55 Responses to “Dear Michael”

1. 

   Sabine says:

   January 10, 2011 at 5:04 pm

   Hey Isabeau

   First I want to tell you that I read all the stuff that you sent me, it was very lovely. Thanks for sharing it with me.

   Isabeau: I know that fans say ‘don’t give money to these people’ but my opinion is that they are rich already and it does not hurt Michael anymore, thanks God. I want to read before deciding what to think.

   Well, you know, I think everyone should buy/read whatever they want. My reluctance, I guess it's based on my background. I've worked in the legal system for over 20 years. One thing that is common is lawyers will prevent a jury from seeing information that they believe will negatively affect their opinion. Doesn't matter if it's true or not, as soon as a person hears something it affects their thinking process and they absorb the information and incorporate it into their thinking, influencing them and their opinion.

   So that's why you'll see in court lawyers will ask that things be stricken from the record, or will request that a witness not be allowed to testify.

   So knowing that, I don't read everything, just like I don't watch a lot of programs on T.V., because I know that it will "change" my mind and my thinking and sometimes I don't want that influence. Of course one has to make a decision about what to allow in before you allow it in, which is tricky, but sometimes you can often get a sense of of what kind of information a program or book contains and decide, no, I don't want to expose myself to that. So I practice self-censoring

   As for Schmuley, I never really read his book for that very fact. I read some of his very judgmental and biased views and then, based on that, I decided to just read the fan version that edited out his comments. Schmuley is tricky, he speaks very well, and makes very good points and so it's difficult to filter his negative, biased opinions from the damaging and judging comments he makes, and that totally masks what Michael is saying.

   But you know, he just wrote another book, and it's Michael's thoughts on children, and I hear that it's positive, so it's like fruit. You look and see what is ripe and looks good and nutricious, and the stuff that is spoiled and rotten or maybe have been infected with something that you don't want, or I don't want, I avoid.

   Now I asked you before if you read Cowboy Mike at all -- well, BBM is a sequel to Cowboy Michael, and so it would be difficult to get the relationship that Sabah has with Michael without reading everything that they've been through together in the prior chapters -- ooops, I mean book!!!!

   So I'd recommend reading that first!!!!

2. 

   isabeau says:

   January 11, 2011 at 4:18 pm

   I' happy you read and liked what I sent to you :)
   I have a different appoach to reading may be because I was an editor and I never had nothing to do with lawyers and legal procedures and their strange ethics based on money.
   My father always stressed to me the point of judjing with my own mind and heart. I know it is not scientific but at least we can affinate our sensibility by studying the human nature, observing it and try to understand the reasons who drove a person to a certain act or words. In this process you some bad disapointmens may occur but it's all good for the next times for more balanced evaluation. I went deep into Smuley's mind and I got it. I recognised all the bigotry, judgemental and little fanatic way of thinking (with a good mask) you can find in religious people (not necessary 'spiritual') and I even sensed a true wish to try to do something useful BUT it was all spoiled by his damn ego. We say here "he slipped on a banana peel" :) That is so evident to me between the lines... He did not trick me because I'm used to good spiritual kind of thinking and acting and that's NOT it at all !! The Dalai Lama would be disgusted by what he'd done, I bet from what I know about him... and no matter how he tryed to make it sound useful for others' well being 'not to fall in MJ's mistakes' ... How presumptuous, egotonic... and SAD expecially when you go around in tv shows as you were a movie star. He betryed Michael and was not loving at all and I'm not saying that to defend Michael no matter what, I would think that for anybody. That is just not at all the way a real spiritual adviser would act. I know that for sure.
   I'm happy he wrote a nice book now. This whole experience may be tought to him something...(he is not stupid or superficial) and may be he feels regret or guilt toward what he called 'dear friend' (and I think he's sincere). People change mainly through strong experiences. Who knows... My judging is not ultimate. I'm not God and I can't see in people's heart so I try not to judge too much but just to have my own opinion.
   I can watch any tv progam I want, they will never change my mind. I laugh and turn channel if I sense it's bullshit (for me). Viceversa I listen and ponder asking my heart. If it's too confusing or I don't have enough elements and data to judge, I 'suspend ' my evaluation and wait for more information.

   I don't believe in cencership at all with only rare exceptions. On my opinion the Discovery Channel autopsy shows, for exemple, are horrible to show to little kids and it is not respectful of the sufference of the relatives of the dead person, it shows no mercy due to the fact that we consider, and sadly, only the material side of Life and have we are now on the exagerate opposite side to how we were in ancient times and it is considered a silly ridiculuos thing to care about the 'soul' of the dead person because we don't 'believe' he/she is alive!!). I think is a process through humanity learns anyway, so... I'm free not to watch it and turn off the tv or change channel. To air those programs in the name of science is, on my humble opinion, very insane.
   I'm sorry Sabine... I get carried away again... :(

   You said I should read all CBM before reading BBM !! OMG... faint........................................................ :))))
   I don't know, I enjoy any chapter anyway it seems... we'll see what happens...
   and there is a new chapter of the TTWC! you write fast girl!!
   L-O-V-E always and a huge hug

3. 

   Sabine says:

   January 11, 2011 at 4:40 pm

   you're apologizing again,

   Don't apologize for expressing yourself.

   I totally agree with everything you said about Schmuley.

   I guess I'm an enigma. On certain subjects I can be completely removed and unbiased, but other subjects affect me terribly, and I have to watch my input. Especially if it's negative. It sometimes makes me physically ill.

   I suppose it's the artist in me. I am greatly affected by my environment and what I hear, see and read.

   And you know, I think everyone is to some extent. Though maybe not aware of it

   Probably I am more affected than others. I think artists are more sensitive to the human condition and such.

   Now, I don't believe in censorship either. But then again, there are some programs - like how you feel about the Discovery Channel program -- that I think should not air. And like here, on CCC, I would not allow any abusive or degrading comments.

   See, I can argue both sides of the argument!!!!

   Should a pedophile be given freedom of speech and action? No, absolutely not. So you see, these things are not black and white.

   Now about CBM, if you ever want to read it, you should. It's very good, if I do say so myself

   Thanks for the hug!!!!!!!

4. 

   Nuje says:

   January 17, 2011 at 8:40 pm

   Boyeee what happened to this conversation. ooops, Hi Sabine! It looks like everyone abandoned it. a lil too hot in the kitchen!

   mjjwendy: Sabine, will you ceate a forum to discuss the cd once it has come out? I hope so.

   I think its sadly true that to agree to disagree is really an art and easier said than done.

5. 

   Sabine says:

   January 17, 2011 at 11:57 pm

   Nuje, Nuje, Nuje - I always read "June" when I see your name.

   Well, yeah, this conversation was getting hot!

   You know in honor of Martin Luther King's Birthday, I was putting up MLJ quotes on my FB page!

   I liked this one a whole lot: "People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they have not communicated with each other."

   I'm a strong believer in communication, but it's very difficult for some people, not to say what they feel/believe, but to hear what another person feels/believes and try to understand it; i.e., to listen
   — Martin Luther King Jr.