Nearly 18 mos after being unmasked to the world, Paris told Oprah that she did not like the masking but she understood the necessity of it. Michael had very specific purposes for preventing them from being identifiable. Many other stars whom do not mask their children have firstly: never seen the levels of celebrity as Michael has; and secondly: have never experienced such levels of celebrity as children. I believe that if Michael was still with them, he would be doing what he could to convince them that it still isn't time yet to reveal their faces, simply because of what he understood would be the consequences for it, that perhaps they are not ready to encounter. Some argue that this celebrity became their birthright the minute Michael decided to have them and that they need to learn to deal with it, but I think Michael's intentions of guarding them from it went further than just wanting them to be able to walk the streets without him un-noticed. I think he further understood the blisters their hearts and emotions would take from tabloid, and even mainstream media, that was unnecessary before they were emotionally mature enough to handle it well. And how adversely it could affect their development. As we see now, the papz are following them everywhere and even Prince's girlfriend takes verbal, unnecessary beatings from jealous teens on the internet every time a pic of her with Prince turns up somewhere. The selfishness of many MJ3 fansites I am familiar with treat the issue of their birthright celebrity with so much irresponsibility, and disrespect for Michael's wishes, just as if we are watching Michael's life in the tabloids unfold all over again.
Just like any other fan who loves and respects Michael, I want to know that the children are growing up happy and healthy and to see that they are well taken care of. But more than that, I want to know that good decisions are being made on behalf of these children. Decisions that are driven by their need for protection, and not by the value of their celebrity. That they are guarded and protected as Michael would have done it, and consistently did it up to the date of his death. He gave us no indications that he intended for that to change, for a while. I do not understand why that has not been respected by the family.
And in my questioning, I have to recognize that none of Katherine's other children saw the level of celebrity as Michael did ....and only after he was out from under her wing (an adult). Does she really understand the consequences of that level? And are the kids being told that if they want celebrity careers then early exposure is the way to go to be successful?? Did Michael ever have the chance to explain to them, as he said he would, what they should expect if they chose such careers, before letting them go??? Have they been served to the public, as fresh Jackson sirloin, for the benefit of serving the monetary value of the Dynasty??? I know some of my questions sound bitter, and some may take them as disrespectful to the family, but these are honest and sincere questions as we see the consequences occuring in these children's lives for having been exposed like this. I mean no disrespect.
We have to be the "Man in the Mirror" about this issue and understand that if we continue chasing down photos of these children, we exaserbate the very issues that they will face before emotionally prepared to do so. As they get older, the press will only take more freedom in their reporting. And who knows what they are willing to say. The long term consequences to them could be unnecessarily disasterous. Out of love for them, I wish it could all be stopped. Unfortunately, decisions have been made for them already, that now, seem impossible to reverse since July 7, 2009. And for that, I am very sad.
