"The debate is sparked by the colleges – Barber Scotia in North Carolina, Morris Brown College in Georgia, and a few others – that have bitten the dust in the last few years." While I enjoyed the article, I really dont appreciate that comment..My Alma Mater may be going through hard times..but mark my words, we are not closed, or have bitten the dust or whatever you want to call it. LONG LIVE BARBER-SCOTIA COLLEGE! Jacob G. Williams (NCsoulsigma@yahoo.com) Nassau, Bahamas

I will pass this to my coworker at the airport, I'm an airline employee. God bless you Mr. Perry

On the Article "Giving Respect to Black Colleges". Does anyone have that article from US Magazine. Cant find it online. I would like to submit this to the alumni of Meharry and do something about this. I take that comment personally as I am an HBCU alum, and my father is an alum from Meharry.... Thank you for posting article.

On the passing of Louis Boston, Portland businessman, husband, father, good friend, and committed community leader. Lou Boston's passing is a sobering moment in our community; not just the loss of his thoughtful, deliberate and focused sense of making change, or the tremendous void in his family, among friends and associates. Lou was a wonderful person to engage in conversation; he was strong in his belief and firm in his views - which he would gladly share if you were lucky enough to engage him in stimulating conversation. Although not tall in stature, he more than made up for it with his strong sense of self, his erect carriage, and his ability to convince much taller business associates that he was the tallest, and stood higher. He will be missed by so many, and I know that he is already making lists and instructing the archangels who's doing what, and why. Rest in peace, Lou. It was great to know you and to join with you to make Portland better for all of us. Sharon Gary-Smith.

Michael Jackson was cool :)

Brother Boston will truly be missed!

Louis Boston was a man of high integrity and great spirit. While working as marketing manager at Billy Reed's years back I was always encouraged by his kind words and sensibility. He carried himself with great didgnity and though he had accomplished alot he was never one to wear his resume on his sleeve. he displayed a humility and compassion that few accomplish in life. Louis 'walked the walk and talked the talk' though in the most gentle way possible. He will always be one of my favorite folks-I always got a bit of wisdom and encouragement from whatever he chose to say. Louis will be missed by all. God Bless your coregeous spirit. Calvin Walker Acacemic Adviser Mt. Hood Community College

Referring to the article "Why I Cry for Michael Jackson". I would first like to thank the writer of this article. I am so amazed at all the comments of love and intimacy which most of us share in expressing the loss of Michael Jackson. The influence this man and his music is having on us is phenomenal. There seems to be no separation at all between us and him. We are one and the same. Michael is in us dead or alive and this is a metaphysical experience. I wake up in the morning and he is at the forefront of my mind. I listen to his music all day when I can and I go to bed and I wake up and he is on my mind. What on earth is all this! I'm finding it quite spooky. I am 55 and grew up with his music and I was following only his music up until the BAD concert which I saw in Amsterdam. Of course it was mind blowing and I danced from beginning to end. I then seemed to grow out of his music and did not follow it anymore. I was certainly not into the 'man' Michael Jackson. So here I am today, I have completely fallen in love and I am taken over by love, the law of impermanence and the urgency of how important it is to translate the real meaning of this into my daily life, the law of cause and effect, what goes around comes around. I feel like I am walking on egg shells. This is truly a wonderful lesson. This unexpected turn of events seems for a lot of us to have turned into something spiritual. Something that is much bigger than one individual. I have concluded that Michael's music and his message was the doings of a Mastermind. It was against all odds that he might grow up into a healthy human being. We need to take a deep psychological look into his life experience to find that no one could possibly be healthy after his story. However, a lotus grows out of the shit and Michael Jackson's musical genius was the proof. On saying that how do you explain a prodigy? Someone with so much talent at a very young age. These are the mysteries in life which will never be answered. An answer is not necessary for it is best to leave the unknown where it is. It leaves room for humility, for spaciousness, for an open mind and we could all do with a bout of open mindedness and tolerance for each other. Like Michael Jackson says "our blood and mine are the same". I picked up on Facebook a really beautiful poem which I would like to share with you because it really is about going "eyond, thoughts, feelings, perceptions, associations". This is an area that most of us are not in contact with because we need to 'control' or should I say the ego does. This is an opportunity for us to just witness this function of control and then to be courageous enough to disassociate with it because the reality of it is is that there is nothing to control and we can slowly move towards that while we are here and not until we meet the ultimate change where we will be forced to meet with it. Well good people, and we all have a fundamental goodness, including those who have done the worst possible thing in their lives please enjoy this very profound poem. Read it over and over and contemplate it. I LOVE YOU! Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am in a thousand winds that blow, I am the softly falling snow. I am the gentle showers of rain, I am the fields of ripening grain. I am in the morning hush, I am in the graceful rush Of beautiful birds in circling flight, I am the starshine of the night. I am in the flowers that bloom, I am in a quiet room. I am in the birds that sing, I am in each lovely thing. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there. I do not die. ( Mary Elizabeth Frye ) Rest in peace, Michael Big Love Maria The Netherlands

The article I'm referring to is Louis James McKinley Bailey Boston. My name is Clayborn Collins, I know a lot of what is said is public information. Let me tell you something that isn't public information. This man loved people from his heart. He was generous with is time and his knowledge. He loved his family and his children immensely. This man was truly an asset to our community and he will be missed.

In life, Mom's Mabeley use to say, "there are those who come into the world, leave nothing behind, and you are glad to see them go," this is not the case with Mr. Louis Boston, a leader, role model and business man who taught those he came in contact with how to live, hope, and be a good community contributor.Unlike Mom's Mabeley's character, he gave back to the community and we are all better off for his life. I pray for the boston family and know, though their hearts are hurting, they are strenthen by his spirit and the love of life he left behind...Robert Phillips

Micheal Jackson has always been my best. i have loved him since when i was about nine years,i love all his songs.they teach me alot about life.i was so shocked to hear about his death, i don not believe it and i can not believe it. i have always planned to see him and i still want to see him, he is the best and will still be my best.

I agree with everything you said. Over the years it disgusted me how he was bullied by the media. I refused to read anything that was obviously a jab at him. I felt protective. 1000's of bullies and the world was his school yard. I miss him dearly. As though he were an old friend. The media did the same thing to Brittney Spears who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Disgusting.

Sacha Baron Cohen is my hero. PURE BALLS OF STEEL!

In reference to the Michael Jackson article, I too cannot stop grieving for this man. He was such a huge part of my life as a child and teen. Today I grieve the man who gave us so much, and who we in turn villified so much . Tonight my husband brought home the Dangerous CD, and the song "Gone Too Soon" rips me apart. I cried my eyes out when Usher sang it in tribute, and I cannot believe this man is gone. I have been listening to his message so much in the last few weeks since his passing. What an amazing soul. I cried in relief when he was aquitted of the child molestation charges-- I KNEW he was innocent. I cannot imagine what such accusation could have done to him. I so wish someone could have saved him. I am so confused and saddened by all the media trash. What is true? What is false? Why do we continue to villify him? He clearly had mental issues that should have been addressed. As a victim of emotional child abuse and subsequent depression and anxiety, I feel so much for this man. I cry. My children, 2 and 5, are now dancing to his music, and for that I am grateful and know Michael will live forever.

The observation and the view of this writer was a stich after death, this cry would have been valued much when Michael Jackson was alive, but permit me to ask you this question, were you not in existence when Michael Jackson was doing all these things, how come you did not raise the world awareness and consciousness to Michael mental & phycological illness? Why did you allow him to die before bringing out this brilliant thoughts? I am sorry, you know the truth and refused to let out the truth, would you take the blame if you're counted as one who did not help Michael?

This article is so right on the target. The newspapers do not care about the individual person; rather, they just want to make money no matter who they hurt! If people simply boycotted these types of news organizations, they would lose money, and be more inclined not to publish such negative news! When I was a Police Officer working in Penn Station, during the same time that Michael Jackson was performing there (during the 1970’s), I saw Michael Jackson inside Penn Station wearing a disguise. I immediately recognized him by his body language. He looked at me smiled and waved; I waved back and pretended I did not know who he was as he did not want any of the public to approach him! Sincerely Yours, Eddie A. Ramirez americanram@optonlinenet

That was very well said. I have thought the same thing. What blows my mind is that I watched most of his interviews throughout his life and he said very early on how lonely he was. He said he did not have friends or trust people. I am sure as his health detierorated and he continued to fall apart, (hair falling out, vitiligo spreading etc.) he became more and more fearful and his mental illness grew and grew. His image was everything to him and he literally started to look like the sideshow freak that so many had treated him like. Maybe his obsession with the elephant man and with fantasy characters came from how he looked to himself and how he felt enduring all that pain. I mean if we break it down, the man had aorexia, BDD, lupus, vitiligo and was severly burned and scarred. I mean imagine what he felt and looked like, and yet NONE of us knew. He went out on stage and idd interviews with that gorgeous smile and always so put together and danced and sang. I mean how on earth did he pull that off for 45 years? Also, to follow up what you said about the media. He told everyone he had vitiligo. He told people he had been abused, yet interview after interview they continued to ask him about that stuff and they could see how physically upset he would get and his answer never changed, yet the journalist interviewing him seemed to deprive pleasure from asking him the same tired, painful questions over and over. Everyone who knew Jackson said he was the loneliest man on earth. WHY and HOW is that possible? If he felt that and expressed that then there was definately something going on wrong in his head. He definately should have gotten mental health help 30 to 40 years ago but no one cared. I think Gladys Knight has said it best so far. All of us took pieces of Michael Jackson and expected him because he was Michael Jackson to stay together with all those missing pieces. He was HUMAN first and foremost and why he had to suffer as much as he did not only emotionally and psychologically but physically as well will never be understood by me or can never be explained in a way that I will accept. This man was witch hunted, lynched, sacrificed and crucified. I am actually very proud of Michael for having lived as long as he did. Any regular person would have thrown in the towel and called it quits decades ago. I hope, but seriously doubt our society can learn from this tragedy and that others regular, everyday people and stars won't have to suffer the same fate. RIP Michael. You deserve it, you need it and as a friend I want you to have it. I love you and miss you and will hold on to my hugs and greet you at the gates of Paradise and wrap my arms around you and give those hugs to you.

well said. Michael will forever be love. Lord knows how much his family members are beating themselves up for not doing more than enough.The world is going do miss Michael However, they are going to miss him massively. As Janet said" HE's family". R.I.P Michael you will always be loved in the hearts of all of your fans.

Suffering myself from post-traumatic stress syndrome I really do appreciate your article. I am so overwhelmed with his passing because I can feel his pain over all these years. He must have had so many demons to combat everyday. And it hurts to see that nobody was there for him in all his time of need. Mental pain is something so awful and to this date not fully understood by people who never had this. I always say its easier to deal with a broken limb, because you can physically see it and know it will repair, but nobody knows what goes on in ones head the anguish not knowing if your are going crazy or not, the pain it can produce in your whole body is unbearable, so I can understand the drug issue, but like you said,why did nobody out there help him in a proper way. I can only say that yes he is now in a pain free world, but what a sad live he must have had while he was living and that hurts bad.

Why I Cry for Michael Jackson By Yalonda Sindé Yalonda, is a very well-written article, one full of compassion, sensitivity and humanity, so lacking in the junk that we read today and yet which sells under the big banner newspapers. Our heart bleeds for MJ because instead of cherishing his scintillating gifts, we chose to make an utter mockery of the person, while he obviously convulsed in deepest melancholy. Despite his troubles, what is evident in all his performances is his ardent desire to please all people and to seek a loving validation. He is a sad victim of our dire inhumanity. Even in his death there is no end to our brutal ways. We always cut down our very best...maybe persuaded by our own mediocrity. To my children he remains an immortal icon in courage and courage through his poetry and actions - and I do not think they would have learned it so beautifully in any other way. Thank you, Michael Jackson, for everything.

Why I cry for Michael- I totally agree with your words. I can't help crying whenever I hear his name, his songs or the latest news on his shocking, unexpected death. I feel so sad and helpless...I think we should have supported him more. I loved Michael like a brother and when I lost him I felt like a part of my inner world has collapsed. I can feel only pain and dispair, but I can only pray for him and the day we'll meet all of us, up there, in Heaven. We crucified this kind and loving person, and this proves one more time that the people are getting worse and this whole evolution of the world we are talking about, it's actually involution.He was the most generous and gentle person I have ever known,who didn't live in vain... I guess he was a life lesson for all of us. You'll always be in my heart, MJJ. May you Rest In Peace!

since the usa does not do firing squads which those involved in the cemetery scam deserve they should be put away for life,they have no honor to preserve, we are to honor our dead,no matter if famous or not famous. what they did was a travesty

Make Michael's dream come true. Peace all over the world. Use his funeral and his strong daughter Paris. You'll be suprised of the Power. Ad from the Netherlands forgive me my bad englisch.

I also agree with the comments "Why I Cry for MJ." Michael was an extremely talented artist and will be greatly missed by myself and others but I feel very strongly that our society and his family somehow missed all of the red flags and warning signs that something was terribly wrong. While I do think that MJ does carry some of the responsibility for his addiction, I also blame money hungry doctors and those around him who said they were his friends but indeed were not. Having dealt with addiction in my own family I witnessed first hand the manipulation and control by the addicted person. It is a horrible situation for an entire family. I do hope that the Jackson family will seek counseling and help for the children. Michael clearly loved his children, I have no doubt and if he were here to talk with us I know he would want help, love and understanding for his children.

You said: "I remember when media tagged him “Wacko Jacko.” Thousands of magazines were sold making fun of Michael’s behavior and appearance. How cruel and insensitive to show such disregard for his pain." Yet you also said, "He seemed so obsessed with changing his nose that at one point, it literally appeared to be falling off from excessive plastic surgery." ^That sounded a bit cruel :(

Michael Jackson: Sony was behind this. Really, look at the speeches MJ did before all the last really BAD stuff went down. Watch his speaking about racism with A. Sharpton. He was brave and stronger than we give him credit for. Look at whats happened to the music industry in the last few years. MJ hit Sony hard, but they control ( that may be a past tense now) a lot of the media. He fought a good fight, not only with the biz, but his own illnesses.

I liked all Micheael Jackson. I never thought at 44 years old i would here that Micheal Jackon died it was a very sad time for the world. Why hasn't the police investigating the incident talked to Debbie Rowe and that Dr. Klein. If you remember the information Dr. Murray had only been in the pop stars life for a short time but Debbie Rowe and Dr. Klein has been in his life longer. Isn't obvious those kids are his and Debbie Rowe's kids do the DNA. they were in this together the whole time. They knew how vulnerable he was and they knew that he was easy pray because everyone turned their back on him after the trial. Both of them saw him as a way to get rich and stay rich she was paid 8.5 million dollars for two live human beings and no one went to jail yet. Even today after his death she is asking the family for money and she would go away. She Ain't no mother she was just a womb. Don't give her anything she sold them once already and now she is trying to sell them a second time " What a Bitch! At the same time there are no adoption papers for those children. Murray needs to go ahead and turn himself in, he did not inten-tionally do it, but it happened he knew it as well as Micheal 50/50 chance either way they both knew the risk and took it.

I like the article...its the truth, though I wouldn’t refer to it as mental illness, from my medical point of view it is wrong

Kam: you have no taste in movies. go get a sense of humor

Why I cry for Michael Jackson (Sinde). I am a Doctoral student in Clinical Psychology with a special emphasis in Multicultural Counseling. I agree with this article. There seems to be missing a working diagnosis from the pop psychologists on television. My working diagnosis for Mr. Jackson is that he appeared to have a multiple of psychological illnesses. He was obviously depressed and isolative, and I believe at some time in his life, even suicidal. Mr. Jackson had an anxiety disorder, in particular around ordinary people like you and I, thus; he created charachitures and animated-type props around his home and abroad to feel as though he was in some sort of "normal" social system and not alone. Mr. Jackson was fixated/obsessed on constantly and consistently mutilating his nose because that was the part of his body that he was teased about the most from his family, and the public, and it haunted him to this very day. Regarding his nose, he was delusional, believing that it was grotesque. Although some may believe he wanted to be White (and I thought so too at one time)I don't believe this anymore, however; I do believe that Mr. Jackson attempted to physically look like Peter Pan as he mentioned himself in an interview some time ago. He didn't want to be "White" necessarily. He wanted to look like Peter Pan, a fantasy character. Why a fantasy character one may ask...because he only lived in fantasy terms. He did not have the internal capacity to interact with adults in reality terms. Fantasy is safe preventing you of being hurt and emotionally broken by humans. He never had a basic sense of trust instilled in him; rather he thought that EVERYONE was out to get something from him. Mr. Jackson had a fear of adult people. Although sad, Mr. Jackson never knew how to have significant relationships with people of his own age because it was never modeled to him appropriately. Though he was found not guilty, he enjoyed time with children because he was adored by children believing that kids would not harm him emotionally. However, that was all changed with the alligations. He invested so much emotion and time believing that children would never harm him that the alligations eventually broke him. I do not believe that he ever recovered from this sense of (in his mind) betrayel from a child. My condolences to his family, and I will personally miss witnessing him performing alongside his brothers one last time.

Tom Mesereau summed it up in one of his interviews, with CNN since Michael's death..he started that Michael was "a sensitive, artistic genius", "he could see and feel movements in the earth that others don't notice"......YOU are correct in your assumption.

I am referring to the article "Why I cry for Michael Jackson". Since his memorial something has shifted in my life. I have crying attacks and feel so moved as to how we create so much suffering within our own lives. Asking questions like: how do I react in my life, not so much what I do but how do I relate to my fellow humans? All over the world there is struggle and conflict. It is very sad. Michael Jackson was a musician of high calibre as we all know. He was a prodigy and these kinds of talents being born in this human body which holds such limitations must be gruelling if you don't handle it right. I believe that Michael was an extremely sensitive person and although he did some strange things and I don't mean child abuse because that is totally absurd to even go there, so what? So what if he bleached his skin, so what if he was obssessed with changing his face. It's not our business. Who cares. The ones who care are the ones who want to get something from him. Most of us are purely concerned with our own self cherishing and it doesn't matter what price we pay to manipulate and contrive. This is history repeating itself. What I feel so sad about is that Michael truly was a sensitive, compassionate loving and caring lyric writer. When he sang he seemed to be crying. It came from his heart. He walked his talk on the stage. The very unfortunate thing is that this was not connected to the relative world. It was, as we have seen totally out of balance. When he died and I heard all about his use of pain killers I realized how really alone and in pain he must have felt and been. Reaching such heights, being ridiculed and made mincemeat out of by the media, people grasping after his riches and also nobody stood up to him. He always got what he wanted. He paid a high price for our entertainment. He made a lot us very happy through his music. Fans have been crying ever since he started. I certainly don't what has come over me but what I do embrace is this is an opportunity to STOP and look at ourselves. What is our contribution to the world? Like most of these precious moments they will fade away and we will forget once again but let it be known, be prepared to meet your maker. The one in you who has judged, hurt, been jealous, vengeful and all those negative emotions which we believe is all part of human existence. Karma will catch up with all of us and it will be of our own doing. So take care, beware of what you do, say and think in this life because you may not get another one and when you are on your death bed it certainly will be "the evil of the thriller" if your heart has been cruel. Love yourself and love others like you love yourself and remember none of us are here alone. We all need each other because nothing lives independantly. Work on it. Die at least saying I tried to be a goodhearted human being. Michael has done this. He has touched the globe, millions and whatever way you look at it, whatever he has done, there are millions who love him. Forgive him and this will free you of all your concepts and false beliefs. Forgive them for they know not what they do Michael. I am sorry and happy all at the same time. You were an attractive and exhilerating spirit. Big Love. Maria The Netherlands

in Re Bruno: Dear enlightened reviewer, You are stupid. People are coming down on this film because it isn't Borat. No shit. Borat was ultimately a likable character, whereas Bruno is a far more polarizing character. I thought the movie was incredibly funny. If you can't laugh along with this movie you are either too old or need to loosen up and drop the political correctness.

I feel the same way about Michel's passing this pure but intelligent, creative gifted human been was a misunderstood by so many but yet so loved by us , my heart goes out to his family , his beautiful children . Michael represents the revolutionary of the American music , Michael will be remember as one of the most natural, smart artist in history and one of the most genuine trustful and misunderstood as well . All he wanted was to be accepted for his kindness and generosity without expecting nothing back but to make a difference in this world . I think that Michael had a very hard time understanding the malicious accusations against him , when one were supposed to be appreciate for his kindness instead , people would not understand that Michael would be naturally genuine without asking for nothing in returned . I think that we should learn from this tragedy ,lets not judge anybody based on the trash paparazzi;s lies I always could see Michael's sincerity was coming from , he was an gifted artist so change for him was a routine . regarding his physical appearance , Michael was always searching for perfection because that was expected from him at a very early age . Michael our love to you is unconditional , we love you for your tremendous talents and for your humanitarian work also your and faults as well , we will never forget you , Sorry that even that we loved you so , we couldn't help you to heal . To his children and family , God Bless

Why I cried for MJ by Yalonda Sinde. I"m not a therapist either but I am mental ill. Thanks for aleast tring to understand what It's like having no friends having a hard time keeping a job. If it were more people tring to help the mentally ill instead of making fun of them and treating them like they can help themselves and they know how bizzare they are. Maybe it wouldn't get passed down from generation to generation.World stop being entertained by the mentally ill and treat them

Congratulations on Brian Stimson's excellent piece, "Largest U.S. Health Insurers Stole Billions." This should be on the front page of every paper in the country