By Odeisel

So it was time to say goodbye. We all turned on our televisions, and got on Twitter and a global community around the world gathered at public meeting places, churches and cyberspace to say goodbye to the single most powerful force of the past 30 years.

Not hyperbole.  Think about it for a second.  Barack Obama was the first American president to visit Russia in decades.  Michael was there.  In places full of strife and absent of diplomacy, Michael was there.  In homes that harbored hatred bred of ignorance yet strangely held amity for his image he was the first Black experience for much of America. For AIDS research, cancer research and other medical causes, he was a savior.

His memorial was a public as his life. Just as grand and shrouded in mystery right until the opening remarks.  Who was going to attend? Who would be conspicuous by their absence? Would there be a circus atmosphere (incidentally the circus would actually be there the next day)?

In the end, because of the effort of his family and their determination to mute the pomp and circumstance, the memorial was just about pitch perfect.  It was a celebration of his life, a tribute to his power, and mourning of his passing.