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My Connection To The G.O.A.T.
By Darius Pirnazar
Since the tragic news of the sudden passing of Michael Jackson broke, there have been millions of reasons given, merely attempting to describe his greatness.
But for me, he represented way more than what he was in real life as an entertainer -- he was my family's "safe place" to go during a time in which survival, in its literal sense, was our number one priority.
Now I know people will read this and say this is cliche and they've heard it all before, but let me explain:
I was born in 1979 in Tehran, Iran and if you know anything about history, you know that the events that took place in Iran shaped the next 30 years in U.S. Middle East relations, and we have somehow experienced the trickling effects of the Iranian revolution, whether its war or high gas prices. But, this isn't a political-based blog, so I'm just giving this background information so you, the reader, can understand why I claim that MJ was bigger than life.
In 1980, an eight-year war began between U.S. ally Saddam Hussein (you might remember him from a few years back) and Iran, which took the lives of over 2 million people on both sides. My father, who in 1976 began working with NBC News, decided to stay in Iran after the revolution, but the war began immediately after and he had no way of leaving the country to take us to a safer place to live. We ended up living in Iran until 1988, a few months after the war ended. And for me, my brother (4 years younger) and my sister (5 years younger), the entire experience of war proved to be horrifying. Our city was under bombardment for most of those 8 years and going to sleep not knowing if we would all see each other the next day was almost unbearable.
The only, and I mean ONLY, thing that made us forget the horrors that we saw with our own eyes and watched on television each night, was Michael Jackson and his music.
My father, who used to work for a Swedish company, would try to get his cassette tapes smuggled into the country (since western music was banned in Iran in those days), when the company reps would visit their offices in Tehran. And it goes without saying that the day my dad brought home "Thriller" is still etched in my memory like it was yesterday.
I remember nights when my mother would put new batteries in our "walkmans" so we would listen to his tape and not have to hear the loud sounds of explosions or anti-aircraft guns that were sprinkled across our city. His music kept us happy in the car, in our basement, where we slept for safety and in any other place where we were exposed to the reality of our situation.
But, his music was also our companion when we moved to the U.S. and had to quickly learn this new culture and once again survive (even though in another sense). I can go on and on about every step of my 29-year-old life where I needed to feel comfortable and safe, and his music was the one common denominator in all those different, but at the same time, similar situations.
I contemplated writing this blog, because I was afraid of having to remember moments in my life that I for so long wanted to forget. However, I feel that by writing this I can get off my chest a weight that's been slowly becoming heavier since my childhood, and became unbearable last Thursday.
I hope that if and when you read this, you can share your own connection with the G.O.A.T. -- the Greatest Of All Time.
This is so tragic! I am so deeply saddened and angry I cannot quit crying. It still feels like it's some kind of horrible joke. There was no reason for this to have happened.
I cannot imagine what his children are going through and will continue to go through as all of the legal issues will drag on for years. Even though I never met Michael in person, I feel like he is my very good friend. He would never had wanted this for his children.
I honestly believe Michael was the most wonderful person in the world - it is so sad his talent and fortune lead to such unnecessary tragedy. It did not have to be that way. He had so much to offer. Why couldn't "people" leave him alone or see him for who he was. I believe his good heart lead him to be taken advantage of and broke his heart and spirit at times which lead to poor decisions. I think he felt so much pain and stress and felt he really had no one to turn to. There are many things that should not have happened that terrible day (as well as at other times, I'm sure), but regardless, he should never have been left alone in that bedroom for a second. He trusted his doctor.
It is with great sorrow we say goodbye to such a great man. My heart and prayers go out to his children and family. I will plant a tree in his honor.
Really moved by the comments.....So tragic....He will always be missed and misunderstood....I know he is at peace finally.....The children will be fine...God is with them....