Power

Day 23 - Hero

"A song that describes the person closest to me."

 

"Hero"

by Mariah Carey

There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are

There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold

You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will disappear

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

Oh oh, Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone
Tear them away, hey yeah

Just hold on
There will be tomorrow
And in time, you find the way, hey

Then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

That a hero lies in you
Mmm, that a hero lies in you

Janae, you're my hero. You have strength, and courage, and spirit, and empathy, and laughter. When I grow up, I want to be just like you.

Day 22 - Mean

"A song from an artist I think is overrated."

(I first chose Lady GaGa, but all her songs and videos were too offensive. So then I went to Britney Spears and had the same problem, only to a lesser degree. I finally had to go to Taylor Swift).

 

"Mean"

by Taylor Swift

 You, with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me
You, have knocked me off my feet again got me feeling like I'm nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard, calling me out when I'm wounded
You, pickin' on the weaker man

Well, you can take me down with just one single blow
But you don't know what you don't know

Someday I'll be living in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

You, with your switching sides and your walk-by lies and your humiliation
You, have pointed out my flaws again as if I don't already see them
I'll walk with my head down trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress you
I just wanna feel okay again

I'll bet you got pushed around, somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now 'cause you can't lead me down that road
And you don't know what you don't know

Someday I'll be living in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

And I can see you years from now in a bar, talking over a football game
With that same big loud opinion but nobody's listening
Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing

But all you are is mean
All you are is mean and a liar and pathetic and alone in life
And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean

But someday I'll be living in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeah
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

Someday, I'll be, living in a big old city
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

Day 21 - She's Gone

"A song from a band I used to love but now I hate."

 

"She's Gone"

by Hall and Oates

Whooo-oooo, mmm-hmmm

Whooo-oooo

 Everybody's high on consolation
Everybody's trying to tell me what is right for me, yeah
My daddy tried to bore me with a sermon
you know it's plain to see that they can't comfort me

Sorry Charlie for the imposition
But I believe I got the strength to carry on
I need a drink and a quick decision
Now it's up to me, ooh what will be

She's Gone, Oh I, Oh I,
  I better learn how to face it
She's Gone, and She's gone, Oh I, Oh I, Oh I

I'd pay the devil to replace her
She's Gone - what went wrong

Up in the morning look in the mirror, look in the mirror
I'm worn as her tooth brush hanging in the stand, in the stand, in the stand
my face ain't looking any younger
now I can see love's taken her toll on me

She's Gone, Oh I, Oh I, Oh I

I better learn how to face it
She's Gone, and she's gone, Oh I, Oh I,

I'd pay the devil to replace her
She's Gone - what went wrong

Think I'll spend eternity in the city
let the carbon and monoxide choke my thoughts away, yeah,
and pretty bodies help dissolve the memories

they might help
but they can never be what she was to me

She's Gone, Oh I, 

I better learn how to face it
She's Gone, She's gone, 

Can't believe that she's gone, Oh I

I'd pay the devil to replace her

I can't believe it

I gotta believe it

I gotta learn, I gotta learn

Day 20 - The Way I Am

"A song from a band I heard about before they were cool."

"The Way I Am"

by Ingrid Michaelson

(WARNING: Clowns in video)

If you were falling, then I would catch you
You need a light, I'd find a match

Cuz I love the way you say good morning
And you take me the way I am

If you are chilly, here take my sweater
Your head is aching; I'll make it better

Cuz I love the way you call me baby
And you take me the way I am

I'd buy you Rogaine when you start losing all your hair
Sew on patches to all you tear

Cuz I love you more than I could ever promise
And you take me the way I am
You take me the way I am
You take me the way I am

"We Climb Because They Climbed"

Only today did I become aware of the Dallas, Texas, 9/11 Memorial Climb. There were 343 firefighters participating, one to represent each member of the New York City Fire Department that died in the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Each of today's firefighters was given a badge with the name and biographical sketch of an FDNY firefighter who gave their life on September 11th.

I am proud to say that my cousin Dusty was one of the firefighters participating in the memorial today. These firefighters from Dallas and surrounding areas climbed, in full turn-out gear, 110 floors (55 floors twice) of the Renaissance Tower in Dallas.  What a fitting memorial! 

Worthy to note, however, is that today's climbers trained for months in preparation for the memorial climb. They weren't climbing against scores of panicked civilians trying to get down. There was no smoke, no fumes, no screaming, nothing blocking their way. No one was bleeding or injured. There was no hurry. There was no heart-locked knowledge of extreme danger. There was no threat to the lives of the firefighters or to anyone else.

The FDNY didn't have those advantages.

Knowledge of today's climb and seeing a video containing Dusty caused the American Eagle in my soul to raise its head a bit more. I am proud of being part of one nation, UNDER GOD. I am proud of the human spirit. I am an American!

Learn more at www.dallasstairclimb.com and LIKE their Facebook Page, Dallas 9/11 Memorial Climb.

FDNY, those who fell and those who still stand, and those who have joined the ranks since September 11, 2001, I remember you.

And Dusty, I remember you!

9/11 Angel

It was my honor to hear this song and see the video for the first time on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The artist is Becky James; she's a friend of my friend Valarie. Becky shares lyrics copyright with Sarah McLachlan. The lyrics are written for the Rescue Personnel from 9/11 and those additional Rescue Personnel who came from other states to assist in the many, many days of toil that followed. It is doubly my honor to share this with you. The song plays through twice, but the video is different. At first she is in New York, then she visits other Fire Companies that served at Ground Zero.

 "Angel -- September 11, 2001, Memorial Rendition"

by Becky James

Spend all my time waiting

for another day

For a day that will make it okay

There must be a reason,

but I don't understand

Why I'm here and you were taken away

No way of knowing

you didn't stand a chance

One's mind cannot fathom such hate

If you can hear me,

I want you to know

I would gladly have taken your place

In the arms of the Angels

Far away from here

In your peaceful surrender

You stood tall in the face of fear

I will never forget you

I salute you my dear friend

In the arms of the Angels

We shall meet someday again

The day's long been over,

but my anger rages on

Images seep from my veins

The world keeps on turning,

but it's not like before

Life will forever be changed

A solemn reminder

that freedom has a price

Makes it easier to believe

This sheer madness,

this immeasurable sadness

That brings me to my knees

In the arms of the Angels

Far away from here

In your peaceful surrender

You stood tall in the face of fear

I will never forget you

I salute you my dear friend

In the arms of the Angels

We shall meet someday again

In the arms of the Angels

We shall meet again.

All gave some, and some gave all. I remember you.

And to Becky James, who brought comfort to so many, putting into words that which many couldn't, I remember you.

Remembering 9/11/2001

It's been ten long years since that horrible day when hate came to us. When death visited our own soil. When innocents and innocence were obliterated. When thousands of Americans died and the rest of us mourned. Well, not all of us. Many Muslims rejoiced. They danced in the streets.

Here are the deaths that day. Read them and weep.

     In New York City, New York:
          World Trade Center Towers -- 2,606
          American Flight 11 -- 87
          United Flight 175 -- 60

     In Arlington, Virginia:
          The Pentagon -- 125
          American Flight 77 -- 59

     In a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania:
          United Flight 93 -- 40

     Total Deaths 09/11/2001 -- 2,996

Of these deaths, included are 411 Rescue Personnel:

     New York Fire Department -- 340 Firefighters
                                                                -- 2 Paramedics
                                                                -- 1 Chaplain

     New York Police Department -- 23 Officers

     New York Port Authority Police -- 37 Officers

     Private Medical Services -- 8 Emergency Medical Technicians
     & Paramedics

Let's not forget these were people, not just numbers:

United States Department of Justice Photo.

A collage of photographs of almost 3,000 victims,

nearly all of those who were killed

during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001

(missing are 92 of the victims and all of the terrorists).

And remember also the thousands of loved ones left behind. The pain represented here is beyond comprehension and will continue into the next generations. People from over 70 countries were murdered that day.

From the rubble of the World Trade Centers appeared a Cross. It was a simple crossbeam of a demolished building, but it was a Cross. And it was standing. No one assembled it. No one erected it. It became a symbol of hope from the Hands of God. And now it has become a point of controversy from those who are suing to prevent the inclusion of the Cross in the 9/11 Memorial Museum, because "it's a religious symbol."

In June of 2007, now-president Barack Obama proclaimed, "Whatever we once were, we're no longer a Christian nation. At least not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, and a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers." At the speech, Obama also blasted the Christians for hijacking religion and using it to divide the nation: "Somehow, somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and started being used to drive us apart. It got hijacked. Part of it's because of the so-called leaders of the Christian Right, who've been all too eager to exploit what divides us," he said.

And in 2010, he officially gave his stamp of approval, as President of the United States, for the construction of a mosque near Ground Zero. I'm not always certain how I feel about that.

Yes, I'm aware of the many 9/11 conspiracy theories, most of which blame our American government for the plan and execution of the atrocities of that day. War is good for the economy. Some say war makes good politics. There are those still living today who vehemently proscribe that President Kennedy would have soon stopped the Vietnam War, but after his assassination, President Johnson ensured it would continue for many years so there would continue to be jobs and export and a solid economy.

I don't believe myself to be an extremist, but I do believe that we are becoming a Muslim nation with a Socialist government. Check out this video with clips prior to Barack Obama's election as President.

I intended this blog entry to be a memorial for human devastation on and after 09/11/2001. I did NOT intend it to turn anti-Obama or anti-Muslim. But somehow my fingers kept typing, so somewhere in my mind I must be convinced that it's all connected. I give President Obama the respect due his office, and I treat Muslims whom I meet with the respect and kindness that Jesus Christ demands and I willingly obey.

"If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14, King James Version

And to the 2,996 people who died on 09/11/2001, and to their families, and to their following generations, I remember you.

For my own memories of that infamous day, please read my blog entry Osama/Obama.

Day 19 - Victory in Jesus

"The song I sing most often."

(My favorite hymn).

"Victory in Jesus"

by Eugene Monroe Bartlett, Sr., 1939

I heard an old, old story
How a Saviour came from glory
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me

I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood's atoning
Then I repented of my sin
And won the victory.

Oh, victory in Jesus,
My Saviour forever
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood
He loved me 'ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing power revealing
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see

And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit!"
And somehow Jesus came and brought
To me the victory.

Oh, victory in Jesus,
My Saviour forever
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood
He loved me 'ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in Glory
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea
About the angels singing
And the old redemption story
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
This song of victory!

Oh, victory in Jesus,
My Saviour forever
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood
He loved me 'ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood.

First Responders & Clergy Unwelcome at Ground Zero

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of the terror that was 9/11. An entire day of memorial ceremonies has been planned at Ground Zero. And current New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has stated that first responders are not welcome. Due to "space constraints."

I kept hearing the rumors. I even re-posted on Facebook. But I don't think I really believed it. So I went to my ever-present source of rumor validity: www.snopes.com

And it's true.

Quoting CNN, Snopes has written: "...It's a painful insult for many of the approximately 3000 men and women who risked their lives, limbs, and lungs on that monumental day, puncturing another hole in a still searing wound..."

Funny. Firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, nurses, and police officers, to name only some of the first responders, weren't invited on that Tuesday morning, 09/11/2001, either. But they rushed to the scene as others were rushing away, and due to their efforts, many people survived the attacks. And 411 of the first responders didn't. By all means, let's exclude them from the memorial services.

Spiritual leaders are also excluded, as they have been from every 9/11 anniversary commemoration. The mayor says these exclusions are "to focus on the families."

Yes, the families. But CNN reported on September 6 that many "9/11 families" were confused, appalled, irritated, and anxious because they still had not received an invitation. Family members have made numerous attempts calling the Office of the Mayor. Most of those calls have not been returned. Some families were told, "Don't worry, you'll get your invitation next week," but have yet to receive an invitation. With the enormous crowds, how do they get in without an invitation? How can they prove they're a "9/11 family?"

So it seems that the 10th Anniversary Commemoration of 09/11/2001 may only be a forum for the politicians.

Meanwhile, two blocks away, preparation for the construction of a mosque continues.

9/11 first responders, I remember you.