Below, American Soldier by Toby Keith ………………………………………………..
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Veterans Day
As Veterans Day fast approaches, I have found myself reflecting on the service and sacrifice of American men and woman who have served, and now serve, our much blessed Nation. In war time and peace, their service and valor have been a cornerstone in our cause for Freedom, progress and prosperity. From the first shots at Concord in 1775 to the peacekeepers of Enduring Freedom, our veterans have served us valiantly.
We owe them all a great debt of gratitude and many thanks.
Thank you and God bless.
In celebration of American veterans, I am posting the complete lyrics of the National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner and a youtube video of the anthem by the academy choirs.
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The Star-Spangled Banner
O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Senator John McCain conceded the Presidential Election before midnight. America will have it’s first black President. The next President of the United States of America will be President Barack Obama. Unbid tears of joy stream down wet cheeks, amens and praise for God rise loudly to the heavens, and hope burns ever brighter this day of hope, blessing and prayer-answering.
Congratulations and well done.
Mac Got Whacked
Mac came. Mac saw. Mac got recalled.
Senator John McCain delivered an eloquent and gracious concession speech. He acknowledged America’s need for hope. And McCain acknowledged that Senator Barrack Obama is worthy of this great honor and responsibility of the Presidential office.
Said McCain:
“This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.”
Finally, McCain spoke to America from his heart. And that makes me think – McCain’s campaign advisers really sucked for not letting him speak from his heart sooner. They and the rest of the losers dragging McCain’s campaign wagon… sucked big time.
Bigotry will crawl
The overwhelming victory of Barack Obama is a historical victory over bigotry and prejudice. Racism has been conquered. It is not vanquished but it is defeated. Bigotry will crawl where once it held it’s head high.
As Europe wrestles with racial, ethnic and immigrant issues, Europeans must concede that America has made headway towards a sustainable and inspiring multi-cultural civilization- headway that is beyond the reach of european aspirations. The bigotry of the likes of Geert Wilders can now be seen clearly as shameful, foolish and petty in contrast to America’s triumph with the Presidential election of Barack Obama.
Around the world
The peoples of the world will renew their hope in Obama’s triumph and, perhaps, they shall find a deeper commitment to their own cause for freedom and progress. America can not set them free or determine their destiny, but America remains a shining example, an inspiration and a testament of hope.
And those whose envy and hatred set them against our great and noble ambitions, they have seen now the re-awakening of a titan- not a mere giant. They should tremble now with fear and loathing. It’s gonna get bad for them, because prophets (by their very nature) are lousy bed fellows and, worse, straight shooters.
Yes we can
In his victory speech, President Elect Barack Obama spoke of the road ahead, the steep climb, the setbacks, and the challenges that America faces in the work to remake a broken Nation. The prophet of Illinois called upon the American people to meet the challenges ahead with courage, self-reliance, national unity and humility.
The road ahead will be interesting. It will be difficult. We may fail. But we are even more likely to succeed.
Yes we can.
Below, We are the champions from Queen. ………………………………………………..
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Stan Faryna
November 4, 2008
11:30pm
Fairfax, Virginia
Mr. Faryna is the founder and co-founder of several technology, design and communication companies in the United States and Europe including Faryna & Associates, Inc., Halo Interactive, and others.
Stan Faryna is also a Global Voices author and translator. Global Voices is a non-profit global citizens’ media project founded at Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society, a research think-tank focused on the Internet’s impact on society.
Mr. Faryna also served as editor-in-chief of Black and Right (Praeger Press, 1996), a landmark collection of socio-political essays by important American thinkers including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Copyright
Copyright 1996 to 2008 by Stan Faryna.
Here’s my fair use policy for my content:
If you want to share my content with your own audience, you may quote a brief excerpt, if and only if, you provide proper attribution (Source: The unofficial blog of Stan Faryna) with a direct link to the source. Generally speaking, as long as you are not acting as an agent or on behalf of a corporation or institution, I am not interested in any payment for the quotation or use of a complete article. Nevertheless, you may not republish or translate the entire article without my written permission. Send your request for permission by inmail through Linkedin or contact me through Buzzfuse.
Below, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I have a Dream speech. ………………………………………………..
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Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell, celebrated Hoover Institute Scholar, author and black conservative, writes:
“Whatever one may think about Obama as a candidate or as a potential President, his candidacy has brought something new to the American political scene.”
Since Ronald Reagan, no presidential candidate has emphasized hope and change and generated so much enthusiasm as Senator Barack Obama. That’s not all we’ve come to see and know during this presidential campaign. After four decades of pretending to be the champion of minority interest, the Democrat’s racial preferences were exposed when Billary understood that the chances for another Clinton White House were getting slim. On the other side, quite a few white Republicans have been gleefully chanting, ‘Yes, we can.” Some on the right side are not quite as stupid and unpatriotically obedient as was presupposed.
Lee Walker
My friend and political mentor, Lee Walker of the New Coalition for Economic and Social Change, writes of Obama:
“Obama’s message is that it is not too late for America to change from some bad habits to better habits… Barack Obama’s presidential candidacy is powerful confirmation of the truth of Booker T. Washington’s vision of hard work and self-reliance as the route to success for blacks as for all Americans.
This is an historical presidential election. It is a unique opportunity. Do we make a great step forward? Or does America take a step down from the stage of history? These are interesting times. America is in need of a prophet- even one from Illinois. The time has come for us to join hands together as we honor our proud American heritage with the inauguration of America’s first black president. And were he alive today, Alexis de Tocqueville, the much studied European commentator on the American legacy, would strongly agree.
Barrack Obama
Now is the time. Let us be satisfied. Let Freedom ring through the halls and offices of the White House.
America and the world have great expectations of this moment. I hope and I pray that we Americans and Senator Barrack Obama… will not fail.
Now is the time.
Now has come the time for change. For hope. For justice to roll down.
Yes, we can.
Below, Jordin Sparks singing the National Anthem. ………………………………………………..
Mr. Faryna is the founder and co-founder of several technology, design and communication companies in the United States and Europe including Faryna & Associates, Inc., Halo Interactive, and others.
Stan Faryna is also a Global Voices author and translator. Global Voices is a non-profit global citizens’ media project founded at Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society, a research think-tank focused on the Internet’s impact on society.
Mr. Faryna also served as editor-in-chief of Black and Right (Praeger Press, 1996), a landmark collection of socio-political essays by important American thinkers including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Copyright
Copyright 1996 to 2008 by Stan Faryna.
Here’s my fair use policy for my content:
If you want to share my content with your own audience, you may quote a brief excerpt, if and only if, you provide proper attribution (Source: The unofficial blog of Stan Faryna) with a direct link to the source. Generally speaking, as long as you are not acting as an agent or on behalf of a corporation or institution, I am not interested in any payment for the quotation or use of a complete article. Nevertheless, you may not republish or translate the entire article without my written permission. Send your request for permission by inmail through Linkedin or contact me through Buzzfuse.
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The unofficial blog of Stan Faryna 