'The King' is dead. Michael Jackson, 1958-2009

They say you’ll always remember where you were when you heard a stunning piece of news (such as the death of JFK, the death of Elvis, the 9/11 attacks, etc). I guess that's true. I know I wont forget the moment I first heard that Michael Jackson had died.

Ed McMahon died yesterday. I wasn’t shocked really. He was 86, so I guess I felt he had lived a full life and it was just his time to go. Then I saw today that Farrah Fawcett died today. She was 62. This was not exactly a shock either, since she’d been battling cancer for a while. But I didn’t see this one coming at all.

Today, things started as just another weekday afternoon. I was driving home when my wife, a journalist with a national news outlet, called. She said she might be home later than usual. The reason: Michael Jackson had had a heart attack and was in the hospital, and if, God forbid, he should die, she’d have to work late to cover what would be a huge story. When I hung up the phone, I was hoping for the best, not sure what to expect. But when my cell phone rang again 11 minutes later, I had a bad feeling as I answered the call.

“I’ll be working late tonight. We just got the news Michael Jackson died”

“Are you sure?”

‘Yeah pretty sure.”

“Are they carrying it on the network yet?

“No. Not yet, but we have some pretty solid information on this. We just need to verify it fully before we run the story, but we have every reason to believe it’s true. Don’t tell anybody yet, because it’s not yet official... but right now, it looks like it's true.”

I continued driving, making two stops on the way home, listening to the radio all the way there. “Michael Jackson is dead,” I thought to myself. ‘Wow. This is crazy.”

I listened as the radio host was covering the story, speaking of how Michael Jackson had had a heart attack and was in grave condition. Listeners were calling in , with the callers and the radio host hoping for the best, but gradually sounding increasingly pessimistic. It was kind of odd to me, knowing already that Michael was dead, even though the radio host kept saying he was in grave condition, and that they were waiting for word on how bad the situation actually was.

By the time the radio station finally announced, maybe 90 minutes later, that it was confirmed that Jackson had died, it started to dawn on me just how big a story this was. Jackson was probably the biggest thing since Elvis, and here he was, dying suddenly at a relatively young age (50) much like Elvis did (at 42). I listened to the radio guy rattle off some impressive statistics: 13 Grammy awards, 750 million records sold, etc. And the more I listened, the more it hit me that this was just not another death, as much as I wanted to kind of tell myself that it was just one of many thousands that will take place today and every day. This was the death of a musical and cultural icon – in some ways, the end of an era.

As I sit here typing this, the news networks are still giving this wall-to-wall coverage. I was a kid when Elvis died in 1976, and barely even noticed it, if at all, even though it was a huge story worldwide. But here I am, witnessing first-hand the effects of the sudden death of someone who could be considered the Elvis of this generation, and whose music was in many ways the soundtrack of our generation.

A moment like this often will cause us, rightfully so, to become pensive, even philosophical. It makes one think of how suddenly it can all end. It reminds us of how God can call our number at any time, and how important it is for us to be ready to meet him.

Several scripture verses come to mind at a time like this:

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (Acts 2:40)

For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14)

All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isaiah 40:6-8)

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. (Ecc 12:1,7-8)

Blessings to all who read this blog.

Thanks for visiting.

America's First Muslim President?

Let me start of by saying I was never one to believe all this "Obama is a secret muslim" stuff that's been going around the past year or two. And I still dont consider him a Mulsim. He identifies himself as a Christian and so I take that at face value. (Of course I don't consider him to be a true Christian by bible standards, but just in the nominal sense)

But Frank Gaffney of the Washington Post offers presents a though-provoking article on the topic. His argument is simple but cogent: If Bill Clinton was referred to by some of his admirers as "America's first black president" for his affinity to the black community and "black issues" , Obama could (should?) similarly be considered America's first Muslim president for his very clear affinity to the Muslim community. I guess it makes sense to some degree. You know, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck... that kind of thing. He's definitely been trying to appeal to (some would say "appease") the Muslim world, while taking a tough stance toward Israel up to this point. Definitely something to keep an eye on.

PS
Some of you might want to refer back to a previous post on this blog from March 2008: "What are Obama's Real Views Regarding Israel?"

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From the Washington Times article:

Obama aligns with the policies of Shariah-adherents

By Frank J. Gaffney Jr. | Tuesday, June 9, 2009

During his White House years, William Jefferson Clinton -- someone Judge Sonia Sotomayor might call a "white male" -- was dubbed "America's first black president" by a black admirer. Applying the standard of identity politics and pandering to a special interest that earned Mr. Clinton that distinction, Barack Hussein Obama would have to be considered America's first Muslim president.

This is not to say, necessarily, that Mr. Obama actually is a Muslim any more than Mr. Clinton actually is black. After his five months in office, and most especially after his just-concluded visit to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, however, a stunning conclusion seems increasingly plausible: The man now happy to have his Islamic-rooted middle name featured prominently has engaged in the most consequential bait-and-switch since Adolf Hitler duped Neville Chamberlain over Czechoslovakia at Munich.

What little we know about Mr. Obama's youth certainly suggests that he not only had a Kenyan father who was Muslim, but spent his early, formative years as one in Indonesia. As the president likes to say, "much has been made" -- in this case by him and his campaign handlers -- of the fact that he became a Christian as an adult in Chicago, under the now-notorious Pastor Jeremiah A. Wright.

With Mr. Obama's unbelievably ballyhooed address in Cairo Thursday to what he calls "the Muslim world" (hereafter known as "the Speech"), there is mounting evidence that the president not only identifies with Muslims, but actually may still be one himself. Consider the following indicators:

Full article here.

Anatomy of a Speech.... (are these people serious???)

Ok.  So our dear president Obama gives this groundbreaking speeech in Cairo yesterday addressing the Arab/Muslim world. Of course, the speech has being highly praised by most, not just in the Muslim world , but in the US and Western news media as well. 

I must be listening with a completely different set of ears from most people, because I came away not impressed, but aggravated and annonyed. 

The full text of his speech is available here, but a few things jumped out at me: 

"I've come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap and share common principles, principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings."

Justice? Tolerance? Is he kidding? Excuse me while I barf. 

Maybe he should go visit Persecution.com when he gets a chance... and read up about Christian persecution in Muslim countries. He seems to not know what's really going on. 

 "And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."

Really??

 Now this is Obama's second speech aimed at placating the Muslim world -- remember he gave a somewhat similar speech in Turkey in April. But why has he not rebuked Iran for being a huge (and potentially nuclear) threat to the region, and particularly to  the security of Israel? Why has he not rebuked the Muslim government of Sudan for their slaughter against non-Muslims in Darfur?

"Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state in our union and over 1,200 mosques within our borders." 

This might have been the biggest "eye-rolling" moment for me. Does Obama not know that in much of the Muslim world, Christianity is either banned or severely restricted? Does he not know of the persecution that takes place in Mulim countries all over the world? How ironic that he felt the need to impress these people by telling them how they have freedom to practice their religion here in the U.S., while many of those same people dont allow non-Muslims to  have freedom to preactice their religion in their countries!??

"That's why the United States government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it."

Please. Give me a break. How about the fact that many Muslims get punished in their home countries for converting to Christianity? 

"It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra, our magnetic compass and tools of navigation, our mastery of pens and printing, our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires, timeless poetry and cherished music, elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation."

That may be true. But in recent years, we've seen other notable innovations coming out of Muslim communties ....such as knapsack bombs, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and other clever advances in suicide-bomber technology. (But I guess mentioning that stuff wouldn't fit in with the overall tone of the President's speech.)

Did I listen to the whole speech? No. A  few minutes of it was all I could stand. But I know appeasement when I hear it. And that's all this was:a simple case of  "let's appease and 'kiss up' to the Muslim world". If this is what we have to look forward to for the next four to eight years under President Obama, then God help us all. 

Russian President may push 'new world currency'...

The drive toward a new global currency continues. This is nothing but bad news for the US Dollar, as America's steady decline as a world power, and the rise of the New World Order, continues right before our eyes.
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June 2 (Bloomberg) -- The dollar dropped to its lowest level against the euro this year on speculation record U.S. borrowing will undermine the greenback, prompting nations to consider alternatives to the world’s main reserve currency.

The 16-nation euro gained for a fourth day versus the dollar as the Russian government said emerging-market leaders may discuss the idea of a supranational currency. The pound strengthened to $1.65 for the first time since October.

“There’s been a lot of talk out of Russia about a new global currency, and that’s contributing toward this latest bout of dollar weakness,” said Henrik Gullberg, a currency strategist at Deutsche Bank AG in London. “These latest comments are just adding to the general dollar weakness we’ve seen recently.”