Luther Vandross 1951-2005
The legendary R&B singer Luther Vandross has passed away
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/02/arts/music/02vandross.html?ei=5094&en=43b2b988cd9558b2&hp=&ex=1120363200&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print
When I was younger, I wasn't into his music. Back then, I was more into heavy metal, and gangsta rap.
As I matured, I have gotten more into the slower forms of music. I started to appreciate the songs by artists like Luther Vandross a lot more. Songs like "Dance with My Father", "Here and Now", and few other songs I can't list in my head at this moment.
So it is with great sadness that I hear about the death of Luther Vandross. My heart goes out to his family and friends at this difficult time.
Friday, July 01, 2005
Reverend Graham endorsing the Clintons?
Reverend Billy Graham, a famous evangelists, had what is possibly his last speech (he is aging and in ill health) in New York City.
At the speech was ex-Prez Bill Clinton and his wife (and possible Presidential candidate in 2008) Hillary Clinton.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45083
Dr. Graham said, "I told President Clinton that when he left office, he should be an evangelist because he has all the right gifts for it, and he should leave his wife to run the country."
The way I interpret that statement, Graham was probably joking with Bill Clinton. I mean people like to joke with each other by saying "you should be president" or "you should be a star".
In fact, at my job, one of the senior staff members joked to one my colleagues (who is still in college) that she should be in charge of the entire program next year. Everyone in the room know it was friendly joke.
Back to Graham, he noticed that Clinton has the gifts of speaking to audiences, so Graham joked to Clinton that he should be a preacher. Being that Hillary has political aspirations, he joked that she should be president.
Yet, Reverend Rob Schenck couldn't get the joke.
Now don't get me wrong, I didn't leave in a huff. I was more in a daze. I couldn't believe that I had just witnessed the Clintons manipulate their way to a quasi endorsement by the leading evangelical of the last half-century. It was shameless exploitation of a sacred platform by the most powerful, cunning and recklessly ambitious political duo in American history.
Nevermind that Graham had friendly relations with a lot of Presidents, both Democrat and Republican. He had invitations to the White House from Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, the Bushes and Clinton.
So I doubt Graham was making an explicit endorsement at his last speech in New York
Reverend Billy Graham, a famous evangelists, had what is possibly his last speech (he is aging and in ill health) in New York City.
At the speech was ex-Prez Bill Clinton and his wife (and possible Presidential candidate in 2008) Hillary Clinton.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45083
Dr. Graham said, "I told President Clinton that when he left office, he should be an evangelist because he has all the right gifts for it, and he should leave his wife to run the country."
The way I interpret that statement, Graham was probably joking with Bill Clinton. I mean people like to joke with each other by saying "you should be president" or "you should be a star".
In fact, at my job, one of the senior staff members joked to one my colleagues (who is still in college) that she should be in charge of the entire program next year. Everyone in the room know it was friendly joke.
Back to Graham, he noticed that Clinton has the gifts of speaking to audiences, so Graham joked to Clinton that he should be a preacher. Being that Hillary has political aspirations, he joked that she should be president.
Yet, Reverend Rob Schenck couldn't get the joke.
Now don't get me wrong, I didn't leave in a huff. I was more in a daze. I couldn't believe that I had just witnessed the Clintons manipulate their way to a quasi endorsement by the leading evangelical of the last half-century. It was shameless exploitation of a sacred platform by the most powerful, cunning and recklessly ambitious political duo in American history.
Nevermind that Graham had friendly relations with a lot of Presidents, both Democrat and Republican. He had invitations to the White House from Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, the Bushes and Clinton.
So I doubt Graham was making an explicit endorsement at his last speech in New York
9/11, Iraq, Pearl Harbor, Germany
It's been awhile since I last posted on this blog. I work long hours at a summer program, and what little time I have for internet use, it's not enough to keep the blog updated.
Anyways, we hear talk that Bush exploited emotions around 9/11 to go to war with Iraq.
Here is some commentary from DANIEL HENNINGER
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/?id=110006899
So it is that below the level of exquisite analysis now common in our politics, some Americans do exist who credit a connection between September 11 and events in Iraq. Perhaps there will be a poll out in a few weeks that will expose their sentiment to the greater weight and rigor of statistical science.
In time even Pearl Harbor became more a symbol than the bloody reality that ultimately hurled American forces against a Germany that didn't attack us at Pearl Harbor.
In 1941, Japanese warplanes attacked Pearl Harbor. That got President Franklin D Roosevelt to declare war not just on Japan, but on Japan's allies at the time - Germany and Italy.
Japan and Germany alliance had nothing to do with love for each other. Hitler was a white supremacist. But Japan was far enough away from Germany to not to be a threat. So while Germany aspired to rule over all of Europe, Japan aspired to rule over all of Asia. That brought Japan and Germany into conflict against Great Britain, France, Russia, China and the USA.
So in World War 2, Japan, Germany and Italy were on one side. On the other side was USA, Great Britain, Russia, France and China.
In the early 21st century, the USA is in conflict with some Middle Eastern terrorists. There is Al Quiada, who want to terrorize the world into submission to Islamic faith. That brings Al Quaida into conflict with the USA, Israel, Great Britain, Spain, India, Phillipines and other nations.
Saddam Hussein is not a part of Al Quaida. However, he is allied with Al Quaida against the USA. In 1991, Hussein led Iraqi troops into invading Kuwait. President Bush Sr. decided to defend Kuwait. Hussein became enemy of America. Al Quaida is enemy of America. So the worry was that Hussein might be supplying weapons to Al Quaida.
The 9/11 attacks were committed by Al Quaida. President Bush Jr decided to declare war on Al Quaida. Al Quaida was headquartered in Afghanistan, so Afghanistan was invaded 1st.
Since Hussein had interests in destroying the USA, Bush decided "might as well invade Iraq too".
So just like how FDR fought against both Germany and Japan, GWB fought against both Al Quaida and Afghanistan.
It's been awhile since I last posted on this blog. I work long hours at a summer program, and what little time I have for internet use, it's not enough to keep the blog updated.
Anyways, we hear talk that Bush exploited emotions around 9/11 to go to war with Iraq.
Here is some commentary from DANIEL HENNINGER
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/?id=110006899
So it is that below the level of exquisite analysis now common in our politics, some Americans do exist who credit a connection between September 11 and events in Iraq. Perhaps there will be a poll out in a few weeks that will expose their sentiment to the greater weight and rigor of statistical science.
In time even Pearl Harbor became more a symbol than the bloody reality that ultimately hurled American forces against a Germany that didn't attack us at Pearl Harbor.
In 1941, Japanese warplanes attacked Pearl Harbor. That got President Franklin D Roosevelt to declare war not just on Japan, but on Japan's allies at the time - Germany and Italy.
Japan and Germany alliance had nothing to do with love for each other. Hitler was a white supremacist. But Japan was far enough away from Germany to not to be a threat. So while Germany aspired to rule over all of Europe, Japan aspired to rule over all of Asia. That brought Japan and Germany into conflict against Great Britain, France, Russia, China and the USA.
So in World War 2, Japan, Germany and Italy were on one side. On the other side was USA, Great Britain, Russia, France and China.
In the early 21st century, the USA is in conflict with some Middle Eastern terrorists. There is Al Quiada, who want to terrorize the world into submission to Islamic faith. That brings Al Quaida into conflict with the USA, Israel, Great Britain, Spain, India, Phillipines and other nations.
Saddam Hussein is not a part of Al Quaida. However, he is allied with Al Quaida against the USA. In 1991, Hussein led Iraqi troops into invading Kuwait. President Bush Sr. decided to defend Kuwait. Hussein became enemy of America. Al Quaida is enemy of America. So the worry was that Hussein might be supplying weapons to Al Quaida.
The 9/11 attacks were committed by Al Quaida. President Bush Jr decided to declare war on Al Quaida. Al Quaida was headquartered in Afghanistan, so Afghanistan was invaded 1st.
Since Hussein had interests in destroying the USA, Bush decided "might as well invade Iraq too".
So just like how FDR fought against both Germany and Japan, GWB fought against both Al Quaida and Afghanistan.
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