Central City East : Downtown Los Angeles

Angels flocked to Downtown Los Angeles on Monday and Tuesday. Regardless of what all of the "mess" that was put out to the world about Michael Jackson , his music transformed the hearts of millions around the world...How could anyone not know this. This man had been tormented by the press and quite possibly the people around him...Yet, here we were in Downtown Los Angeles paying our respects to a person who brought much joy into the lives of many. Connected by the one thing that transcends every barrier ; music.

I wasn't planning on attending the signing of the huge poster in the middle of Staples Center , but at the last I did indeed go and while I waited in the line you could fill the wonderful positive energy that permeated the place. This wasn't sadness , this was joy and a celebration of a life that made a difference in the world. At home there were tears at the prospects of allegations that possibly a doctor became a predator and dispensed medications that were harmful. The doctor's basically becoming pushers for money. But we don't know and as I was surrounded by fans of Michael Jackson and heard the stories of those who traveled from Arizona and other places , I knew that I indeed lived in a special place already. Having experienced many encounters with those great actors and athletes and people of industry, these people may never have this sort of experience again , of course I will continue to have those experiences.


As I got to know some of the people in the line I also was offered a ticket and a golden wristband by a young man that came all the way from Arizona. He was so happy to be there and wanted to bless someone with the opportunity to attend the memorial. I didn't have to think . I told him that I always have these types of opportunities and the theme of much of Michael Jackson's music was the brotherhood of man , thus I explained that he needed to bless someone else with that "golden ticket". The wonderful, positive energy permeated all of Downtown and I lived Downtown. Why be selfish. I watched as the county helicopter, which transported Michael Jackson's body, flew directly over my head. What an experience that was. So why be selfish . Let someone else experience those surreal things that I experience almost on a monthly basis. I am blessed beyond measure. Maybe the person who got the ticket , who came on their pilgrimage would have an experience that would change their lives and maybe through them the lives of others.

The lyrics of Michael Jackson's music , the titles such as we are the world and Man in the Mirror speak to the truth that it is all about us. Everything we do in this life is all bout us. We are an office unto ourselves and only we can make the changes necessary to make a better world ,by how? By looking at ourselves. I am an existentialist at heart that believes there is a greater power, god, but I also believe that once we realize that this whole world is about the individual then and only then can the world become a better place through the positive changes we make in ourselves. In other words, the stronger we make ourselves morally or whatever, naturally others can draw that strength from an individual, it need not be forced. We are the world , we are the ones who make a brighter day, we are saving our own lives. As a student of physics how can one deny this truth that we are all connected?

Many came to the Staples Center, Neverland Ranch , and Hollywood BLVD. because it was that music that brought forth another renaissance in the hearts and minds of the people around the world. This collective consciousness is what can change things. And through art it is through this catharsis when we learn to change.

So for those who are still stuck on false humility ; My friends ; please understand that it is all about you. You came to Downtown because that is who you are and when we deny who we are then we can not be responsible to those around us because we are not behaving the way we should in our own office as an individual to choose to do that which is right for ourselves . Laws were created so that those who choose to use their office to hurt others do not.

When we have a hard time making choices with our free will we suffer anxiety: existential angst. We call this free will. But choose the right thing to do and the anxiety goes away. We live with guilt when we choose wrongly and not in tune with our own nature , the nature that makes us who we are.

I believe that Michael Jackson understood these principles. He understood that it is not through tyranny , or oppression which can make people love each other , it is through persuasion. Simply stated, that is what his music meant to me. As a result I knew that to share my downtown with those who travelled so far was part of who I am and being inside Staples Center, taking up the spot of someone else who could benefit from that experience was not who I am. I acted within my nature and I have no regrets.

Well , folks , because of the referral over at blogdowntown I went to Tommy Pastrami and had a real Philly Cheese steak. Like the sign says as you walk in, "it is all about the meat", and, yes, folks, being a true texan and now the official Town Crier of Los Angeles, I have to say it is awesome. The Philly Cheese Steak had the meat all together...the fat melted in the sandwich and not in your mouth, in other words the meat was meat and not a lot of fat....

I would recommend this place. I did also order a lite pastrami on Rye and ,yes, it was lite, being a diabetic , this is the way to go when one is hungry for some meat, like a pastrami sandwich....between Botegga Louie and Tommy Pastrami my East Coast palate is being well taken care of downtown...

The other wonderful thing about this place is that it is clean.... it is larger inside than what it looks like from the outside... a good place to go and there is free wifi.

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Well, just checking to see if this mobile blogging is working.

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As a child i remember being at a skating rink.....roller skating. There was a huge screen on one of the turnaround walls and videos-music videos were being shown on the screen. A huge roar went up as Michael Jackson's Thriller video was shown and many children stoppped to watch the video. This was a mostly white hick town in east Texas and color did not stop the white folks from being fans. Michael Jackson helped to create a better and closer world. I know that many of his songs have touched me and have helped me in my life. You will be missed.

Labels: michael jackson

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The ASHÉ Foundation Partners with TMM


On June 24th, Hollywood icons and athletes, Tom Arnold, Kenny Lattimore, Brandon Fobbs, Howard Hewett, Essence Atkins, Claudia Wells, Jonathan Bennett, Teddy Riley, Niecy Nash, Antonio Cromartie, Harry Smith, Ananda Lewis, Saxophonist Mark Allen Fenton will perform, and others will join The ASHÉ Foundation as they wash the feet and place clean white socks and adequate shoes on the displaced and disadvantage men in the courtyard of The Midnight Mission located at 601 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Clergy leaders, Pastor Barry Lyons of Living Waters of the San Fernando Valley, Pastor Charles Humphrey of Hope’s House Ministries and Rev. John W. Miller of Community Lutheran Church of Los Angeles along with several members of their church, will also be on site to lend a hand to this day of service. "Homelessness has always been my number one platform,” says ASHÉ Executive Director Dion Fearon.

The Midnight Mission is proud to partner with ASHÉ and take part in this important movement. “These are precarious times for all Americans financially and particularly challenging for service providers like us and those that we serve,” states Clancy Imislund, Managing Director of the Mission. “The work of the ASHÉ Foundation and their volunteers is timely and greatly appreciated,” he adds.

If you or someone you know has a brand new pair of men's shoes to donate to The Midnight Mission event on June 24th, please contact The ASHÉ Foundation at (323) 850-6964. For more information about The ASHÉ Foundation visit: www.theashefoundation.org

Sitting in the dining room it is hard not to be at awe with the grand diversity found at the Midnight Mission in Downtown Los Angeles. The Midnight Mission provides many services for people. Many people sit and eat and talk about their sobriety and about how they are getting their lives together. It has been very impressive to see the amount of gay men who are in the program. This month the Midnight Mission highlights one of these men on the front page of their website. Not to say there isn't the feeling of homophobia when one is in skid row. It is every where, but the tolerance that is fostered at the midnight mission is being accomplished.

Lindsey , who is on the front page of the Midnight Mission website, is an example of what can happen when we take into account the different lives that are affected by the kindness of strangers. Lindsey and many like him at the Midnight Mission give me strength and the courage to continue to support this oasis for the disenfranchised in a part of downtown that is hard on those who are different. Esp. Gay men... Lindsey gave me permission to write about him being openly gay .. he is humble , quiet , and doesn't flaunt it. But has mentioned that he is not ashamed of who he is...

I have heard the leaders of the midnight mission say that they are not a religious program, but they allow spirituality in ones own religion. There are muslims, christians , athesists, and I am sure- people who believe in their higher power the way they understand it to be in their lives. But skid row presents problems to the glbt community because of the entrenchment of right main stream christianity. No one is knocking it , but there has to be a place for those who are gay to be able to get help with their drug and alcohol problems and the midnight mission does not turn them away and allows them the ability to get to know their god in their own way. Transgendered people, though, I am most positive , have a tougher time in skid row because of their special needs . But this gay man , Lindsey , who has been an inspiration to myself and many others at the Midnight Mission, is one of the greatest examples of why many of us support and have continued to support the Midnight Mission.

To learn more go to : http://www.midnightmission.org