Dave -- I am fortunate in that both my parents are in their 80s and going strong. In addition, I have no children so my perspective may be unusual. But you asked so I felt compelled to chime in.

I should say that I am a big Michael Jackson fan. He was only a couple of years older than I. As I told my husband last night, one of the first 45s I owned was "ABC" and was so excited when my sister brought it home to me!

That said...I think having Michael Jackson's children there may have helped them to see what a positive impact their father had on people. And it enabled people to see him as "Dad" rather than some tabloid-enhanced oddity. But I agree with you.

As you say, these kids were protected by their father up until now so they can't possibly imagine how tough the world can be for anyone let alone for a child of Michael Jackson. She may have wanted, indeed felt she needed, to say something about her daddy. Being a daddy's girl myself, I understand. But talk about your unique circumstances! The adults should have tried to dissuade her from speaking and maybe they did. I don't know. All I know is Paris Jackson will now be subjected to everything her father was trying to protect her from and that seems so sad to me.

I don't know that I agree, David. It seemed like the only moment of the whole day in which Michael Jackson was treated as a real human being. It moved me -- and I was sick of the whole rest of the thing before it even started.

As I listed to her touching sentences on the radio all I could think was "have we learned nothing from all of this?" I fear these children will be ground up by a media machine as custody battles, and estate settlements ensue. Gods speed to them.

I think that you nailed it: "maybe."

We don't know that little girl. We know almost nothing about that little girl. We have no insight into or knowledge of whatever conversations might have occured with regard to whether or not she should speak. We don't know how it was presented to her, or what she asked.

So, how do we answer the question of whether those 30 seconds were good for her or exploitative -- both in the immediate term and in the long term? Well, we cannot.

We simply cannot.

As I have no children of my own, my first thought was based on my own family and the funerals we attended. One of my siblings shielded the young children from even attending the services and one sibling did not. I think it would be overwhelming during this time, for any impact other than suffering the loss of a loved one, especially for the children.

Providing the children are not subjected to tv, radio, internet and newspaper reports (which I am sure will be continuing ad-nausium for many weeks to come)they should be fine.

I liked Michael's music and will only say, his personal life was his own. With the media frenzy that will be surrounding Michael Jackson's legacy, the children will be a lot more affected and traumatized by speculation and sensationalist "reporting" that is sure to intrude upon their lives and forever taint their memories of their father.

What a shame......

I guess I'm very cynical. It was painful for me to watch this child because of the fear in her eyes. I got the distinct feeling that this poor girl was being forced into standing there and saying things into a microphone in front of a bunch of cameras. It didn't sound, to me, like choking tears. It sounded like she wanted to vomit.

Think about it; by many accounts I've heard these kids are very bright and well behaved, but she's been protected for years from media. Can you imagine being the child of Michael Jackson? At the risk of offending all you king of pop devotees, we know nothing about their relationship. All of a sudden she has to blurt out something that may or may not be true. Just the act itself would be terrifying.

I've argued since the show aired that Paris should not have been put into that position, even if she begged to do it. There are some things that adults should protect children from and choices they shouldn't have. They are children, and they count on adults to know better and to protect them.

If reports are true, there was a private service the night before the extravaganza. That would have been (and hopefully was) an opportunity for Paris express herself within the presumed safety of her family.

I wish the family and especially the children peace as they endure what's happened.

(And not that it gives more or less credibility to my opinion, but my daughter is 10.)