in case anyone here still gives a hoot ... info/pics re Michael Jackson's skin disease

He wasn't bleaching his skin, turning against his own race etc. He was suffering from a fairly common skin disorder -- vitiligo/lupus -- that destroys natural pigmentation and leaves the skin spotted, ghostly white and extremely vulnerable to sunlight.

Its amazing -- not to mention depressing -- to watch how many people can become so blinded by hatred, jealousy, greed and meanspiritedness that they choose to ignore the explanation (its been around for years now) and continue to spew accusations/ridicule at him instead.

I think this world might become a better, kinder place if his words from the interview above were plastered over every TV screen/computer monitor for the next little while ...


"Oprah: So okay, I just want to get this straight, you are not taking anything to change the color of your skin …

Michael: Oh, God no, we tried to control it and using make-up evens it out because it makes blotches on my skin, I have to even out my skin...

But you know what's funny, why is that so important? That's not important to me. I'm a great fan of art, I love Michelangelo, if I had the chance to talk to him or read about him I would want to know what inspired him to become who he is, the anatomy of his craftsmanship, not about who he went out with last night … what' wrong with … I mean that's what is important to me."