At 6:30 a.m. this morning, Star TV news report began with the live broadcast of Michael Jackson's verdict. The voice of the representative of the jury announced the verdict of each charge. From Number One onward, each expression of "not guilty" was followed by thunders of applause of the fans outside the court. A pigeon was released from a big cage full of its fellows. The cage warden was a smiling lady. When the same ritual repeated ten times, Michael Jackson became a free man. That is the first time my heart has ever beaten at the same pace of a top celebrity and his (paid/ unpaid) supporters and the journalists at the same time. Before long, Michael Jackson appeared. His face was incredibly blank. Only his arms waved briefly. No word was uttered. Off his car went. According to a reporter who had been inside the court sitting behind the Jackson family, there were no excited hugs. No emotional gestures concluded the restoration of a clean name. His car moved back to Jackson's Neverland, which is to be placed under another name in July in exchange for financial help to clear the gigantic debt built by the legal defence. Is this just another O.J. Simpson case? Money always has the say? Money can defy morality? The best lawyers work only for the rich rather than their conscience? What is justice?Will there be an appeal? How can the then molested children be repaid? Would fairness be better ensured by jurors who are professonal and well-educated people instead of any citizens chosen at random? But of course, the top lawyers working for Jackson were also professional well-educated people. Even mom wondered why not even one or two charges stood. Probably lots of people around the world shared the Star TV reporter's question over why the juror believed Jackson was the victim and that their moral code was so different from that of people in Britain, US and even the world. Jackson has paid the price, one may say considering the financial brink of bankrupcy he is now on. |