I Have a Dream!

I had a dream! and over the past few years I often wondered, if it would come True. They told us it wouldn't, but we said "Yes We Can" Thanks Jon Favs! - Now we have President Barack Obama, he promised us Hope and to bring about Change, now his term in office has started and he has such a difficult job.

The informal picture above I love taken at The Inaugural on Tuesday 20th January 2008, for me it portrays so well the Humility of the President as he chats so friendly with The Server and that also reflects in Michelle and the Girls as well.

Another personal photo taken the eve before the Inauguration, shows the President Elect then, dressed so informal with his young talented speech writer Jon Favreau talking with Barack as they put the final touches to the speech.



Of course there have been many amateur critics of The Inaguration Speech, very similiar to Simon Cowell, but this is not Amercian Idol. For me in the current crisis the world finds itself in inclduing the USA, the speech set the right tone and mood. It reflects that we do not just need words from the past, it is Now and the Future that is more important. Now we watch and support The President.

Words that struck accord with me, I leave you with.

"Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America"

God Bless President Barack Obama in this task and challenge.

What a truly sad image to have to start 2009 with, but it is so important that the world see the Truth, too many people are burying their heads in the sand as if the Humanitarian Disaster is not taking place.

This photo is GAZA in PALESTINE today, my heart bleeds and tears flow that anyone can do this to innocent people never mind children and they justify it in the name of Defence. No one defends The Hamas Leadership, even if there is great sympathy for the way the real Palestinian people have been treated for far too long. Imprisoned in a very tight strip of land and seeing what is rightfully their land stolen.

Over the years since the 30s/40s there has been great sympathy for the Jewish People after what they suffered for no fault of there own. Now through the leaders and military of The State of Israel take it upon themselves to destroy a nation and its people and don't seem to have any shame for their barbaric actions. I have never witnessed in my lifetime leaders on TV with sickly grins as they talk about the murder of young children as just one of the actions of war. Atrocities like Israeli soldiers moving over 100 Palestinians to a safe house and then 24 hours Israeli planes bombing it and killing 30. Actions of Israeli tanks firing on a United Nations truck convou delivering essential medicine and food and killing an innocent mercy driver and they still express not one word of regret.

I find it so difficult that outgoing US President George Bush can sit idly by and say nothing, in fact endorse these actions by Israel, withhold any criticism and Abstain on a United Nations Resolution for a Urgent Ceasefire. This same man Bush in 2007 signed an agreement to support financially the Israeli war machine over ten years, with cash going into the billions of dollars? Lets Please Hope that President Elect Barack Obama stands up for what is right and does not give a blank cheque to Israel and turn his head the other way like Bush.

No one is going to tell me that this War in Gaza has not been well planned out by Israel, Christmas, the US President transition period and forthcoming Israeli elections, an opportunity to stretch its muscle in the Middle East and show how powerful it is and greedy. A military that acts using weapons as if they are boys with toys! - A Ceasefire will come and hopefully it will come quickly to avoid any further innocent deaths. Hamas must not be allowed to arm itself again but Now is the time for the same for The State if Israel, they are far too powerful and have been the cause of so many problems, they ignore the International Laws, but I trust they will be tried in The International War Crime Courts for the carnage they are carrying out, breaking every rule using banned weapons and the Geneva Conventions on War, they must not be allowed to act above the arm of Law ever again.

Today many millions of people throughout the Free World will protest against Israeli actions, to let their Governments know they deplore the unjustified actions of The State of Israel, in a way never seen before. How can you Help now, Boycott Israeli Produce and hit them where it will Hurt them most in their Pockets! if you are in the UK, the barcode numbers start 729, its only a small part but do this today Please for the sake of those innocent children being tortured in Gaza, Please Don't Turn Your Back!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR to Everyone - May it be Peaceful, full of Joy and Blessings!

Sadly after just 5 days of confrontation in The Middle East, we see figures of 394 Deaths of Innocent Palestinians and 4 Israel's - this has to Stop! - So many times it is just pure Greed and Power that brings so much suffering.

Lets HOPE that President Elect Barack Obama will work towards Peace in the Middle East, unlike the last few years of George Bush politics, I wonder how many US citizens are aware that Bush in 2007 signed an agreement to back Israel with Military Funding of 300 BILLION DOLLARS over ten years?

CHRISTMAS EVE 2008 - Peace - Goodwill - Towards all Men - The rush is over the shops are now closed, the last post has been delivered, all the many weeks of rushing around all over. The thoughts of many will be on Christmas Gifts, Turkey & Christmas Pudding, but can we still find some time for that small stable, The Nativity, the Birth of Our Savour Jesus Christ.

Also can we find some time to remember those that are not as fortunate as we may be, we don't get the chance to choose were we are born and what are circumstances will or may be, we may often long for more but there is always someone with less that we have, let us be grateful this Christmas time.

Whatever Christmas delivers to us individually we can spread some Joy and especially to those we Love.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS! to everyone, may you find True Blessings!

John

Celebration of Young Talent - Jon Favreau

It used to be great how at one time we celebrated the talent of young people, but in the last two weeks it has become a "game" to try and attack one young talented guy that I have followed and admired since 2004, it was all started at first by "The Washington Post" and then quickly picked up by all the media and then perhaps the worst example some "Bloggers" who took it up as a personal campaign.

Why did this attack campaign start, well it was down to one photo taken of Jon Favreau with friends out on a relaxing evening, but...... one photo included a cardboard cut out off Hillary Clinton, which allowed minds to run wild! - the photo appeared on "facebook" and then the articles started, though something which frustrates me is this photo first surfaced 11 MONTHS AGO! and it is only now all this petty fuss has started.

I'm still not certain if the campaign is being rolled out by those who are far too PC for their own good, or some feminists who will look for anything to complain about or is it the few who still can't accept that BARACK OBAMA won the election and is now President Elect of the USA

JON FAVREAU was born in Winchester Mass, he successfully won a scholarship to The College of Holy Cross College and it was quickly identified that he was really talented, he gained a degree in political science in 2003. Jon joined the John Kerry 2004 Election campaign team where he started monitoring overnight media but soon he climbed in the team. After the election Jon was approached to join the Obama Senate Team, Jon recalled how the interview was different! but Obama liked what he heard ans saw.

With four years service now, it is evident how well they work together, Barack Obama for me is one of the best current orators and his speeches have reached and touched absolutely millions! - JON FAVREAU has been a part of that success and will do well at The White House as Director of Speech Writing.

Now is the time to Celebrate the Talent of Young People and forget those who try to detract and to embarrass the New Administration - accept Change has Come!

The speeches of Barack Obama have now been published in book form and I can tell you they are well worth reading, whatever your political opinions and beliefs.

Joy to Everyone This Christmas

JOY TO EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS says hopefully what we all wish and hope for, one way of spreading this message is in Music and Pictures and BYU USA have done this so well.

There is a superb photo video which again says so much about Christmas and the special website has the two JOY TO EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS tracks, one is modern and the second is an Orchestra version recorded in Prague.

Vocalists on this Christmas Track are Jenny Jordan Frogley and David L Osmond, it is written by Stephen M Jones.

You can download both versions of the new song and video completely Free! at

http://joytoeveryone.com/index.htm

Scripture Bugs - David L Osmond

Everyone knows my real true love for music, as well as how it plays such an important part in my life. Most of my music comes mainly from the roots of Soul and Gospel, but one artist I rate so highly and write a lot about is David L Osmond, he has such true talent and an amazing vocal which is really soulful!

Well David's latest project is a new DVD just released titled "Scripture Bugs" animated characters bringing The Bible alive to young children and this DVD covers The Story of Moses, with so much memorable music which children will love.

David sings the vocal of Moses and one track featured which I love is titled "Great Things" it is superb with warmth and a clip is featured below, if you know anyone young and want to give them a real quality Christmas gift, this is well worth looking at.