Who'z Bad?! Living a Life of Peace and Non-Violence
Who'z Bad?! Enough to Live a Life of Peace and Non-Violence?!
Michael Jackson‘s 18-minute short film "BAD" hit the airways when I was seventeen in 1987. I can remember how empowered I felt by listening to the lyrics, We can change the world tomorrow. This could be a better place. If you don’t like what I’m sayin’, then won’t you slap my face…because I’m Bad, I’m Bad…You know it…You know!
And when you watched the video, you felt as if Michael was giving you the courage to be yourself. You could be "BAD" even when standing up for what was right and good in the world.
Michael describes the song best in his 1988 autobiography Moonwalk: "Bad" is a song about the street. It's about this kid from a bad neighborhood who gets to go away to a private school. He comes back to the old neighborhood when he's on a break from school and the kids from the neighborhood start giving him trouble. He sings, "I'm bad, you're bad, who's bad, who's the best?" He's saying when you're strong and good, then you're bad.
Michael was so wise beyond his years, he knew what it was like to come from humble beginnings and what it meant throughout his career to stand for what was right.
You who are part of the New Generation of MJ Fans are now experiencing moments in your life when you have to make choices whether good or bad. Remember that the choices you make now will effect the rest of your life. The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait is launching this new project in hopes that you can gain the right tools and resources to make healthy choices for your future.
It’s true: all of us come from a spectrum of colors, cultures and creeds. Yet we are all unique individuals with our own opinions and ideals that live in this same crayon box called Life. It is how we handle our thought processes and reactions that can make a positive or negative impact on others and the world around us.
Here is how the program works: First and foremost, you make a pledge to live a life of peace and non-violence. Next, you can make a difference by taking part in the article discussions every month. For example, our first topic is about cyberbullying. You may leave comments about the issue of cyberbulling, your stories or encouragement for others who may not have the courage to speak up, under the article for Cyberbullying.
Each month we will add a new topic about certain issues that youth are faced with in today’s society. You may add comments to those articles. (Please keep all comments clean, friendly and encouraging to others. We want to build each other up by showing we care about one another. If you have any concerns or questions, please refer to our site terms of service and FAQs.)
Below you will find our Who’z Bad?! Life of Peace Pledge. If you make the Pledge to Live a Life of Peace and Non-Violence you will receive a Who’z Bad?! badge on your Profile. You may also share your story about how you are making a difference, whether it is volunteering, helping your friends, the environment or animals. It is very important that you make the pledge by leaving a comment at the bottom of this article in the comment section to receive your badge; please include your dot number in your pledge comment.
Living a Life of Peace and Non-Violence
To live a life of peace, we first must look inward and make a sincere change in our own hearts. Michael touched on this in his 2001 Oxford speech, “In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.”
Who’z Bad?! enough to stand up and make the Pledge to Live a Life of Peace?
Make the pledge and get your badge by clicking here!