Wonderful World of Disney

Yesterday

I suppose I could tell you how many wonderful things there are which only exist because of Disney and the Disney umbrella of corporate ventures. But, what would be the point. Disney has become so ingrained in our culture that almost everything that could be said about it is already known. Disney is the "Happiest Place on Earth", the "Magic Kingdom", the place where all your dreams come true "when you wish upon a star". In fact, all of the things which Disney strategically aims for are embodied in its company motto: To make people happy.

I don't mind anyone making me happy, but when I look at the Wonderful World of Disney from the outside, it makes me think of someone else: Michael Jackson. And I have to wonder: Michael Jackson wanted almost the exact same thing: to make people happy, especially children; a desire which was fueled by an abusive childhood at the hands of his father Joseph. What then could have caused Walt Disney to create an empire whose sole mission is to make people happy? Looking at the eccentric and extreme effort to reach that end from Michael Jackson, it's obvious. Seven books and a lot of online investigating and it is confirmed. Simply: Walter Elias Disney, the fourth of five children, was horribly abused in his childhood by his father, Elias. This abuse caused in him an unprecedented need to create another world to replace the fractured one he had been trapped in.

Walt and his three brothers, Herbert, Raymond, and Roy were routinely given "corrective" beatings by their father in the farm woodshed. The abuse exponentially intensified upon the remaining children when the elder children moved out; it also grew with any and every setback Elias encountered. His manic rages of violence moved the family several times from one section of the country to another practically overnight. While he was assured, if only in his mind, that the move alone could ensure success, he was unable to handle the stress of even a minute setback. Any failure begets frustration and frustration begets intensifying abuse. (Eliot, 1993)

In order to cope with what was happening to him, Walt's young mind reasoned that his father could not possibly be his true father; his "real" father would never be so cruel. Beyond that, he was never able to understand his mother's failure to stop the abuse. He decided that she, like Elias, could not possibly be biologically his mother. Even when he took into account loving moments shared with his mother reading fairy tales to him, Walt dismissed Flora as his adoptive mother and nothing more.

Another effort to cope with the abuse manifested in Walt's frequent visits into his parents' bedroom to don his mother's clothing and make-up. Staring at himself in the mirror, he declared that the mother he could see reflected back was not only his "real" mother, but also the mother who would always be there when he needed comfort. This was often. Elias' rage was inexhaustible. Walt routinely cuddled next to Roy at bedtime while crying through the pain; this was often accompanied by his maturation ( Farlex, 2009) upon Roy during the night.

The comforting arms of his brother would not last, though. The very day that he turned 18, Roy left home; Walt was 10 years old. It was all he could do; Roy was adamant that he would not remain in the home any longer than legally required. He, as Walt, had endured beatings for many years in addition to working for their father without any compensation. Days beginning at 3:30am stretched to include newspaper deliveries on top of school attendance and household chores. Enough was simply enough. As each sibling before him, upon reaching the age of legality, Roy also would depart the home and its dark secrets of torment. Before leaving home, Roy showed Walt a few fighting moves to defend himself the next time Elias came to beat him. When the time came, Walt, prepared by his dutiful brother, fought back. From that day forward, Elias never attempted to continue the beatings. (Eliot, 1993)

Walt, still a child, had years yet to serve before he could be released from his bondage. In that time, he was never able to shake the feeling that he was not the biological child of Elias and Flora Disney. The father, who he disowned, however, was more influential on Walt than anyone could have realized. Walt was privy to reap the benefits of Elias' socialist views and membership in the American Social Democratic Party, which included evening lectures against the capitalist system, exploitation of the working class, and the international conspiracy of wealthy Jews in control of the world's investment banks. Walt also received full instruction on the worldwide Jewish capitalist conspiracy, which would later become his own declared outlook, as demonstrated by his statements that the Jews were keeping him from entering production in Hollywood. He believed whole-heartedly that there was a Jewish-Marxist conspiracy to destroy him, his studio, and all that it stands for. Although hailed as a gentle man and revered as a loving father, Walter Elias Disney had learned racism and was an active participant thereof. Elias had indeed, made marks upon Walt that would last his life through.

When Walt was just 16, his father had once again decided the family needed to move across the country. This time, they would move to Chicago. Flora lobbied for and obtained the ability of Walt to remain and finish the school year; his brother Herbert, now 30, would return to serve as guardian. When the time came to return, however, Walt remained against his brother's wishes. He had received a letter from Roy, the brother he most admired and idolized. Roy was coming to town, having secured a job as bank teller and looked forward to seeing his younger brother again. When he arrived, they immediately hung out; Roy filled Walt's head with fanciful tales of romance and adventure working as a "news butcher", selling newspapers, cigars, cigarettes, matches, & soft drinks on the Kansas to Missouri rail route. Walt, wanting to emulate his brother and eager to experience the same things, lied about his age to get his own route as news butcher working Missouri to Colorado. But, with no aptitude for the job, he owed the company at the end of the summer for unsold inventory.

When America went to war in 1941, Roy enlisted directly, eager to fight for his country. He was sent to Great Lakes Naval Base just outside of Chicago. That is where Walt visited him and where his mind was filled with second-hand stories that soldiers who had been overseas fighting had relayed to Roy. When he returned home, his curiosity boiled over and he decided he would enlist also. His brothers, Roy and Raymond already enlisted; it was surely the place for him