Michael Jackson memorial

Members of the Jackson family gave poignant speeches

Family members, friends and fellow stars have been paying tribute to Michael Jackson at a memorial service in Los Angeles. Here is a selection of quotes from the event.

PARIS JACKSON, 11, DAUGHTER
"I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him so much."

JERMAINE JACKSON, BROTHER
"I'm lost for words. I was his voice and his backbone. I had his back and so did the family. We thank you. That's all I can say, we thank you very much."

MARLON JACKSON, BROTHER
"I will treasure the good times, the fun we had, singing, dancing, laughing. I remember when we used to come home from school and grab a quick bite to eat and try to watch The Three Stooges - as much of it as possible before mother would come in and say it's time to go to the recording studio.

"I also remember a time when I went into the record store. There was this man purchasing a lot of CDs. He was an older gentleman, he had a short afro, bucked, crooked teeth and his clothes were rumpled.

"I walked up behind him and said 'Michael, what are you doing in this store?' I told him 'Michael, you're my brother, I can spot you anywhere regardless of your make-up.'"

BROOKE SHIELDS
Both of us needed to be adults very early, but when we were together, we were two little kids having fun

"Michael was one of a kind. Whenever we were out together and there would be a picture taken, there would be caption of some kind, and the caption usually said something like, 'an odd couple' or 'an unlikely pair.'

"But to us it was the most natural and easiest of friendships. I was 13 when we met, and from that day on our friendship grew. Michael always knew he could count on me to support him or be his date.

"We had a bond. Maybe it was because we both understood what it was like to be in the spotlight from a very, very young age. Both of us needed to be adults very early, but when we were together, we were two little kids having fun."

REV AL SHARPTON
I want his three children to know, there wasn't nothing strange about your daddy

"I first met Michael around 1970. From that day as a cute kid to this moment, he never gave up dreaming. It was that dream that changed culture all over the world.

"When Michael started, it was a different world. But because Michael kept going, because he didn't accept limitations, because he refused to let people decide his boundaries, he opened up the whole world.

"He put on one glove, pulled his pants up and broke down the colour curtain. When now our videos are shown and magazines put us on the cover, it was Michael Jackson that brought blacks and whites and Asians and Latinos together. Michael made us love each other.

"I want his three children to know, there wasn't nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with. He dealt with it anyway. He dealt with it for us."

STEVIE WONDER
"This is a moment that I wish that I didn't live to see come.

"But as much as I can say that and mean it, I do know that God is good and I do know that as much as we may feel - and we do - that we need Michael here with us, God must have needed him far more."

BERRY GORDY, MOTOWN FOUNDER
"Michael Jackson went into orbit and never came down. Though it ended way too soon, Michael's life was beautiful.

"Sure there was some sad times and maybe some questionable decisions on his part, but Michael Jackson accomplished everything he dreamed of."

QUEEN LATIFAH
"I'm here representing millions of fans around the world who grew up listening to Michael, being inspired and loving Michael from a distance. Somehow when Michael Jackson sang and when he danced... we felt he was right there. He made you believe in yourself."

DIANA ROSS
"I'm trying to find closure, I want you to know that even though I am not there at the Staples Center I am there in my heart. I've decided to pause and be silent. This feels right for me.

"Michael was a personal love of mine, a treasured part of my world, part of the fabric of my life in a way that I can't seem to find words to express."

MAGIC JOHNSON
"I want to thank Michael for opening up so many doors for African Americans to be on daytime shows, late night shows. He allowed Kobe [Bryant] and I to have our jerseys in people's homes across the world, because he was already there."

SMOKEY ROBINSON
"You don't think you'll live to see them gone... He is going to live forever and ever and ever and ever."

PASTOR LUCIOUS SMITH
"To millions around the world Michael Jackson was an idol, a hero, even a king. But first and foremost this man before us today was our brother, our son, our father and our friend. Michael Jackson was, and always shall be, a beloved part of the Jackson family and the family of man."

source:bbc
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Michael Jackson memorial was 'beautiful'

Tickets for the memorial service were distributed to fans at random in a ballot
Ali Miller, a 21-year-old Michael Jackson fan from California, was among the 17,500 fans at the memorial service for the King of Pop at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

It was beautiful. All of his close friends and family had the nicest things to say. It was not sombre - it was a celebration of his life. Everyone around us was crying and laughing as well. It was sad at times but joyful at others.

Some 1.6 million fans applied for the 8,750 pairs of tickets
I noticed a family who must have been really huge fans of Michael's, they were all hugging and crying before the memorial even started. There were a lot of people who were devastated by the end of it.

We had a couple of laughs and the stories that some of his close friends told were really funny.

Brooke Shields had a very touching story. She said they bonded over the fact that they were child stars and they had to grow up very quickly, but when they were together they could be children again.

That was a big problem for him, that was why he kept his life so secretive, because he didn't trust anyone. He had to grow up so fast and he was held under a microscope for his entire life. So with Brooke Shields, he was able to become himself again.

Paris' speech at the end was so sad. She could hardly speak and I think everyone in the crowd was with her.

Jackson had been rehearsing in the Staples Center for his comeback gigs
Those children have always been kept away from the public eye and I think this is the first time a lot of us have been able to see his kids' faces, let alone hear how they felt about their father's death.

It was absolutely a fitting tribute. We couldn't have asked for a better memorial. It was done completely the way it should have been done.

Like a lot of people out there, I'll always remember Michael Jackson for Thriller. I was in pre-school when the video came out. A friend and I were in dance class and we decided to come home and pop the music video in and choreograph our own little dance to Thriller.

I think that's how I'll remember him - always trying to emulate his dance moves.

source:bbc
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12 pictures: Michael Jackson memorial

Family and friends of Michael Jackson have been joined by thousands of fans at a memorial service for the singer known as the King of Pop, who died aged 50 on 25 June.














Michael Jackson's 11-year-old daughter, Paris, broke down in tears as she addressed the audience, calling Jackson "the best father you could ever imagine".




















Michael Jackson's children Paris, Prince Michael I (right) and Prince Michael II, also known as Blanket (bottom) have never before been seen in public.














Jackson's brother Jermaine, who sung a version of Smile, reputed to be one of Michael Jackson's favourite songs, threw the rose from his lapel into the audience.














Stars of the screen and stage made emotional appearances, some singing, some speaking. R&B artist Usher (pictured) was one of dozens who took to the stage.




















R&B star Usher was among the current chart-toppers who have been heavily influenced by Michael Jackson.














Singer Jennifer Hudson chose to perform, but many simply spoke to the crowd to articulate the sense of loss they felt.














Fans wrote tributes on a giant mural outside the Staples Center














Civil rights campaigner Rev Al Sharpton was one of many who spoke at the memorial service, addressing Jackson's children and telling them: "There weren't nothing strange about your daddy."














Fans and stars who attended told of a sombre atmosphere inside the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.














Motown founder Berry Gordy, who signed the Jackson Five and set the family on the road to stardom, told mourners he had been shocked by the beauty of Michael Jackson's famous "moonwalk".














Many fans wore tributes to their hero - such as this trademark white glove - as they cheered fellow performers and family members on stage.

source: bbc
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Emotional farewell to King of Pop

Michael Jackson's family and fans have said farewell to the pop superstar at an emotional memorial service.
Jackson's daughter Paris, 11, fought back tears to describe him as "the best father you could ever imagine".

The singer's coffin was placed in front of the stage during the event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles after an earlier private funeral.

Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey paid tribute before the family joined a sombre finale on stage.

Jackson's siblings, children and parents took part in a chorus of We Are The World and Heal the World.

His family, with the brothers each wearing a single jewelled glove in Jackson's honour, then took to the podium.

Michael Jackson's brothers wore his trademark single gloves
Comforted by aunts and uncles, Paris stepped up the microphone. "I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine," she said.

"And I just wanted to say I love him so much."

Marlon Jackson spoke of the troubles his brother faced. "We will never, never, understand what he endured," he said.

"Not being able to walk across the street without a crowd gathered around, being judged, being ridiculed. How much pain can one take?

"Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone."

'Nothing strange'
Jackson's brother Jermaine earlier took to the stage to perform the song Smile. It was said to be the King of Pop's favourite song, featuring the lyric: "Smile though your hearts are aching."

At the start of the service, Jackson's brothers carried the golden flower-draped coffin into the arena to the strains of a choir singing "Hallelujah, hallelujah, we're going to see the King" from the song Soon And Very Soon.

Mariah Carey was among the artists paying tribute, performing I'll Be There and ending with the words: "We miss you."

Stevie Wonder said: "This is a moment I wished I didn't live to see come. Michael I love you."

Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton gave a fiery speech, telling Jackson's children: "There weren't nothing strange about your daddy.

"It was strange what your daddy had to deal with but he dealt with it."

Motown boss Berry Gordy, who signed the Jackson Five, ended his tribute with the words: "Michael, thank you for the joy, thank you for the love. you will live in my heart forever."

Actress Brooke Shields, who first met Jackson when she was 13, broke down in tears as she took to the stage.

Describing Jackson as "pure", she said: "He was often referred to as the King but the Michael that I knew was always the little prince. Michael saw everything with his heart."

The 17,500 people in the arena cheered as clips of Jackson's life and music were played on big screens.

Messages were read from absent guests including former South African President Nelson Mandela, poet Maya Angelou and singer Diana Ross.

Images of Jackson flashed on screens as Stevie Wonder performed
The message from Ross was read by Smokey Robinson. "I'm trying to find closure," it said.

"I want you to know that even though I am not there at the Staples Center I am there in my heart.

"Michael was a personal love of mine, a treasured part of my world, part of the fabric of my life in a way that I can't seem to find words to express.

"Michael wanted me to be there for his children and I will be there if they ever need me. I hope today brings closure for all those who loved him."

Other people taking part include Usher and Britain's Got Talent finalist Shaheen Jafargholi, who has played the young Michael Jackson in the musical Thriller - Live.

The stage was adorned with the star's image, alongside a mural carrying the words: "In Loving Memory. Michael Jackson King of Pop - 1958-2009."

'Everybody cried'
Speaking after the event, one fan, Marianne Green, told the BBC the memorial was "heart wrenching".

"It was really beautiful. A lot of people got up and said wonderful things," she said.

Pamela Green added: "We laughed at some jokes, but everybody cried. I've never seen anything like that, ever."

Millions of fans around the world watched on TV.

Roads were closed off and concrete barriers erected outside the Staples Center, where Jackson had been rehearsing a comeback show before his sudden death aged 50 on 25 June.

More than 1.6 million fans applied to attend the memorial event, with 8,750 people chosen at random to receive a pair of tickets.

Family members earlier attended a short funeral service at the Forest Lawn cemetery.

source: bbc
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Kontrak Politik Mega-Prabowo Ditemukan di TPS Pekanbaru

Pekanbaru - Panwaslu Pekanbaru menemukan selebaran kontrak politik Mega-Pro di salah satu TPS. Panwaslu Pekanbaru saat ini sedang menyelidiki siapa pelaku penyebaran selebaran tersebut.

Ketua Panwaslu Pekanbaru, Ali Junaidi mengungkapkan hal itu saat dihubungi detikcom, Rabu (8/07/2009) di Pekanbaru. Dia menjelaskan, selebaran bergambar Mega-Pro dengan keterangan kontrak politiknya itu disebar di TPS 04, Jl Manatahan, Keluruhan Sidomulyo Timur, Pekanbaru.

Selebaran kontrak politik itu sebanyak 100 lembar yang diletakkan di meja KPPS. "Selabaran ini pertama ditemukan oleh Kusri anggota KPPS. Anggota KPPS juga bingung sebelum mereka datang selebaran itu sudah berada di meja tugas mereka," kata Ali.

Menurut Ali, isi salah satu kontrak politik di selabaran itu, tertuliskan akan menghapus sistem kontrak kerja yang merupakan bentuk eksploitasi manusia dan akan menggantikan dengan sistem yang adil.

Selebaran itu juga menyebutkan, menghapus pungutan liar disektor industri. Dalam sebelebaran itu juga dibumbui tanda tangan dari TSP BUMB bersatu FX Aries Boyouno.

"Siapa pelaku penyebaran selebaran Mega-Pro itu masih kita selidiki. Tim kita di lapangan tengah berkoordinasi dengan anggota KPPS yang menemukan selebaran tersebut," kata Ali.
source: detiknews
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Debt-ridden Jacko applied for loans under 20 fake names

London, July 3 : Late King of Pop Michael Jackson was so desperate to have money that he had applied for loans under 20 different names, it has been revealed.

According to the confidential financial papers, the applications for loan

went under the pseudonyms President Mr. Michael Jackson, Michael JJJ Christ-Jehovah, Michael J Jackson ChristJeh, Michael Jackson Jehovah, and Mike J Jackson.

He even tried to alter the spelling of his first name using Micheal and Micheel.

The King of Pop''s credit score was 447.

Moreover, the maximum allowed limit on the last of four credit cards he was permitted, from Capital One, was 450 dollars.

"Michael Jackson''s financial affairs were beyond a mess with county court judgments and taxes owed all over the place. No bank was prepared to bail him out towards the end," the Sun quoted a financial source as saying.

"He was rejected for loan after loan after loan.

"He was getting desperate," the source added.

"It is illegal for a person to make any false statement regarding matters of identification in a loan and credit application for the purpose of influencing in any way the action of a financial institution," said Loan specialist Mike Sikorski, of Florida Realty Network.

"The FBI investigates these crimes where individuals could face up to 30 years in prison, a $1million fine, or both," he added.

It is said that the `Thriller' hitmaker owed at least 300million dollars when he died, and had been begging banks for money. (ANI)
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