Sunday, February 27, 2011

Dance to Zenga Zenga Video, Music and Lyrics: Gaddafi Zenga Zenga RAP

Translation:

Inch, inch. house, house. home, home. zanga zanga

Forward, forward, Revolution, Revolution

(Repeat)

I got millions on my side not from the inside but from other countries. From here i send a call to all the millions of the desert.. from desert to desert the millions will march and no one will be able to stop them.

Fast, fast

(Repeat)

The bell of work has rang!, the bell to march has rang!, the bell of victory has rang!, no turning back!

(Repeat)

Enjoy!! Gaddafi RAP

Friday, February 11, 2011

Egypt Rises Again as Hosni Mubarak Falls Down: Huge Celebrations in the Streets of Cairo, Children Are Embracing, Kissing Soldiers

Today is the day for celebrations! It is the time to sleep! No, it is such an emotional time for all freedom lovers of the world and all eyewitnesses of the Egyptian protests. The forces of the people have toppled a dictator.

Google, Facebook, and Twitter, the power of the Internet and communication, the resilience of the young people of Egypt, the working class, the middle class and the upper class of Egypt descended on the street go against a defiant Hosni Mubarak. Every single Egyptian and many other people of the world, From Tunisia to the South of Sudan, are rejoicing in the realization of power exercised by Egyptians.

After three weeks of massive protests, the people of Egypt got what they've always wanted. They have been protesting against an autocratic government, against the bad working conditions of the working class and lack of opportunities. Despite all the defiance shown by Hosni Mubarak, he was finally forced to step down.

Celebrations are everywhere now! From Tahir Square to Wall Street, Cairo to Washington and anywhere Egyptians are living. More importantly, twitter users, Internet and blogophiles are all rejoicing over the power of the people of Egypt.

These new events follow the deposition of the Tunisian dictator in Tunisia. Now it is Egypt's turn to boot a strongman, a dictator in the person of Hosni Mubarack. These new developments come as a surprise for the few remaining dictators around the world. Ultimately, the power comes back to the people!

Today, the young people of Egypt, the children of Egypt, Old as well as young people, have reclaimed their voice. They obtain their victory and do not forget those who became martyrs for this revolution.

The Google executive who was imprisoned became a voice in this country. He came back upon his release to reignite the flames of freedom. He turned out to be a good organizer of the Tahir crowd.

Wael Ghonim, Google Executive on leave, plans to write a book about revolution 2.0. He realized that his mission has accomplished. His contribution was to only participate in the revolution. He wants to go back to his company to work. He stated that he accomplished his role. Wael Ghonim does not want all the attention to be on him. He is thinking about the martyrs and future of his country.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Crystal Cathedral Declared Bankruptcy: Mega Churches Are Hit Hard by Recession and Failing Economy

The recent news shocked everybody. But nobody was immune from the precarious conditions of the country. Faithful are not able to contribute to the works of the church. If they do, the collections are not enough to pay the debt and interests on huge loans.

Crystal Cathedral is one of the first megachurches to file for bankruptcy in this economy, but it is not the only one that is suffering due to lack of funds.

The church's budget woes have forced it to downsize its staff, cancel programming in certain markets, and even send home choir and orchestra members.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Pastor Eddie Long Accused of Sexual Improprieties: Pastor Long's Sexual Scandal

A mega church pastor is in the spotlight these days. Some of the male participants in his youth academy accused him of coercing them into sex with expensive gifts and trips on his private jet to nice resorts. Pastor Long said he is not a perfect man, but that he wants to fight these charges in court. He wants justice.

According to ABCnews, CBS, NBC, CNN and various other networks, the pastor has sent very personal pictures to these young men. He poses in sports, sexy, and tight t-shirts in bathrooms and sends these pictures to the men. Many critics feel that a pastor should not do that. God knows what else he sent and remains to be uncovered in court!

Being a minister in the age of quick technology, social networks, smartphones requires a lot of self-control. Apparently, Pastor Long was not exercising any self-restraint when he released these pictures. In addition, he is married to a beautiful woman. How come his wife did not notice anything? How come she does not come to support her man?

It has been reported that other church leaders closed their eyes on the fact that these types of activities are occurring in church. Videos of pastors, clergymen seducing church members are all the rage online. Pastors as well as priests are preying on the flock! Watch out, churchgoers! Keep your girls and boys close to you

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Tribute to Dorothy I. Height, Matriarch of the American Civil Rights Movement, a True Hat-wearing Sister With Great Fashion Flair

A true giant, a true shero is gone. Dorothy I. Height has served us well. Her legacy will be around for a long time. She fought the good fight for men and women. She created bridges among the various ethnic groups. She had friends among the powerful and the destitute. She was always around when the huge decision had to be taken. Dr. Height wore many hats throughout the years. She was fond of great hat architecture. She wore them too.

So long, Dorothy! We will see you in Heaven some day!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Afrrican-American Church Ladies Wear Hot Hats on Palm Sunday

On Palm Sunday, all over the US, the Caribbean and the rest of the world, Christians are ready to go to church. They want to give their best to the Lord. Nowhere has the church-going taken a fashion show sense than some parts of the US and the Caribbean where women wear their best outfits adorned with exceptional hats. It is a tradition passed down from grandmothers to daughters. Followers of Church of God in Christ take great pride in wearing their best dresses and suits on this day.

So all over the country, you will see beautiful people going to church on Palm Sunday. Please pay attention to their hats!











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Sunday, April 4, 2010

Pope Benedict's 2010 Easter Message: Pope Prayed for Haiti and Chile but Made No Mention of Sex Scandal Broiling the Holy See

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I bring you the Easter proclamation in these words of the Liturgy, which echo the ancient hymn of praise sung by
the Israelites after crossing the Red Sea. It is recounted in the Book of Exodus (cf 15:19-21) that when they had crossed the sea on dry land, and saw the Egyptians submerged by the waters, Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, and the other women sang and danced to this song of joy: “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed wonderfully: horse and rider he has thrown into the sea!” Christians throughout the world repeat this canticle at the Easter Vigil, and a special prayer explains its meaning; a prayer that now, in the full light of the resurrection, we joyfully make our own: “Father, even today we see the wonders of the miracles you worked long ago. You once saved a single nation from slavery, and now you offer that salvation to all through baptism. May the peoples of the world become true sons of Abraham and prove worthy of the heritage of Israel.”

The Gospel has revealed to us the fulfillment of the ancient figures: in his death and resurrection, Jesus Christ has freed us from the radical slavery of sin and opened for us the way towards the promised land, the Kingdom of God, the universal Kingdom of justice, love and peace. This “exodus” takes place first of all within man himself, and it consists in a new birth in the Holy Spirit, the effect of the baptism that Christ has given us in his Paschal Mystery. The old man yields his place to the new man; the old life is left behind, and a new life can begin (cf. Rom 6:4). But this spiritual “exodus” is the beginning of an integral liberation, capable of renewing us in every dimension – human, personal and social.

Yes, my brothers and sisters, Easter is the true salvation of humanity! If Christ – the Lamb of God – had not poured out his blood for us, we would be without hope, our destiny and the destiny of the whole world would inevitably be death. But Easter has reversed that trend: Christ’s resurrection is a new creation, like a graft that can regenerate the whole plant. It is an event that has profoundly changed the course of history, tipping the scales once and for all on the side of good, of life, of pardon. We are free, we are saved! Hence from deep within our hearts we cry out: “Let us sing to the Lord: glorious his triumph!”

The Christian people, having emerged from the waters of baptism, is sent out to the whole world to bear witness to this salvation, to bring to all people the fruit of Easter, which consists in a new life, freed from sin and restored to its original beauty, to its goodness and truth. Continually, in the course of two thousand years, Christians – especially saints – have made history fruitful with their lived experience of Easter. The Church is the people of the Exodus, because she constantly lives the Paschal Mystery and disseminates its renewing power in every time and place. In our days too, humanity needs an “exodus”, not just superficial adjustment, but a spiritual and moral conversion. It needs the salvation of the Gospel, so as to emerge from a profound crisis, one which requires deep change, beginning with consciences.

I pray to the Lord Jesus that in the Middle East, and especially in the land sanctified by his death and resurrection, the peoples will accomplish a true and definitive “exodus” from war and violence to peace and concord. To the Christian communities who are experiencing trials and sufferings, especially in Iraq, the Risen Lord repeats those consoling and encouraging words that he addressed to the Apostles in the Upper Room: “Peace be with you!” (Jn 20:21).

For the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that are seeing a dangerous resurgence of crimes linked to drug trafficking, let Easter signal the victory of peaceful coexistence and respect for the common good. May the beloved people of Haiti, devastated by the appalling tragedy of the earthquake, accomplish their own “exodus” from mourning and from despair to a new hope, supported by international solidarity. May the beloved citizens of Chile, who have had to endure another grave catastrophe, set about the task of reconstruction with tenacity, supported by their faith.

In the strength of the risen Jesus, may the conflicts in Africa come to an end, conflicts which continue to cause destruction and suffering, and may peace and reconciliation be attained, as guarantees of development. In particular I entrust to the Lord the future of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea and Nigeria.

May the Risen Lord sustain the Christians who suffer persecution and even death for their faith, as for example in Pakistan. To the countries afflicted by terrorism and by social and religious discrimination, may He grant the strength to undertake the work of building dialogue and serene coexistence. To the leaders of nations, may Easter bring light and strength, so that economic and financial activity may finally be driven by the criteria of truth, justice and fraternal aid. May the saving power of Christ’s resurrection fill all of humanity, so that it may overcome the multiple tragic expressions of a “culture of death” which are becoming increasingly widespread, so as to build a future of love and truth in which every human life is respected and welcomed.

Dear brothers and sisters, Easter does not work magic. Just as the Israelites found the desert awaiting them on the far side of the Red Sea, so the Church, after the resurrection, always finds history filled with joy and hope, grief and anguish. And yet, this history is changed, it is marked by a new and eternal covenant, it is truly open to the future. For this reason, saved by hope, let us continue our pilgrimage, bearing in our hearts the song that is ancient and yet ever new: “Let us sing to the Lord: glorious his triumph!”
pilgrimage, bearing in our hearts the song that is ancient and yet ever new: “Let us sing to the Lord: glorious his triumph!”us sing to the Lord: glorious his triumph!”

TD Jakes's Palm Sermons: Change is Coming Despite The Oppression of the Assyrians; Pray When Your Car Is Sliding on Ice

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Breaking Church News: Pastor Rick Warren's Record Collection: $2.5 Million

Saddleback Pastor and "The Purpose-Driven Life" Author Rick Warren Got Answers to His Prayers and Urgent Letter

God does answer his people's prayer these days. He did it in the past. He will continue to do it. It does not help if you are well-connected and have some fame. That is what happened to Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church.

According to Daily News, Evangelical pastor Rick Warren's got a new purpose in life: to raise $900K by the first of the year for his struggling church.

Warren, the author of the best-selling book 'The Purpose-Driven Life' and pastor at Saddleback Church, needs the money to fill a giant hole in the church's budget resulting from significantly lower donations, the Associated Press reported.

Warren wrote an urgent letter to his parishioners asking for the money.

"Dear Saddleback Family, THIS IS AN URGENT LETTER," he wrote. "With 10 percent of our church family out of work due to the recession, our expenses in caring for our community in 2009 rose dramatically while our income stagnated."

Monday, September 28, 2009

Michelle Obama Greeted Other Heads of State with a Kiss on the Cheeck, but Offered Handshake to "Ladies Man" Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi

No Kiss for You, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi! You are a bad boy who needs to face a powerful, tall woman! He got a lesson in being a cad! Michelle made all women proud during g20 Summit in Pittsburg! President Obama was not too happy with his gesture. Respect another man's wife, Silvio!






Why does he always put his foot in his mouth? Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi continues to make mistakes. He continues to commit gaffes.

Berlusconi told a Milan rally of conservative supporters on Sunday that he was bringing greetings from the United States from "What's his name? Some tanned guy. Ah, Barack Obama!"

Shortly after Obama's election in November 2008, Berlusconi raised eyebrows by saying the victor was "young, handsome, and even has a good tan."

This time, Berlusconi, a billionaire media mogul who began his career as a cruise ship entertainer, also took a jab at the First Lady.

"You won't believe it," he said, "but two of them went to the beach because the wife is also tanned."

Berlusconi is known for his gaffes. Most people know that he likes to see an attractive woman. It seems that he is not held up to the same standards as other people.

One may wonder whether Michelle, knowing his sexual scandal stories, found him creepy. Many European publishers show him looking at Michelle's dress instead of her face. He was waiting for her to come greet him or kiss him. Michelle refused and only gave him a handshake.

Good for you, Michelle! President knew he was dealing with a foxy Silvio Berlusconi. So he made it a point of standing right there with his wife to keep the encounter pleasant. No matter how much money a man has, he needs to respect women, specially another powerful man's wife! Keep your come on to big daddy moves to yourself, little man, Silvio!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Vox Populi: Twitter Gives Voice to Iranians after #IranElection, Twitter Revolution

Who would have thought that the only media network that Iranians depend on to broadcast their protests would be Twitter. Twitter has taken social networks to a higher level. The same can be said of Facebook which has just allowed users to claim their own name on their profile. Great job!

Since Twitter has realized its power after these elections, it does not even want to update its system fearing that many people may be cut. So they postponed the updates till tomorrow.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Mr. Obama Surprised Aides with Passover, Seder Dinner at White House

Mr. Obama is showing respoect to various cultures. After touring some muslim countries where he showed respect to their culture, he came home to participate in the Jewish Seder. Everyone is saying that he will be in Jerusalem next year. After returning home and meeting with kings, queens and other heads of state, some bloggers feel he should have not greeted the Saudi Arabia King and the Queen of England a certain way.

What is the Seder?

"The Seder, held in the Old Family Dining Room at the White House with several aides and their families, included the traditional Passover dishes, matzo ball soup, brisket and kugel. The White House chefs prepared the meal after consulting family recipes from several Seder participants.

While the Obamas hosted the dinner, it was overseen by Eric Lesser, a White House aide who helped organize the Seder in Harrisburg during the campaign last year. He is now a special assistant to Mr. Obama’s adviser David Axelrod."

Friday, March 13, 2009

John Legend's Open Letter to the Editor



A recently published cartoon by the New York Post -- that many believed
was linked to President Obama -- has upset a lot of people. The Rev. Al
Sharpton called it "troubling at best." And now, singer John Legend is
as well. Here's his open letter to the Editor:


Dear Editor:

I'm trying to understand what possible motivation you may have had for
publishing that vile cartoon depicting the shooting of the chimpanzee
that went crazy. I guess you thought it would be funny to suggest that
whomever was responsible for writing the Economic Recovery legislation
must have the intelligence and judgment of a deranged, violent
chimpanzee, and should be shot to protect the larger community. Really?
Did it occur to you that this suggestion would imply a connection
between President Barack Obama and the deranged chimpanzee? Did it occur
to you that our President has been receiving death threats since early
in his candidacy? Did it occur to you that blacks have historically been
compared to various apes as a way of racist insult and mockery? Did you
intend to invoke these painful themes when you printed the cartoon?

If that's not what you intended, then it was stupid and willfully
ignorant of you not to connect these easily connectable dots. If it is
what you intended, then you obviously wanted to be grossly provocative,
racist and offensive to the sensibilities of most reasonable Americans.
Either way, you should not have printed this cartoon, and the fact that
you did is truly reprehensible. I can't imagine what possible
justification you have for this. I've read your lame statement in
response to the outrage you provoked. Shame on you for dodging the real
issue and then using the letter as an opportunity to attack Rev.
Sharpton. This is not about Rev. Sharpton. It's about the cartoon being
blatantly racist and offensive. I believe in freedom of speech, and you
have every right to print what you want. But freedom of speech still
comes with responsibilities and consequences. You are responsible for
printing this cartoon, and I hope you experience some real consequences
for it. I'm personally boycotting your paper and won't do any interviews
with any of your reporters, and I encourage all of my colleagues in the
entertainment business to do so as well. I implore your advertisers to
seriously reconsider their business relationships with you as well.


You should print an apology in your paper acknowledging that this
cartoon was ignorant, offensive and racist and should not have been
printed. I'm well aware of our country's history of racism and violence,
but I truly believe we are better than this filth. As we attempt to rise
above our difficult past and look toward a better future, we don't need
the New York Post to resurrect the images of Jim Crow to deride the new
administration and put black folks in our place. Please feel free to
criticize and honestly evaluate our new President, but do so without the
incendiary images and rhetoric.

Sincerely,
John Legend

Jon Stewart vs. Jim Cramer of CNBC




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Sunday, February 1, 2009

Mars Hill Church Pastor, Mark Discoll As Presented by NightLine and The New York Times Magazine: Mars Hill vs. Other Megachurches

What does Mars Hill have in common with other megachurches such as Joe Oesteen's Lakewood church in Houston, Bill Hybel's Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois, T.D. Jakes's Potter's House in Dallas, Texas and Rev. Robert H. Schuller's California's Crystal Cathedral, Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Church?

They all have members in the thousands. And their ministers are very influential people leading the flock. They are respected and are not afraid of taking a stance against popular secular issues. They are willing to stand on the Word of God.

One of these pastors has been featured on Nightline and The New York Magazine lately for his position on various issues and his way of tackling various issues such as masturbation and sex. He is causing some grief to various Christian conservatives who are calling him, "the foul mouth minister or the cussing pastor." Because of his hellfire theology, a large group of critics are staying away from his sermons. Yet, they are very popular on Youtube, Godtube and elsewhere on the Internet.

Pastor Driscoll preaches that women should submit to their husband as found in the Bible. He allows his members to watch "Fight Club" movies, but not the Chronicles of Narnia. The church has worship warms up for about 1 hour of popular hymns by Bruce Springsteen's song, "Born to Run." He may preach for more than 1 hour. That is longer than most pastors do these days.

When he appeared on Nightline, the reporter asked him about masturbation. Once again, he gave an answer that made everybody laugh. "Whatever your hands find to do, use them with all your might..."

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Text of Inaugural Benediction by Rev. Joseph E. Lowery: The Best Inauguration Performance

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou, who has brought us thus far along the way, thou, who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee.

Shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand true to thee, oh God, and true to our native land.

We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we've shared this day.

We pray now, oh Lord, for your blessing upon thy servant Barack Obama, the 44th president of these United States, his family and his administration.

He has come to this high office at a low moment in the national, and indeed the global, fiscal climate. But because we know you got the whole world in your hands, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations.

Our faith does not shrink though pressed by the flood of mortal ills.

For we know that, Lord, you are able and you're willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds, and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor, of the least of these, and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.

We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that yes we can work together to achieve a more perfect union.

And while we have sown the seeds of greed — the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.

And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance.

And as we leave this mountain top, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family. Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will.

Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle. Look over our little angelic Sasha and Malia.

We go now to walk together as children, pledging that we won't get weary in the difficult days ahead. We know you will not leave us alone.

With your hands of power and your heart of love, help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nations shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid, when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around ... when yellow will be mellow ... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.
Here is the speech of the 44th president of the United States of America, Barack Obama, on January 20, 2009

"My fellow citizens,

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.


For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.


This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them— that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.


As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence— the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive ... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."


America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America."

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Blame NYC Plane Crash on Flock of Large Birds but Hail the Hero Pilot, Sully!


The Hudson Hero

No Selffishness, one for all

But all were praying for a safe crash landing

High amount of responsibility

The pilot kept his cool under pressure

and saved many lives

Passengers and family members rejoiced over

His expertise and heroism

Upon crashing damaged aircraft

In the Hudson river

Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!

that is the sould of America

The airline industry sings high praises

Halleluia! Amen