Nice to see his kids there instead of being hidden away .  Didn't like the bloke , but a good show for a send off .A fitting tribute .

I saw the bit with Shaheen singing,I'd never heard of him before,but what incredible rythmn he's got.Can't believe he's only 12.He was so mature in the way he spoke and was introduced to the "audience" after he sang.Beautiful strong voice.

Will it be repeated? My sky+ recording ended early!!

I felt quite uncomfortable seeing the kids - especially the eldest.  He was chewing gum and looking as if he didn't care less.  The daughter did look as if she was genuinly upset but I am not sure what to make of the eldest one.  I am sure she was chewing gum earlier too.  Not very respectful standing with your mouth full of gum.  Great opportunity for Shaheen who has just risen from the British audience to a huge international one.  MJ had asked for him to take part in the O2 concerts apparently.  He handled himself very well.  Otherwise it was well put together in so short a time. 

Maybe they just wanted to grieve at home away from the public show.  I am not sure how children are supposed to act , is their a protocal. Should we tell them how to look?   The girl was genuinely upset. She isn't or hasn't been a famous figure as such and hasn't been groomed to perform so I think acting is the last thing on her mind.

I thought the tribute would make people remember all the good he did for the world and that he wasn't just a famous person with buckets of talent. He was a kind loving person. 

Shaheen def has talent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVU4IkzMNIo

I really don't understand the big media show thing all about Micheal Jackson- when there are soldiers who die fighting for us and they don't even get this type of media- To me that is very sad and deserves alot more then any celeb out there, because these people risk there lives for you and I and they never get a coverage like this.... Sorry that is just how I feel.... When a soldier dies I feel sorry for their family and half of them are still only just very young men and never make it to middle age.

Just sad :-(

I do have to say I love the idea that they are going to give the fallen soldiers children a college scholarships- I think that is great news :-)

I have no interest in any of it particularly, but sorry to say doll face I would find soldiers who die even less interesting unless they were personally known to me.
I mean no disrespect, however public duty people (I suppose I am one and my OH was for many years too) are doing their job and thats just that.
Death is always sad but statistically some are at more risk in working life than others, to give all coverage just isn't an option.
The fact is MJ touched a lot of people (in many different ways), therefore  inspired a lot of interest internationally.

I find the "bringing love to the world" mawkish, but I was not aware how much he did for charity. I still think he was an extremly gifted musician, and dancer second possibly to none.
His children acted as children do, and any comments on their behaviour IMO is un called for.

The music was great, the video clips well done and apart from the "lovey bits" well done. But then my sky+ finished early as well. MY OH found it cringingly embarrassing.

I found it really sad.  I didn't get to see it all as it was on at my little ones bath and bed time, but what I did see was heartbreaking - the old clips of him singing and dancing, looking happy and 'normal'.  What a shame his life took the path it did and his life was taken so prematurely.  I think it's sometimes forgotten that his children have lost their father and his family have lost their son and brother.

It was a good memorial - and as for the kids, they looked and acted like I and my brothers did when at our fathers funeral when we were the same age so well done to them.

I did find myself watching this even thought i wasnt a great fan.

It left a bad taste in my mouth seeing the children there. Funerals are not a great place for anyone, particularly children and to be paraded in front of the world and media at a young age at your fathers 'funeral' sat uncomfortably with me, especially when they have been covered up before to stay out of the limelight. Just my opinion.

>It left a bad taste in my mouth seeing the children there.

Is that a hangover from the Victorian practice of not allowing women at funerals? Why should certain members of the family be barred? Funerals are part of the cycle of life, and to ban children from them increases the stress and taboo of death, IMO.

It left a bad taste in my mouth seeing the children there.
I see no reason why they shouldn't be there if they wanted to be?  Death is just part of life.

Given the fact that it was all put together so quickly, I thought it was well done.  The family had already had their private service together and will have another private time when the interment is arranged.  This was the family acknowledging that he was important to many people (if not me!) and allowing them to grieve, which I thought was very kind.

What I really liked was hearing peoples' personal thoughts and feelings about him rather than the distorted press rubbish, on which most people base their opinions of public figures. :(

I liked Brooke Sheilds, and also when Jermaine sang :-)

I thought it was important for the children to be there - to at least show the world that the Jackson family want them to have as normal a life as possible, MJ IMO did wrong by hiding them away so much.  It would have been wrong for the family to hide them away like Michael did, JMHO.

> Why should certain members of the family be barred?

I didnt actually say anyone should be barred but i feel funerals are not a place for young children. I went to my first funeral at 17 and even then felt very strange. It is hard for a young mind to comprehend death and incredibly hard to see family so visibly upset. As i said it is my opinion. To be put on a stage in front of all those people just isnt right in my eyes. I can see MJ's kids going all the other way, from spending the first part of thier life under blankets and with masks on to conceal their ideantity, to being thrust into the limelight and recognized by all. Lets hope they dont end up the same way.

It is hard for a young mind to comprehend death and incredibly hard to see family so visibly upset.
The younger they are, the easier things are to accept as normal.  It's when we get older and question more that we find it more difficult to understand.

Is that a hangover from the Victorian practice of not allowing women at funerals? Why should certain members of the family be barred? Funerals are part of the cycle of life, and to ban children from them increases the stress and taboo of death, IMO.

I agree, perhaps for different reasons, you may not share mine :-) BUT I was glad to see the kids there, they have had such a weird up bringing and hopefully they can see what their father achieved. Maybe the will go onto to lead a more " normal" life.

MJ IMO did wrong by hiding them away so much. I think that can be debated after what the media did to their father sadly.

I did not let/allow whatever my children to funerals when young, I felt it was better for them to remember someone as they were and not be confused or frightened by a funeral, I dont like them myself.
They did attend IF THEY WANTED TO in there teens. Their Grandmother's funneral at 18 & 20 they were really upset but adults and given the choice my youngest would not have gone, I didnt give him the choice at 18 he was there to support me and my Dad and it is required to do things you dont want as part of a family, he was very upset at the service.

My eldest was lovely at my MIL service on 16th April this year, the youngest was at in Kent and not able to get home.  Dear friends lets just leave each to their own re kids and funeral's yes. I think when they do get to an age to understand they can choose but pictures of young "blanket" show him looking fearful I think.

>pictures of young "blanket" show him looking fearful I think.

Anybody who's not used to being in the public eye and in a large crowd would be fearful, whatever the occasion. That's why we socialise our dogs in as many sitautions as possible when they're puppies, so that they learn that they don't need to be fearful ...

> i feel funerals are not a place for young children

I think that depends on how the child feels, the important thing is to discuss it with them because it can be damaging to exclude them. Two of my children went to their great Grandma's funeral earlier this year aged 7 and 9 - they wanted their chance to say goodbye with the rest of their family. I think they benefited from being there and were better able to cope. This is a personal thing and Michael Jackson's children may well have wanted to be there. I thought the memorial was very moving and felt sympathy for the whole family in their grief.

but I was not aware how much he did for charity. Guess that is life, the good is never given as much credit or for some so easily forgotten. The masses of good he did which we know was actually factual was given less attention than the fabrications and unfound claims against him by so many.   I think that is what has really suprised me with some of the comments this last couple weeks. 

If you look at the heal the world foundation alone if that was all he had done that would have been an incredible flight,

Not forgetting the mass of his charities;

He gave all his 1.5 million Pepsi settlement straight to a new burns centre.

All of the profits from his single "Man in the Mirror" went to charity. 

Look at the work he done for AIDs victims by bringing  Ryan White's story to the forefront.. Did it change how the world saw AIDS victims..yes I think it did.  

Funny how easy we forget it..

It was just as well the world wasnt' as hard on his plastic surgeon if you look at his case and the unfound claims against him.

My children went to funerals at a young age- I figure that is a part of life so why hide it... They didn't no how to act- my son laughed at my grandma's but that was accepted because kids act differently... I never expected them to cry or sit still- but having small kids at the time you just never no how one will act. Funerals are uncomfortable and sad and some people cry where others will laugh- just depends how people deal with their emotions in situations...

I'd have thought it would have been strange if his children weren't there.. What kids would not go to their own fathers memorial/service?
What did,however,leave a bad taste in my mouth was when Paris spoke and the family members were playing with her hair,obviously annoying her,and almost acting like leeches on her,this really,really bugged me! It looked like they were trying to convey "Oh look at us,we really care about her".

My favourite line was "Your dad wasn't weird,he just had to deal with weird things" or something like that..

I thought the children looked part of a loving supportive family and very comfortable within it, all things considered.

My comments about the kids were not to say that they should or shouldn't be - it was very brave of the daughter to stand up and speak for her father - well done her.  It was the older child that was the one that made me react and say anything at all.  He was chewing gum - to me that is a lack of respect - I suppose it may be different in America - but here that would definitely be seen as a lack of respect.  They were feeling the eyes of the world on them for the first time (except for a few snatched photos more recently).  Oh well I suppose he is teenager so with mixed feelings about the situation he finds himself in maybe and that was the way he coped.  I do hope they get left alone in future now they have been put up on the stage.

>He was chewing gum - to me that is a lack of respect

No,i agree. He looked bored by the whole thing.

The show wasn't about him, though, was it? Why should he have to 'perform'?

He was chewing gum - to me that is a lack of respect
Different country, different culture, different idea of what is acceptable. 

> I do have to say I love the idea that they are going to give the fallen soldiers children a college scholarships- I think that is great news

I had not seen that.. Well deserved too.
About time they got something back.

Didn't watch it and have no interest in doing so.  Have to say I've had enough of it all now.

IMO did wrong by hiding them away so much. I think that can be debated after what the media did to their father sadly

He had them wear scarves and masks when they were out with him so that they could be taken to the cinema and other places,when not with him,and not be recognised.It shows he understood that being in the public eye,especially as a child,ruins your enjoyment of ordinary things.Their were some charming pictures of him and his children,at home during one Christmas.Just really nice family snapshots.It made me think,what a loving family they were,he obviously adored them.It must have felt very unreal to them last night.

> Look at the work he done for AIDs victims by bringing Ryan White's story to the forefront

Who ?   Well i for one have never heard of him   .

I hate to say this really,especially as it's an important cause,but i've never heard of Ryan White either,or been aware of MJ's work for aids victims.

Dear me :-)    I think I am speechless.

It was one of the most heart breaking but triumphant ever.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_White

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuavXaJjuqw&feature=related

Ryan White Programs are the largest provider of services for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States.Before White, AIDS was a disease widely associated with the male homosexual community, because it was first diagnosed there. That perception shifted as White and other prominent HIV-infected people, such as Magic Johnson, the Ray brothers and Kimberly Bergalis, appeared in the media to advocate for more AIDS research and public education to address the epidemic. The U.S. Congress passed a major piece of AIDS legislation, the Ryan White Care Act, shortly after White's death

You can probably find the who show part by part on You tube.

>> Look at the work he done for AIDs victims by bringing Ryan White's story to the forefront
>Who ?   Well i for one have never heard of him  

Nor me.

and the fact that he didn't shove his charity work down peoples throats in a "look what a saint i am" way speaks volumes to me.

I hadn't heard of him either - but now I have I doubt I'll forget his story.

I watched both links - and from one I found this. How beautiful - how moving. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ_l_o-53nI&feature=related

I was never a Michael Jackson fan, I never gave his music a chance. Now I regret it - I think I missed something very special.
Also, the more I learn the more I believe the media fed us rubbish about him.

I can't even watch the clips for more than 5 seconds.  I remember Ryan White's journey like it was yesterday born the same year as I was and died the year my daughter was born. I was pregnant and on maternity leave with my daughter full of hormones and heart broken by his story, at the same time reinforced my belief on how kind Michael Jackson was.

I think I missed something very special.  I am not a softy but I genuinely think you did.

I went to the Dangerous concert in Glasgow and cried at a few of the songs.   I think the whole of Glasgow got to hear the concert.   I have a few copies of demo recordings with songs he wrote for his solo career but you can hear his siblings in them doing back up etc they are excellent. Giggling and laughing.  Just another example of the truth that his family have always been behind him.

I think this last week for me brings it home not only just what damage the media can do but how some choose to see and believe often the worse in people rather than the good.    As I have said before " the man in the mirror" song is a perfect song just now.  Another one that was done for charity.

I think if anyone spent 1 hours looking through all his charity work etc you would be gobsmacked. It was not a few hundred pounds here or there but millons and millons on EACH charity.

So true Carla,  The day we see more of the good people do than the constant negatives stories, forgetting MJ just in general,  the better it would make us as people.

When people say " I never knew"  it often sounds like they mean or could be interpretated as, "it couldnt have been that big"   BUT the things they never knew whoever they may be ( not directed at anyone in particular)  were the biggest things and achievements in a lot of people's lifes. 

I feel ashamed that I didn't know about this beautiful,brave boy.What a legacy he's left,and I'm so thankful that he was able to move to a great community (Cicero),where the people there understood his illness and didn't make any negative judgements about it.God bless him.

> I was never a Michael Jackson fan, I never gave his music a chance. Now I regret it - I think I missed something very special.
>

His music will always live on so you havent missed out on anything

yeh - who is ryan white?

Fred's Mum - Yes, the music will always be there - I just wish I'd appreciated it/him when he was here.

Krusewalker - The link is there for you to find out who he was.

A leading psychologist has blasted having the children of MJ at the funeral after the shock and trauma of losing their father combined withe the fact they were never exposed as his children or the media eye.....

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/07/08/family_under_fire_for_michael_jackson_s_

>I didnt actually say anyone should be barred but i feel funerals are not a place for young children. I went to my first funeral at 17 and even then felt very strange. It is hard for a young mind to comprehend death and incredibly hard to see family so visibly upset.

I went to my first funeral at 9, it was my fathers - RTA.  Some of the family thought as you did and I remember my aunt doing her utmost to stop me going however, my Grandfather overruled her and I went.  I had no problem comprehending death, I knew I would never see him again and I spent the whole time crying.  I'm glad I went, had my aunt got her way, I would never have forgiven her.  In fact, I don't think I've ever forgiven her for trying.

Children can go through the most traumatic events easier when they have the love of their family around them.  They need to process their grief, togetherness and support is what is important IMO and it can be very damaging to exclude them. 

I thought it was a very moving memorial, and my thoughts are with the family in this time of grief.

A leading psychologist has blasted having the children of MJ at the funeral
And I'm sure that other 'leading psychologists' will have exactly the opposite opinion. :)

Exactly, I get so tired of the same cr-p over and over again on the news. Nothing to do with MJ story just in general.     I must have seen 10 versions of the claimed events of brad and Jen everytime I pass a paper stand LOL

And to make matters worse how many fall for it....   

Exactly. Its all opinion. And I love how some folk can see it as an opportunity to get themselves in the paper - I mean, honestly, how can they comment in a professional capacity unless they've worked closely with the family?!

how can they comment in a professional capacity unless they've worked closely with the family?!

Exactly.

A friend of mine still can't forgive her mother for sending her off on holiday when her dad died at aged 11, instead of going to the funeral and paying her respects with the rest of her familyas she would have liked she felt pushed aside and not important, yet another child could find the whole thing traumatic, you have to know each individual to gage what is best for them and often we get that wrong too.

For me, I believe the event will act as part of the healing process for those children, they won't feel alone in their grief, they got to see how deeply loved and respected their father was, (very important) they saw complete strangers crying and grieving along with them, the worst thing about grief is the loneliness of it, it leaves a great hole in our lives, knowing others feel that grief is a blessing not a hinderance to healing.