and friends. You are talking about a huge loss of life of innocent people. We are talking about one troubled celebrity. A celebrity who probably doesn't care about you, who lived the good life. Why should I cry over one person who probably had anything they ever wanted, lived wealthy...?

[Jaime]

SmashinGarcia, on 08 July 2009 - 04:47 PM, said:

That it is a little different in my opinion. Did I shed a tear? No because I was to young to understand the true impact it had. Though I am only 2 hours from NYC, it did affect family and friends. You are talking about a huge loss of life of innocent people. We are talking about one troubled celebrity. A celebrity who probably doesn't care about you, who lived the good life. Why should I cry over one person who probably had anything they ever wanted, lived wealthy...?

You don't have to cry or even feel. After all, no one has the right to tell you have to express yourself. Everyone is different and deal with things differently - I accept that. I am just pointing out that you don't really need to personally know a person to feel quite emotional about their hardship or death.

[SmashinGarcia]

Jaime, on 08 July 2009 - 12:57 PM, said:

You don't have to cry or even feel. After all, no one has the right to tell you have to express yourself. Everyone is different and deal with things differently - I accept that. I am just pointing out that you don't really need to personally know a person to feel quite emotional about their hardship or death.

Oh I understand. What I was trying to get at is that I would a bit emotional if an innocent regular joe died, than a troubled celebrity who had it all. If you know what I mean?

[Jaime]

SmashinGarcia, on 08 July 2009 - 05:03 PM, said:

Oh I understand. What I was trying to get at is that I would a bit emotional if an innocent regular joe died, than a troubled celebrity who had it all. If you know what I mean?

Yeah I do. I guess a lot of people feel for him because despite all his material possessions, he was very lonely from what I have read and heard over the years. He was also sexually abused as a child which would go a long way towards explaining his troubled mentality. If that wasn't bad enough, he was always ridiculed day in, day out by the media and members of the public which I personally believe contributed towards his declining mental state. Sure, he was messed up due to the abuses he endured during childhood but if anyone is constantly shunned and ridiculed, it will have a severely negative impact on his personality. I know a couple of friends who were brutally teased and verbally bullied at school for years. The effect it had on their lives is simply devastating. Some ten years later, both are loners with some serious psychological problems. Neither have jobs and both need to take anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds. One of them tried to kill himself 2 years back. It is so depressing to see. They were very close friends back at school.

[Jaime]

Got to add, about the memorial event - the star of the entire concert was without a doubt the daughter, Paris Jackson. What a brave little girl. Right in front of millions, she needed to say her piece and tell the world she misses her father so much. I was fine watching the concert right until that moment, then to my astonishment I had watery eyes. I was not the only one. I read quite literally hundreds of statements from men saying the same thing via Twitter, message boards and the comments sections of news sites. She made grown men all around the world tearful in just a few seconds for displaying pure emotion. It is the saddest thing, to lose a parent at any age but even sadder for a child, for she will never truly get to know her father.

Video of Paris's speech for those who missed it:
http://www.youtube.c...FEsG7D0Y&fmt=18

[Hunting insects...]

idav, on 08 July 2009 - 04:08 PM, said:

I've gotta be the odd man out here. The outcry and sensationalism that Michael Jackson is receiving is nothing short of cultish. What has Michael Jackson done? Great music... Wow that was a short list. Get over it folks, he wasn't a particularly great person and he didn't solve world hunger as the press coverage would have you believe. He squandered his fortune on senseless habits and possessions and left his family $400 million in debt. Or well, if he was a normal citizen like anyone else, that's what would happen. I'm sure people of his social caliber aren't subject to the laws that bind the rest of us.

Agreed. Sycophantic and sickening, celebrity hero-worship in much the same vein as that for the late Princess Diana.

A comment that I initially avoided making as I knew it would offend the pseudo-mourners. However, since my first post consisting solely and entirely of one rolleyes smiley was deleted without notice, you now get it in full.