The Best American Idol

I got an email advertising this clip from YouTube tonight. Let's clear up a few things first: she sings the heck out of this. While she may be criticized for where she chooses to take breaths, it is beautifully and masterfully sung.

Watch the clip (it really is very good):

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLLMzr3PFgk&]

However, along with this clip, within the email...was this proposition:

"PLEASE watch and listen to the attachment of Carrie Underwood singing her heart out on "How Great Thou Art", I first saw it on T.V. last Friday night and she brought tears to my eye's and the audience to there feet, and I'll bettcha God heard her in Heaven cause if you watch her closely as she sings, she was singing to Him........."

The thing is, the song is great. Carrie is great. It is well done by both her and Vince.

But I wonder if this song, in this context, is being performed as a hymn or simply as a spiritual song. Is there a difference?

I don't doubt that she was singing to "Him" but I wonder if the applause from that crowd was for God, or Carrie, or both.

An honest question, I'm not sure how I feel about it.

No matter who the applause and praise was for..."I bettcha God heard her in Heaven." I'm pretty sure God hears everything. Especially words sung in praise to God.

-B

Patriot Network TV

This guy is a community college professor in Arizona. His whole premise is that Obama is going against the American people by siding with the drug cartels and filing a lawsuit to stop Arizona's illegal immigration codes (SB1070) from going through. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsH8xvjTAlo]

Only a few comments:

  • "Let that sink in."  How about, no.
  • The President should never be referred to as "Mr. Obama," but rather, "President Obama."
  • The uses of the words "patriot" and "great Americans" imply that others against the movement are not either. I hate that.
  • Videos that are intended to be seen as off the cuff speeches (no obvious TelePrompTers) are always more effective when they also appear unedited.
  • "You're next." No. Please don't compare illegal immigration to the Holocaust. It is offensive, severely offensive.
  • It sounds like he has been hanging out with Sarah Palin for too long.
  • His watch would be cooler if it played music.
  • Arizona's racism and harsh attitude toward illegal immigrants is so last year.
  • I still say that our ancestors immigrated illegally here. The Natives hated it.

-B

Why does respect have to be used in this way?

We all respect those who have given of themselves to protect us overseas. Both liberals and conservatives.

So why do we have to shove this attitude of respect into people's faces?

A right is a right, and someone fought for it. We get it.

Don't make a child feel bad that his/her religious beliefs calls on them not to pledge their allegiance to the flag by ASSUMING that they aren't being respectful or patriotic.

This is how America ought to be different than the rest of the world.

-B

WWII Posters

Got this email today.  I'll include it as it appeared, but with pictures arranged in a slideshow like before.  My comments will be below.

Old War II posters found .

Most of us are too young to recall  these posters and WWII, but they were a part of our parents' lives and a  good demonstrations of the values of that time. These are great.   Pass them along, especially to your older email buddies "WW II Posters Found"

I wonder whatever  happened to this kind of thinking. I got a lump in  my throat when I read this. I "grew up"  thinking: patriotism, it is the AMERICAN way! I am glad to see  that somebody saved them. The statement at the end  says it all!

[slideshow]

These were our parents. What in  God's name have we let happen? I guess we are the last generation  to see, or even remember anything like these? Whatever happened?  Political correctness (or "re-education") happened, lack of God's  name happened, lack of personal responsibility happened, lack of  personal integrity and honesty happened, lack of respect and loyalty  to our country happened, lack of being an American  happened.

Did all of these die along with common sense?!? I'm proud to be an American! If you are too.. pass it along, in English!

If you didn't find the English crack offensive, stop reading here and spare us all your comments.

A couple of things:

"Lack of being an American happened"

Really?

"Lack of respect and loyalty to our country happened"

Please tell that to every family that has a member in Afghanistan or anywhere overseas.

"I guess we are the last generation to see, or even remember anything like these?"

Yeah, you're absolutely right. How could we have missed Fox News over the past 9 years?

The MOST interesting part though, is in the rhetoric.  It is SO interesting to me how people react (namely Americans) when we are attacked on our home ground.  The words on these posters are the EXACT same thing we've seen from "true patriots" since September 11th.

How many countries have we attacked on their home ground? Please think back to history class and remind yourself how WWII ended.

I think our short record of a few on our home land is pretty good.  Especially considering the destruction we have caused all in the name of "freedom".

Listen, I have just as much respect for our troops, our leaders, our country as any other patriotic American.  I do agree that things have changed in terms of patriotism since the days of the World Wars.  I was taught to stop what I was doing and stand for an American flag passing by.  Most people don't anymore. But, I don't go around parading the fact that America is going to doom. And I don't make strong statements that aren't true. This accusatory tone is what is ripping our country apart.

When can we go back to "United We Stand"?

-B

How DOES the Queen run such a government?

From time to time (and by that I mean every day), I get emails (I won't say from whom) regarding our government and most recently (as of the 2008 election), our leader. Today, I got this one (do yourself a favor and read it):

The Queen's Riddle

Barack Obama met with the Queen of England .. He asked her, "Your Majesty, how do you run such an efficient government? Are there any tips you can give to me?"

"Well," said the Queen, "the most important thing is to surround yourself with intelligent people."

Obama frowned, and then asked, "But how do I know the people around me are really intelligent?"

The Queen took a sip of tea. "Oh, that's easy; you just ask them to answer an intelligent riddle." The Queen pushed a button on her intercom.. "Please send Tony Blair in here, would you?"

Tony Blair walked into the room and said, "Yes, my Queen?"

The Queen smiled and said, "Answer me this please,Tony, your mother and father have a child. It is not your brother and it is not your sister. Who is it?"

Without pausing for a moment, Tony Blair answered, "That would be me."

"Yes! Very good," said the Queen.

Obama went back home to ask Joe Biden, his vice presidential choice the same question. "Joe, answer this for me. Your mother and your father have a child. It's not your brother and it's not your sister. Who is it?"

"I'm not sure," said Biden. "Let me get back to you on that one.." He went to his advisors and asked every one, but none could give him an answer. Finally, he ended up in the men's room and recognized Colin Powell's shoes in the next stall.

Biden asked Powell, "Colin, can you answer this for me? Your mother and father have a child and it's not your brother or your sister. Who is it?"

Colin Powell yelled back, "That's easy, it's me!"

Biden smiled, and said, "Thanks!" Then, he went back to speak with Obama. "Say, I did some research and I have the answer to that riddle...... It's Colin Powell!"

Obama got up, stomped over to Biden, and angrily yelled into his face, "No! you idiot! It's Tony Blair!"

AND THAT MY FRIENDS IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR GOVERNMENT.

I suppose it would be funny if:

1) It were actually funny or possibly realistic (I mean, I can see it working with Bush perhaps)

2) The Queen actually ran the government (and we all know how this has changed through the centuries)

3) The Prime Minister was Tony Blair (seeing how the email was sent to my referer today, didn't Blair leave like three years ago?)

4) The Economy of the UK right now was stellar.

5) The Queen wasn't outspending her welcome and there weren't British groups asking for an end to monarchy.

6) If it was funny.

Alas, I suppose all of that is too much to ask.

-B