Share your thoughts...What would Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. say about the world today?

Share your comments on the very provocative question; What would Dr. King say about the world today. Are we heading toward his dream as a world. What about world peace? Black achievement? Intergration? Prejudice? Poor people? Our government? Share your comments and views!

The life of Coretta Scott King-The Queen for a King passes on

Childhood
Coretta Scott King was born Coretta Scott on a farm in Heiberger, Perry County, Alabama to Obadiah and Bernice McMurry Scott. Though her family owned the land, it was often a hard life. All the children had to pick cotton during the Great Depression to help the family make ends meet.
Graduating from Lincoln Normal School in Marion, Alabama at the top of her class in 1945, Scott went to Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. After graduation she attended the New England Conservatory in Boston, where she met Martin Luther King Jr.

Adult Life
The Kings were married on June 18, 1953 on the lawn of her parents' house; the ceremony was performed by King's father. After earning a degree in voice and violin at the New England Conservatory, she moved with her husband to Montgomery, Alabama in September 1954 after he was named pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.
The Kings had four children:
Yolanda Denise King (November 17, 1955, Montgomery, Alabama)
Martin Luther King III (October 23, 1957, Montgomery, Alabama)
Dexter Scott King (January 30, 1961, Atlanta, Georgia)
Bernice Albertine King (March 28, 1963, Atlanta, Georgia)
All four children later followed in their parents' footsteps as civil rights activists.
Coretta Scott King received honorary degrees from many institutions including Princeton University and Bates College. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, a noted African-American women's sorority.


Civil Rights Movement
Just two weeks after the birth of King's first child, Rosa Parks was arrested on a Montgomery bus, helping spark what would develop into the modern civil rights movement. King's husband soon emerged as a major leader of the movement. The struggles that followed included a narrow escape from death on January 30, 1956. King and her daughter were home when a bomb exploded at the family's residence; her husband was speaking at Rev. Ralph Abernathy's First Baptist Church at the time.


Freedom Concerts
King later put together a series of Freedom Concerts, which combined poetry, narration and music both to highlight the movement and to raise funds for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
In 1962, she served as a Women's Strike for Peace delegate to the 17-nation Disarmament Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition, she preceded her husband by two years in opposing the Vietnam War, addressing a 1965 anti-war rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City, while also serving as a liaison to international peace and justice organizations.


Life after assassination of MLK


Martin Luther King Day

Coretta Scott King, along with Rosalynn Carter, Andrew Young, Jimmy Carter, and other civil rights leaders during a visit to Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, January 14, 1979.
Over the years, she was active in preserving the memory of her husband and in political issues. After her husband was assassinated in 1968, she began attending a commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta to mark her husband's birth every January 15 and fought for years to make it a national holiday, a quest that was realized in 1986, when the first Martin Luther King Day was celebrated.
Coretta Scott King attended the state funeral of Lyndon B. Johnson, in 1973, as a very close friend of the former president, himself a contributor to civil rights. She was also present when President Ronald Reagan signed legislation establishing Martin Luther King Day.


Opposition to Apartheid
During the 1980s, King reaffirmed her long-standing opposition to apartheid, participating in a series of sit-in protests in Washington, D.C. that prompted nationwide demonstrations against South African racial policies.
In 1986, she traveled to South Africa and met with Winnie Mandela, while her husband Nelson Mandela was still a political prisoner on Robben Island. She declined invitations from Pik Botha and moderate Zulu chief Buthelezi (as per [[2]]). Upon her return to the United States, she urged Reagan to approve sanctions against South Africa.


Other Issues

King and President George W. Bush
She was present at the first inauguration of George W. Bush in 2001.
King was vocal in her opposition to capital punishment and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, thus drawing criticism from conservative groups. She was also an advocate of women's rights, lesbian and gay rights and AIDS/HIV prevention. Her support for gay and lesbian rights, including same-sex marriage, sometimes put her in conflict with some members of her family including her daughter Bernice and her niece Alveda King.
King called her adoption of a vegan diet in 1995 a blessing. Her son, Dexter, had been vegan since 1988, saying that an appreciation for animal rights is the "logical extension" of his father's philosophy of non-violence. Dick Gregory and Richard Pryor made similar connections between the civil rights movement and animal issues.


Coretta Scott King Award
The Coretta Scott King Award, a medal presented by the American Library Association, is awarded to African American writers and illustrators for outstanding and inspirational educational contributions in children's literature.


The King Center
Established in 1968 by King, The King Center is the official memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy and ideas of Martin Luther King, Jr., leader of a nonviolent movement for justice, equality and peace. [3]


Mission
As the institutional guardian of Dr. King's legacy, the King Center, in collaboration with other organizations, focuses on the following areas:
The development and dissemination of programs that educate the world about Dr. King’s philosophy and methods of nonviolence, human relations, service to mankind, and related ideas;
Building a national and international network of organizations that, through sanctioned programs, promote, compliment, and help further the organization’s mission and objectives of building the Beloved Community that Dr. King envisioned
Functioning as the clearinghouse for non-profit organizations and government agencies which utilize Dr. King’s image and writings for programs and ensuring that the programs are historically and interpretively accurate;
Monitoring and reporting on the impact of Dr. King’s legacy on the world. [4]


Programs & Services
The King Center has a wide variety of programs and services in place to fulfill the organization's mission of building Dr. King's "Beloved Community." [5]
These programs and services include:
The Beloved Community Network
Nonviolence or Nonexistence Online Learning Program
Re-Ignite the Dream Campaign: Building the Beloved Community through Service
King and the Modern Civil Rights Museum Scholar and Historian Research Program
The King Papers Project
Education through Exploration Visitor Services Program
Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Service Summit


Final days
On August 16, 2005, King was hospitalized after suffering a stroke and a mild heart attack. Initially, she was unable to speak or move her right side. She was released from Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta on September 22, 2005, after regaining some of her speech and continued physiotherapy at home. Because of complications from the stroke, she was apparently unable to make her wishes known regarding the ongoing debate as to whether of the King Center would continue to operate independently or be sold to the National Park Service [6]. On January 14, 2006, Mrs. King made her last public appearance in Atlanta at a dinner honoring her husband's memory.
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Death
Mrs. King died in the late evening of January 30, 2006 [7] at a rehabilitation center in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, where she was undergoing holistic therapy for her stroke and advanced stage ovarian cancer. The King family maintains that King died on the night of January 30, 2006, the very same day Mahatma Gandhi died. The main cause of death is believed to be respiratory failure.[8]
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Funeral
Over 14,000 people gathered for King's six-hour funeral at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia on February 7, 2006 where daughter Bernice King is an elder. The megachurch whose sanctuary seats 10,000, was better able to handle the expected massive crowds than Ebenezer Baptist Church where King had been a member since the early 1960s up to her death and which was the site of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral in 1968. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter, their wives and numerous other political figures attended the service. In addition to the presidents, speakers included former FBI director William Sessions, chairwoman of the National Council of Negro Women Dorothy Height, poet Maya Angelou, Dr. Joseph Lowery, Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin, Attallah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X, Bishop T.D. Jakes and former Ambassador Andrew Young. Music was provided by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and vocalists Stevie Wonder, Michael Bolton, BeBe Winans and CeCe Winans. Bernice King delivered the final official eulogy with Dr. Robert Schuller providing the closing benediction.
Mrs. King will be buried in a temporary mausoleum on the grounds of the King Center until a permanent place next to her husband's remains can be built.[9] She had expressed to family members and others that she wanted her remains to lie next to her husband's at the King Center. However, the mausoleum there was only built for a single interment. [10]
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Tributes
President George W. Bush opened his State of the Union address the night of January 31 by paying tribute to her. On February 6, 2006, Bush issued a proclamation [11] flags to be flown at half staff throughout the day of King's interment, February 7.
King's body was returned to Atlanta, and carried through the streets on a horse-drawn carriage to the Georgia State Capitol as the crowd threw roses at the casket and a lone bagpiper played Amazing Grace; King became the first woman and black person to lie in state at the Capitol. (see [12]). King also layed at historic Ebenezer Baptist Church (where her husband was pastor).
The beginning of Super Bowl XL was marked by a moment of silence in memory of King and Rosa Parks.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force issued a press release honoring the memory of the Late Mrs. King. "Mrs. King worked tirelessly after her husband's death in 1968 to carry on his legacy of social justice activism. She was a steadfast ally in the struggle for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, and was honored by the Task Force in 1997 for her support of the cause. In addition, Mrs. King was a featured speaker at the Task Force's Creating Change 2000, where she rallied hundreds of activists gathered for the country's largest LGBT rights organizing conference. In 2003, her son, Martin Luther King Jr. III, was personally responsible for inviting Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman to join Mrs. King to speak from the podium at the 40th anniversary of the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington."
In 1997, upon receiving the Task Force's Honoring Our Allies award, Mrs. King told the crowd, "I accept this award as a reaffirmation of my commitment to carry forward the unfinished work of my husband, Martin Luther King Jr. My husband understood that all forms of discrimination and persecution were unjust and unacceptable for a great democracy. He believed that none of us could be free until all of us were free, that a person of conscience had no alternative but to defend the human rights of all people. I want to reaffirm my determination to secure the fullest protection of the law for all working people, regardless of their sexual orientation ... it is right, just and good for America."
Said Mandy Carter, executive director and a co-founder of the North Carolina-based group Southerners on New Ground, "I'll forever cherish the day that I and Matt Foreman, representing our lesbigaytrans community, got to stand shoulder to shoulder with her on August 23, 2003, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington," Carter continued. "The 1963 march was organized by Bayard Rustin, a black gay pacifist who was instrumental in introducing Dr. King to concepts of Ghandian nonviolence, the hallmark of the civil rights movement. Thank you so much Mrs. Coretta Scott King. You've left an amazing legacy." The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force mourns death of Coretta Scott King
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Senate Resolution 362
Upon the news of her death, moments of reflection, remembrance, and mourning began around the world. In the United States Senate, Bill Frist presented Senate Resolution 362 on behalf all U.S. Senators, with the afternoon hours filled with respectful tributes throughout the U. S. Capitol. The Senate Resolution 362 as it appears in The Congressional Record can be found here.
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House Resolution 655
On January 31, 2006 following a moment of silence in memoriam to the death of King, the United States House of Representatives presented House Resolution 655 in honor of Mrs. King's legacy. The remembrances that followed were both emotional and poignant. John Lewis (D-Georgia) stated:
I first met Mrs. King in 1957 when I was only 17. I was a student in Nashville, Tennessee. She was traveling around America, especially in cities of the South telling the story of the Montgomery movement through song. She was so beautiful, so inspiring, she would sing a little, and she would talk a little, and through her singing and talks she inspired an entire generation.
In an unusual action, the resolution included a grace period of five days in which further comments may be added to it. From: Greg Jones Singer/Songwriter of New Anthem for World Peace entitled God Bless The World-Not JUST America which is garnering accolades worldwide. Jones has recently launched 'Operation FREE Peacetone' where everyone can have the chorus of the Peace Anthem as a ringtone for FREE! visit:www.godblesstheworldonline.com

Voting Rights Act 1965 Should be passed FOREVER! Not 25 Years!!!

In 2007, Congress will vote regarding the extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It is sad that here, in the year 2006, we still have to obtain our rights to vote through the maintained powers of others. What is even more disturbing is the fact that our current elected officials have stated that they will surely extend the Voting Act but what is appalling is that it will be extended for only the next 25 years. That means that in the year 2035 the right to vote unobstructedly will expire, again! That means that in the year 2035, we will have to go back to 'the authorities' in hopes that they will be kind enough to re-grant our rights. This is rediculous. Everyone should contact their Congressional Reps and Senators to let them know WE WANT OUR RIGHTS FOREVER!! Below is an article that gives a bit more info on the subject. -----Ballots in the Balance
Does the 1965 Voting Rights Act Still Matter?
by Richard M. Valelly
Author of The Two Reconstructions: The Struggle for Black Enfranchisement
Forty years ago—in a dramatic response to decades of African American struggle in the courts and the streets and to growing public concern over black disenfranchisement—a large bipartisan majority in Congress framed and passed the 1965 Voting Rights Act. President Lyndon Johnson proudly signed it in a special Capitol Hill ceremony. These officials, much of the public, and key partners such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Congress on Racial Equality all intended a restoration of the Reconstruction Amendments, particularly the 14th and 15th Amendments. In that they succeeded. Since 1965 the federal protection afforded by the Voting Rights Act has immeasurably strengthened minority voting and representation. The Voting Rights Act is today widely recognized as perhaps the premier case of a national law that can institute broad and desirable political change.
But will the Voting Rights Act survive its next congressional review? Should it? These questions now animate a growing number of conferences and discussions at law schools and universities around the country. Opponents and supporters of the Voting Rights Act are now meeting and planning for the congressional review. Voting rights issues now flying below the public radar are certain to surface on the national agenda this year or next.
By August 2007 Congress must renew, amend, or drop the Voting Rights Act's temporary enforcement provisions. These measures include (1) federal review of proposed election changes in Southern and some non-Southern states and counties (a process technically known as "Section 5 preclearance"), (2) the federal election observer program, and (3) the requirement—added ten years after Congress first passed the law—that many non-Southern jurisdictions, including Arizona, California, and Texas, provide bilingual balloting materials and assistance.
Some legal experts argue that the most important temporary measure, Section 5 preclearance, cannot survive the upcoming congressional review. They believe that under the doctrine of separation of powers currently advocated by the Supreme Court's majority, Congress cannot enact a prospective prohibition on unconstitutional behavior. Instead, Congress can remedy discrimination or correct systematic public violations of civil rights only after discriminatory violations appear. Congress cannot, in other words, enact remedies for problems that do not yet exist or no longer exist. By implication, Section 5 preclearance would be allowed to die a decent death, with thanks for the forty years of work that made America a much more democratic country.
But is that work really finished? Once the deterrent effects of Section 5 preclearance vanish, will there be an erosion of hard-won African American and Latino voting rights? As my new book, The Two Reconstructions: The Struggle for Black Enfranchisement, shows, as a country we have been here before. The First Reconstruction, after the Civil War, was successful far longer than we think, but collapsed altogether in the 1890s, as black disenfranchisement spread throughout the South. A regression of that magnitude is unthinkable today. But we are hearing some echoes of it, ironically outside the Deep South. Given our history, we Americans must deliberate together about what we can and must do to avoid any backsliding on our fundamental freedoms.
During the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections black voters experienced— according to a stream of anecdotal evidence and several statistically sound studies—a wide range of difficulties in voting in the key battleground states of Florida and Ohio. These included unconscionably long voting lines because too few machines were provided, high levels of ballot spoilage, and challenges by private citizens and elections officials. Since 2000 there has been mounting anecdotal evidence of so-called ballot security programs targeted by the Republican Party on minority neighborhoods and localities—a great irony, given the party's proud history in securing black emancipation and voting rights.
Significantly, such attacks on black voting rights have surfaced in jurisdictions that are not subject to Section 5 preclearance. To put it another way, with the possible recent exception of still unproven election-day ballot security programs in the 2003 Mississippi gubernatorial election, election-day shenanigans have all but disappeared in areas subject to Section 5 preclearance—yet they have sprouted up in uncovered jurisdictions when election contests have been uncertain and close.
Once Section 5's deterrent and compliance-inducing effects are removed in places that have been covered since 1965, will the new ballot security programs migrate from uncovered jurisdictions to previously covered jurisdictions? In 1990 Senator Jesse Helms launched a massive ballot security program, mailing tens of thousands of postcards to black North Carolinians falsely warning them of penalties for fraudulent voting. He did this in a very tight campaign in which he trailed a dynamic black Democrat, former Charlotte mayor Harvey Gantt. After the fact Helms was forced by the Department of Justice to stipulate that his program was impermissible under the Voting Rights Act. Once the Voting Rights Act's temporary enforcement provisions go, will the Justice Department have the resources to effectively police a rash of new ballot security programs in tight elections in the previously covered jurisdictions?
In addition, consider minority representation rights, which are secured in principle by a permanent feature of the Voting Rights Act: Section 2. Congress added Section 2 in 1982 after thirteen years of massive resistance by Southern governments to the prospect of black officeholders. Such resistance, in fact, continues in some jurisdictions today. Both before and after the 1982 amendment, Section 5 preclearance played a leading role in forcing Southern governments to drop election rules that blocked black office seekers. The obvious question is: if Section 5 preclearance expires, will we see a return of such discriminatory election rules in the South? Or in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of New York, where they were once used to deny electoral victory to aspiring Latino politicians?
No one knows the answers to these questions. But not knowing the answers hardly lessens their importance. The evidence of selective disenfranchisement of minorities in America is plentiful—and growing. Such selective disenfranchisement is rare in jurisdictions that are now covered by the Voting Rights Act. But after 2007 that may change. Congress must soberly weigh that possibility. Indeed, not only must Congress renew the Voting Rights Act's temporary provisions; it must also find ways to take its cue from the Voting Rights Act and curb the selective disenfranchisement that increasingly plagues too many elections all over this country. To see video Speech regarding Voting Rights Act by Congressman John Lewis, D-Ga. (former aide to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) Click on Windows Media or Real Player

Greg Jones' launches OPERATION FREE PeaceTone

Greg Jones, composer of what many consider to be the New Anthem for World Peace has announced the launch of 'Operation FREE PeaceTone', where his special peace song entitled GOD BLESS THE WORLD-NOT JUST AMERICA is now available as a cell phone ringtone for absolutely FREE ! Everyone, worldwide can now have the chorus of the special peace anthem sent directly to their cell phones to be used as ringtones absolutely FREE. 'We'd like to see at least 6 million cell phone owners with the peace anthem as their ringtone as a way to spread the musical message of Peace,' states Jones, the writer, composer, producer and performer of the new special peace CD which is garnering accolades worldwide. This free ringtone will be instantly sent to your cell phone for free, in real tone (which means sounds like the CD) and will ring the beautifully harmonic message 'God Bless the World, Not Just America, God Bless the whole wide world, so we can live in Peace...'. Operation PeaceTone is geared to catch on fast and we've offered the special Peace ringtone for free to make it easily accessible to everyone, worldwide, so that when their phones ring, they are simultaneously spreading the message of Peace,' Jones adds. We would like everyone to tell at least 6 friends about the free PeaceTone so that we can create a quick, worldwide snowball effect. 'There would be nothing more wonderful than if all phones worldwide were ringing the message of world peace', states Jones. A bit more info: "WOW'...'BEAUTIFUL'...' possibly the most important musical message of today'! These are a few of the responses regarding the hot new Maxi-Single CD recording entitled GOD BLESS THE WORLD-WHILE YOU BLESS AMERICA (aka... Not Just America) written, produced and performed by Cleveland, Ohio native GREG JONES. With a We are the World 'feel', this special release is a unique blend of adult contemporary, easy listening, soul and inspiration combined with a powerful message of peace and harmony. In fact, the special CD was recorded on the same mixing board which was owned by Kenny Rogers and used by Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and others for the 'We are the World' project. A section of the song's lyrics reads 'God bless the world...not just America...God Bless the whole wide world...so our kids can live in harmony...God bless the world'! "It is very important that our leaders realize the importance of desiring that our entire world be blessed, here in America, in the Sudan, Europe, Israel, Iraq...everywhere! If the world is not blessed, we're all in trouble", states Jones regarding his motivation for this powerful musical message. Jones recently signed an internet distribution deal with FineTunes (Germany) which will promote the special release for legal downloads on sites such as ITunes, MusicLoad, Sony Connect, NuFonix, EMusic, Beatport, OD2, MusicMatch, Napster and more. The anthem is now available on over 125 music sites worldwide! The Maxi-Single, released by ORVILLE RECORDS is garnering exciting response through top digital music websites in the U.S, Britain, Finland, Germany and recently entered the Australian Easy Listening Top 100 Music Charts at #8 with a bullet! Also, the anthem entered the UK Soft Rock Top 100 Music Charts at #7 and then climbed to #2!! Orville Records also recently inked a deal with two of the world's largest web distributors, MusicNet and AMG for additional web distribution through top music sites such as AOL MusicNet, Yahoo Launch, Virgin Digital, FYE Download, MSN Music, ClearChannel, Amazon, Target Music, and others. In addition, GOD BLESS THE WORLD is currently being 'spotlighted' on Vitaminics International in Denmark, Netherlands and Sweden. Jones has also been 'Artist of the Week' on the ever-popular,world reknown SonicGarden Music site for the past number of weeks ! Internet radio giant, Live365, the world's largest network of online radio stations, has signed on and is 'special featuring' GOD BLESS THE WORLD through close to 2000 web radio stations worldwide. Commercial radio is fast catching wind of this special release and is next in line while experts are declaring GOD BLESS THE WORLD-While You Bless America a future classic! With over 200 unreleased songs under his belt, songwriter Greg Jones explains his inspiration for this special recording. 'I would turn on the news each day and see how so many world leaders resort to war as a means of settling conflict, as if human life is expendable. It would make me sick. They always say that if you want to see a change you have to do something, whatever you can, even when you're just one person. I've always been inspired by the powerful messages of greats like John Lennon, Bono and Bob Dylan so I did what I could do. I wrote a song. I'm so very thankful for the response worldwide that the anthem is receiving. It's exciting how so many people have embraced the song and the message ... and now we are very excited about OPERATION PEACETONE. To get your FREE PeaceTone visit www.godblesstheworldonline.com. Please don't forget to tell at least 6 other people. We truly appreciate your help in spreading the musical message of Peace and the fact is....together, we WILL make a difference. To see more please do Google search...type-in 'greg jones god bless the world' (images also available through Google images) GREG JONES MUSIC*BMI*Orville Records*P.O. Box 43678*Cleveland, Ohio*44143*216-254-9339

Contact: Ken J. orvillerecords@aol.com x x -30- x x "The more seeds of Peace are planted...the greater the tree of life will grow" (Greg Jones)___________________________________________________

The NEW Orleans BLUES- Katrina Update

Three months ago, after chafing from criticism over his failure to even appear to respond to the suffering in New Orleans, George W. Bush finally made it to Jackson Square to deliver his promise that "this great city will rise again." Yet today the great city remains largely in darkness. Most citizens of New Orleans are outside its boundaries, many with no real prospect of returning. What's rising in New Orleans are divorce and suicide rates, toxic dumps, foreclosures and rage.
The rage was evident in early December just a half-dozen blocks from Jackson Square, in Congo Square, where African-Americans performed ancestral music in the early nineteenth century, heralding a new American culture. On a recent chilly Saturday, Congo Square was the meeting point for a crowd of about 500 demonstrators who gathered to march behind the Soul Rebels Brass Band to demand the return of New Orleanians to New Orleans.
By now it should be obvious that the drowning of the city was a man-made disaster. Multiple investigations, including those sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Science Foundation, conclude that the sea walls and levees were poorly designed, constructed and inspected. A not-too-subtle whispering campaign quickly suggested that the fault might lie with those gaudy New Orleanians who insist on rollicking below sea level, or with a state whose legacy of political shenanigans dates back to before "The Kingfish," Huey Long. The city and state have much to account for, including an evacuation plan that failed to protect their most vulnerable citizens. But the ongoing campaign against New Orleans obscures the simple truth that erecting barriers against floods is a federal responsibility. The Army Corps of Engineers failed its job. The Bush Administration now has the obligation to launch a massive effort to rebuild the city that the federal government destroyed.

Bush last visited the Gulf Coast on October 11. It shouldn't surprise anyone that the President, and many in Congress, would prefer to look the other way while New Orleans collapses. Over the past quarter-century, conservatives have waged their most effective war against "big government." This model was advanced by Ronald Reagan and endorsed by every President since. Now, when a federally coordinated solution is required, agencies from HUD to the EPA to FEMA are flummoxed. Bush faithfully followed the script by endorsing only limited solutions like the Gulf Opportunity Zone and Worker Recovery Accounts. In doing so, he advanced government as a stop-gap for what couldn't be handled by his private and faith-based "armies of compassion."
Stymied by this lack of leadership and by no national call for an ambitious regional rebuilding effort, Louisiana legislators, among them Democratic Representative William Jefferson and Republican Senator David Vitter, are now fretting aloud that demands for protection from the strongest hurricanes could actually work against the city's interests by raising hopes too high. That's pathetic. A half-day's drive through New Orleans--at least, through the 80 percent of it that still looks nearly exactly as it did three months ago--should reveal to anyone what happens when levees don't hold. You can start by reading the body count still scrawled in red marker on some homes. Yet there are those who dare to offer New Orleans protection on the cheap.
In October this magazine called for a coordinated "people's reconstruction" that would provide for a "democratically accountable, economically viable, socially just and environmentally sustainable plan for regional rebuilding." This effort must begin with the physical reclaiming of New Orleans--an ambitious, two-step process including a re-engineered levee system capable of withstanding a Category 5 hurricane and a fully funded restoration of the coast, using the Coast 2050 blueprint. A people's reconstruction would then address the multiple effects of urban poverty that opened like fresh wounds during those days immediately following the levee breaches. Long before Katrina entered the Gulf, far too many New Orleanians lived on dangerous streets, worked low-paying jobs in the service industry, were unable to insure their families and sent their children to bleak public schools long abandoned by the middle class. For these citizens, the desperation experienced in post-Katrina New Orleans is nothing new.
New Orleans could become the nation's classroom. A reinvigorated dialogue about urban America is newly possible--or at least it was three months ago, when images of suffering children on Louisiana bridges and highways played across the nation's TV screens. So far, the President has squandered this opportunity, just as he squandered the post-9/11 opportunity to realign the nation's energy policy. No wonder it's widely feared in New Orleans that the Katrina moment has passed.
If New Orleans is to reclaim its greatness, the scope of the solution must match the scope of the problem. Each inch of the 200 miles of levees that are supposed to keep the city dry is now suspect. The wetlands that buffer the region continue their relentless disappearing act. Bush's EPA has downplayed the effects of oil spills following the hurricane; there is no real plan to deal with the toxic refuse of the flood. The Administration does not acknowledge the science of global warming and the consequences of a warmer ocean. Many New Orleanians long to return to their homes, but it is an unsteady feeling to raise children and care for elderly parents in a city on the brink. Meanwhile, decisions about homes, neighborhoods, schools and jobs will be made in their absence and without their input.
It doesn't have to be this way. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the rhythms of Congo Square sprouted into jazz, which gave the world a soundtrack of improvisation and democracy. A hundred years later, another democratic revolution could begin in New Orleans--but its song is quickly playing out.

This article from The Nation

Michael Jackson Reported Converts to Muslim

Well, the King of Pop is soon to be a Muslim living in Bahrain. At least that's the story coming out of that small kingdom today.
American pop star Michael Jackson has officially announced that he has been following the five tenets of Islam and intends to convert to Islam, according to a report on the website of Arab-Israeli newspaper Panorama.
The report is based on information elicited from sources in Bahrain.According to the report, Jackson's announcement noted he is moving to Bahrain and has purchased some real-estate on an artificial island there. The singer said he decided to convert to Islam because he is convinced it is the closest religion to his personal beliefs.According to a phone recording released last week, among Jackson's "personal beliefs" is one that considers Jews to be "leeches."
According to that story,
Jackson is heard saying that "they're like leeches...I'm so tired of it. They start out the most popular person in the world, make a lot of money, big house, cars and everything. End up penniless. It is a conspiracy. The Jews do it on purpose."I suppose that fits in with most Muslim attitudes these days, at least in the Middle East.
The story of Jackson's conversion to Islam continues,
Jackson also noted he intends to soon move all his assets and his studio from the U.S. to Bahrain, and expressed his hope to be rid of various legal troubles and enjoy the kind of freedom he says he does not have in America.Considering that Jackson is supposed to be flat broke, how does he come up with enough money to buy and artificial island and house in Bahrain? And what assets does he have that are not already claimed by creditors?
In any case, it looks as though Neverland will be left behind for good.
I wonder if we have an extradition treaty with Bahrain?
I also wonder if child molestation is considered to be a crime there? Maybe Jackson will name his new home, "Pleasure Island."
Jackson has been a creative and talented entertainer. He is also, as I have stated before, a very troubled man. I cannot, in good faith, wish him well in the new path he appears to be taking. I would prefer to see him submit to the judgement of God, repent and be "born again" into a new and improved Jackson rather than to see him pick a religion because it "comes close" to agreeing with his own beliefs.
What about his hope that he will "enjoy the kind of freedom he says he does not have in America"? Well, when you have enough money, you can enjoy freedom without accountability in just about any corrupt, despotic country you care to choose.
It is only in nations that believe all individuals are to be held equally accountable under the law that a rich man or woman loses the freedom to do whatever they want.
If this is freedom for Michael Jackson, then perhaps it is better for all of us for him to live in Bahrain.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are We Losing The War In Iraq?

Following election day this past Tuesday, it is felt that Americans are deterring away from the Republican agenda and support of the Iraq War. Yesterday, terrorists attacked multiple areas of the Middle East ranging from three popular hotels in Jordan killing over 50 including people at a wedding party as well as massive bombings in a popular Iraqi restaurant killing 34. (happened to occur on 11/9 which is 9/11 in reverse.) Current polls show that President Bush's ratings have declined to 36%, the lowest since his presidency, while Cheney is listed at an incredbly low 19%. Experts are declaring that a variety of categories of dispair are growing among American people, and there is one question that is growing more day by day. ARE WE LOSING THE WAR IN IRAQ? What do you think? Share your thoughts views or ideas.

POLITICS: A Message From Barbra Streisand

A Message from Barbra Steisand from her Official Site www.barbrastreisand.com Posted on October 26, 2005
If there was ever a time in history to impeach a President of the United States, it would be now. In my opinion, it is two years too late. We should have done this before the election to spare the country the misjudgment, the incompetence and the malfeasance of this administration. Let us remember that UN weapons inspectors asked for more time to search Iraq for WMDs. Two months into their search, the Director General of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, stated that he found no evidence that Iraq had revived its nuclear weapons program since its elimination in the 1990s. And Saddam Hussein had begun to comply with the administration's demands. Why would you invade a country if there was still a chance for peace? Shouldn't war be an absolute last resort? We went to war because we were misled. And we should be angry because of the 2,000 American soldiers and the 200 armed coalition forces that have died. We should be livid because of the 15,000 American soldiers that have been horribly maimed and wounded. We should be disgusted because of the 30,000 innocent Iraqi civilians that have been killed and the 20,000 that are wounded after administration officials claimed that the US was going to liberate the Iraqi people.
When does it stop? It stops with the indictment and impeachment of this corrupt, power-hungry, greedy group of incompetent leaders. How many more have to die before this happens?
Impeachment will be difficult. People must understand the power of Congress. When one party controls both the House and the Senate, they control the agenda. They control what hearings are held, what legislation gets voted on, whether subpoenas are issued and which investigations can take place. And they control whether impeachment proceedings can be brought.
We were clearly deceived by this administration and now we find ourselves fighting a war under false pretenses. There was no connection between Iraq and 9/11, despite Dick Cheney's many assertions. There were no WMD's and the CIA had intelligence which corroborated that evidence. There was no nuclear threat contrary to Condoleezza Rice's "smoking gun becoming a mushroom cloud" scare tactic. And there was no yellow cake purchased from Niger by Iraq as former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, along with our European allies, confirmed. All of these misconceptions and falsehoods were relentlessly stated. But this administration disregarded the facts because they wanted to wage this war, as we learned in the Downing Street memo.
This President will go down as the worst president in American history. His administration ignored and neglected the threats before 9/11. His team was not prepared to act and react before, during or after Hurricane Katrina. His policies have contributed to the hastening of global warming, an ever growing national debt, a rise in poverty and an increasing disparity between the rich and the poor. We are watching the middle-class disappear under Bush's leadership. He has taken our economy from the largest surplus in U.S. history to the largest deficit in U.S. history. And he has appointed several people to important positions that are unqualified and loyal to a dangerous fault.
With the recent controversy surrounding the potential indictments and charges of perjury against senior members of the Bush administration, some have made comparisons to the perjury charge that was brought against President Clinton. Perjury under any circumstance is wrong. However, in President Clinton’s situation, the matter was concerning an issue that only adversely affected himself and his family. But the potential charges filed against Bush’s closest advisors have put everybody’s families and the national security of the United States at risk.
Thank god the media and the American public are finally waking up and asking the tougher questions now. I keep hearing Harry Truman's famous statement ringing in my brain, "I wonder how many times you have to be hit on the head before you find out who's hitting you?"

Scooter, Scooter, Scooter-Why Would You Lie? READ ENTIRE INDICTMENT! Know the Facts!

As the entire world knows by now top White House official Irv Lewis 'Scooter' Libby was indicted on five counts including perjury, obstruction of justice and false statements in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Despite all of the facts, many Conservative pundits have the gall to still try to put their spin on this sad and embarrassing occurrence. They want to give false information regarding the charges....they want to act as if Rove is absolutely in the clear...they want to concentrate on Joe Wilson, which is crazy....and at a time when secret intelligence (spying) is of vital importance for the security of our country, pundits want to minimize the impact of the 'outing' of a CIA Agent. Rush Limbaugh spent much of his radio show today talking about Bill Clinton! What the heck does Bill Clinton have to do with Scooter's charges? So, to make certain that everyone is informed as to the charges against Scooter we are posting Patrick Fitzgerald's website which spells out word for word the entire indictment against Scooter.

Please visit:www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osc.
There, you will find the actual indictment that the judge and all reporters have received. Print copies. Share them with others. This is public information and it is important that the public is clear as to exactly what the facts are. Then, when you listen to the pundits you'll know how rediculous they sound.

Greg 'peace song' Jones

Greg Jones is the composer of the special Anthem for World Peace CD entitled GOD BLESS THE WORLD-While You Bless America which is garnering accolades worldwide. In remembrance of the 2000th fallen American soldier, Jones is offering the special peace CD as a FREE DOWNLOAD (limited time) so that everyone worldwide can share the musical message of Peace.

Visit:www.godblesstheworldonline.com for your FREE DOWNLOAD Today!

MOVIES: 40 Year Old Virgin

The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

Directed byJudd ApatowWriting credits (WGA) Judd Apatow (written by) &Steve Carell (written by)

Genre: Comedy / Romance (more) Tagline: A Comedy about the moments that touch us in ways we've never been touched before. (more) Plot Outline: Goaded by his buddies, a nerdy guy who's never "done the deed" only finds the pressure mounting when he meets a single mother.

A funny, smoothed paced film that takes on a unique issue (40 year old virgin) and adds a bit of reality combined with funny stuff. His friends who want to help him solve his problem are very funny and the star himself is hilarious while making one feel for his plight. Other characters seem real and enhance the whole movie. Happy film for ages teen and up. Worth the time and money.

$$$ (Worth the money)
Blogazine World
Mr. and Mrs. Critic

Times: Cheney First Disclosed CIA Official's Name

The New York Times reported late Monday that Vice President Cheney has been directly linked to the so-called "Plamegate" scandal involving the disclosure of the name of Valerie Plame, a CIA officer.
The paper reported that Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby "first learned about the C.I.A. officer at the heart of the leak investigation in a conversation with Mr. Cheney weeks before her identity became public in 2003."
The paper sourced their story to "lawyers involved in the case."
The Times said that notes taken by Libby differ from his own testimony before the grand jury as to when he first learned of Plame's identity.

"The notes, taken by Mr. Libby during the conversation, for the first time place Mr. Cheney in the middle of an effort by the White House to learn about Ms. Wilson’s husband, Joseph C. Wilson IV, who was questioning the administration’s handling of intelligence about Iraq’s nuclear program to justify the war."
Cheney apparently discovered details of Plame's CIA work after he questioned then CIA Director George J. Tenet about her husband, Ambassador Wilson.
But even if Libby or Cheney had disclosed Plame's identity as a CIA officer they may not have committed a crime.
"Disclosing a covert agent’s identity can be a crime, but only if the person who discloses it knows the agent’s undercover status," the Times said.
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Rosa Parks Passes at 92. The Mother of Modern-Day Civil Rights

Most historians date the beginning of the modern civil rights movement in the United States to December 1, 1955. That was the day when an unknown seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. This brave woman, Rosa Parks, was arrested and fined for violating a city ordinance, but her lonely act of defiance began a movement that ended legal segregation in America, and made her an inspiration to freedom-loving people everywhere.

Rosa Parks was born Rosa Louise McCauley in Tuskegee, Alabama to James McCauley, a carpenter, and Leona McCauley, a teacher. At the age of two she moved to her grandparents' farm in Pine Level, Alabama with her mother and younger brother, Sylvester. At the age of 11 she enrolled in the Montgomery Industrial School for Girls, a private school founded by liberal-minded women from the northern United States. The school's philosophy of self-worth was consistent with Leona McCauley's advice to "take advantage of the opportunities, no matter how few they were."


Opportunities were few indeed. "Back then," Mrs. Parks recalled in an interview, "we didn't have any civil rights. It was just a matter of survival, of existing from one day to the next. I remember going to sleep as a girl hearing the Klan ride at night and hearing a lynching and being afraid the house would burn down." In the same interview, she cited her lifelong acquaintance with fear as the reason for her relative fearlessness in deciding to appeal her conviction during the bus boycott. "I didn't have any special fear," she said. "It was more of a relief to know that I wasn't alone."

After attending Alabama State Teachers College, the young Rosa settled in Montgomery, with her husband, Raymond Parks. The couple joined the local chapter of the NAACP and worked quietly for many years to improve the lot of African-Americans in the segregated south.


"I worked on numerous cases with the NAACP," Mrs. Parks recalled, "but we did not get the publicity. There were cases of flogging, peonage, murder, and rape. We didn't seem to have too many successes. It was more a matter of trying to challenge the powers that be, and to let it be known that we did not wish to continue being second-class citizens."

The bus incident led to the formation of the Montgomery Improvement Association, led by the young pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The association called for a boycott of the city-owned bus company. The boycott lasted 382 days and brought Mrs. Parks, Dr. King, and their cause to the attention of the world. A Supreme Court Decision struck down the Montgomery ordinance under which Mrs. Parks had been fined, and outlawed racial segregation on public transportation.


In 1957, Mrs. Parks and her husband moved to Detroit, Michigan where Mrs. Parks served on the staff of U.S. Representative John Conyers. The Southern Christian Leadership Council established an annual Rosa Parks Freedom Award in her honor.

After the death of her husband in 1977, Mrs. Parks founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development. The Institute sponsors an annual summer program for teenagers called Pathways to Freedom. The young people tour the country in buses, under adult supervision, learning the history of their country and of the civil rights movement. President Clinton presented Rosa Parks with the Congressional Medal of Freedom in 1995.

When asked if she was happy living in retirement, Rosa Parks replied, "I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope and looking forward to a better day, but I don't think there is any such thing as complete happiness. It pains me that there is still a lot of Klan activity and racism. I think when you say you're happy, you have everything that you need and everything that you want, and nothing more to wish for. I haven't reached that stage yet."

Mrs. Parks spent her last years living quietly in Detroit, where she died in 2005 at the age of 92.

Blogazine World seeks writers. Readers worldwide ! World Blog Premier !

Welcome to the World Blog Premier of the new Blogazine World E-Zine; a quilted blend of entertainment, pop-culture, news, views and more. As we develop the look, style and feel of Blogazine World, we have elected to recruit new editors/writers for the different categories or features that will regularly appear on Blogazine World. If you have writing skills please select your category of interest below. Simply send us an e-mail stating you interest, contact info and a sample article in the category that you choose. If you select sports, write a sports related article that you feel would be interesting to readers. Or fashion, review a song. Political or social view. Whatever your interest may be, you are invited to write an article that may be shared with the world. You may either become a regular featured Blogazine Writer or write periodically. Top stories selected will also appear on other top blogs which Blogazine World is affilated with, giving your story exposure to literally hundreds of thousands of readers worldwide. If you have a website you may also include your URL which will link more viewers to your site.

Categories: Sports, Health, Fashion, Televison, Movies, Music, Celebrities, Political, Social, Recipes, Poetry/Poems, Relationships, Business, Religion, Economy, children, books,

So write something for us. Send your article to :Blogazine World Submission
orvillerecords@aol.com.

OPINION: If Only I Had The Money-I'd Start My OWN Political Party!

As I watch the news on a daily basis, which I have become somewhat addicted to since 9/11, I can't help but to sit back and wish that I was rich. I don't have to be Bill Gates or Donald Trump rich. I just wish I was rich enough to start my own NEW political party. Why you may ask? Because I am absolutely embarassed to consider myself a Democrat, and totally against the majority of the philosophies of the Republicans. Now days, if you're not for one, then you're automatically considered to be a follower of the other. I, and I am growing to learn, many, many others do not fall into either of these two political categories. Sure, you say well, there's the Independent or the Green parties. Frankly, they both seemed a bit weird to me. I definitely could not follow them. So let's look at what we have.

We have the Republicans: A politically savvy group of people who seem to be very power hungry. A group whose primary desire seems to be to take over everything. Seems to derives from a very pompous egotistical attitude that they are the greatest and most intellectually inclined...and everyone else is not only beneath them, but less intelligent, less intellectual, even less patriotic (they're so savvy that they strategically make you think that if you're against them, then you're against America). The Republicans seem to be a party filled with inner contradiction. On one side, they are super pro-life. At the same time, they're super pro-war! How is that mentally possible. How can a person's mind and heart care about life so deeply that they will do everything thinkable to protect the embryo, (which I commend that desire) but at the same time, be so willing and eager to send our young men and women (other people's sons and daughters) to war to possibly be killed, tortured, at least mamed and their lives destroyed. Are they emphatic about saving the embryo so they can raise up a new army 18 years from now to fight in Iraq? (We'll probably still be there). It's weird.

The Republicans seem to be a party made up of liars, conivers, schemers and law breakers. They'll lie to accomplish whatever their goal is at the time. And then, even after it's proven to be a lie, Republican followers go on with an 'ahhh...it's still ok' attitude. It's weird. The Republicans seem to care only about the rich, the Haliburtons, the opportunity to make their super rich base just richer. They are commited to everything except the concerns of the middle and lower class citizens of America. It actually feels like they are systematically doing little things to smother out the middle class. As if they want this country to be a two class system. The rich and the poor. It's weird. It seems like a lot of the Republican citizens in the middle and lower economic status have been strong supporters of the party and followers of the lies for one main reason. FEAR! The devistation of 9/11 shook up our entire country. Some folks are so afraid that they needed 'John Wayne' to come to the resue. It seems like they would like to see us just go and nuke everyone who is not 'in-line' with us. It's weird. Their answer to everything is to just send more troops, as if the lives of our young sons and daughters are totally expendable. (But don't forget...they're suppose to be pro-life).

I could go on about the war but, even if I didn't concentrate on the sending of our troops to Iraq as a main issue, I still have to pay attention to the other goings on in the Republican party. For one, they could care less about the economic condition of average Americans. They could care less that gas prices are unaffordable, that heating gas prices are going up 45%. That illegals are taking jobs that are needed by average Americans. (sometimes I forget a lot of the illegals work for the super rich at super cheap, below minimum wages...lawn care, nannies, field workers, assembly, etc.) Also, day after day another Republican is being accused of doing something illegal (Frist, DeLay, Rove
etc.). I think about how the great Colin Powell was so hurt and crushed by his own party for being used as a pawn in the con game, that he chose to quit. A great man quit serving our country! That's so sad. Colin's son was so mad he even quit HIS gravy job as head of the FCC.

I watch how there seems to actually be two seperate groups of Republicans. Those who have legitimate views and ideas, which they feel are best for the country and the world, and that's their right. Then there's the other group of Conservatives who are more driven by what they call 'the movement'(dedicated to Republicans taking over everything). What's absolutely weird is to watch these two groups in action, particularly the 'movementeers' which are rallied through the 'movementeer' talk show hosts and media. These are your Hannity's, Laura Ingrams, Ann Coulters, Rush's, Bill Kristols and the like. This group is so dedicated to 'the movement' that they will do anything and everything in their power to crush, smother and destroy ANYONE who is in disagreement with their views...even their own constituents! It's weird. Look at what they've done to folks like Richard Wright, O'Neil, Joe Wilson...they hate Voinovich now. And now they've added Senator Dewine to their hate list. And these are ALL FELLOW REPUBLICANS! It's weird. Now, since they aren't absolutely positive that Harriet Miers is for 'the movement', they hate her. And to top it all off, they are slowly but surely coming to the realization that President Bush is making his decisions based on his own ideas and views...NOT FOR THE MOVEMENT! And if they could...the 'movementeers' would squash him next! (he'd better watch it) It's almost funny to watch...but at the same time, it's actually very sad.

I could go on and on about other things I disagree with the Republicans about but I'll just go to the Democrats now and talk about what they are all about................Bare with me a minute here.........I'm thinking............wait, they....no........what about..no..............what! The Democratics aren't about ANYTHING ! It it so sad for me to have to say that what had been my party throughout my life has absolutely no agenda whatsoever. NOTHING. What are they for? What are they against? Who the heck knows? Do they? Does Hillary? (and I like Hillary) So nowdays, if I say I'm a Democrat, I'm really saying that I'm for NOTHING! This is so sad. It's like the Dems are totally afraid to have a view. The only thing they are, is against Bush! That's it! That's weird.

So I watch this stuff, day after day and just fantasize about starting my own political party. I'd call it 'The Realist Party'. If I only had the money, it would be simple to do. I would take the good that the Dems used to be about and combine it with the little good that does exist in the Conservative camp...tweek things a bit, add a little essence (I like Emeril too) and BAM! We'd have ourselves a winner. A winner for America. A winner for the world. Hmmm...If.....

Greg Jones
Cleveland, Ohio

Greg Jones is the composer of the special anthem for world peace CD entitled 'God Bless the World-While You Bless America' which is already available on over 125 music sites and is garnering accolades worldwide. He is also a fellow blogger with talkingpeace.myblogsite.com as well as editor of Blogazine World. For CD free listen/lyrics/download/specials and more visit; www.godblesstheworldonline.com

TV: C-Span broadcasts Million More Movement Live

CIVIL RIGHTS
Millions More Movement
The tenth anniversary of the Million Man March is marked this weekend with the Millions More Movement meeting on the National Mall at the West Front of the Capitol.Themes for the day include reparation-repair, rebuilding, reconstruction and renewal of the Black community. The event reported to attract over 800,00 visitors.
SAT., C-SPAN, 8:30AM-until ET
Rebroadcast 8:30PM

ENTERTAINMENT: Tom Petty To Receive BillBoard Magazine's Century Award

Tom Petty will receive the Century Award, Billboard's highest honor for creative achievement, at this year's Billboard Music Awards.

The show will air live on the Fox network from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 6.

"This award comes at a particularly nice time as the Heartbreakers and I go into the 30th year of our career," the 54-year-old rocker said in a statement Thursday. "I'm very honored that Billboard has acknowledged me."


Petty to Receive Billboard Century Award
Martin Looks Forward to Latin America Tour
The Blond Bond: Dye Another Day

Petty's hits include "Free Fallin'," "Don't Do Me Like That" and "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," a Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' duet with Stevie Nicks.

Previous award recipients include George Harrison, Buddy Guy, Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, Carlos Santana, Chet Atkins, James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, Randy Newman, John Mellencamp, Annie Lennox, Sting and Stevie Wonder.

Petty introduced Harrison, the first Century Award honoree, at the 1992 Billboard Music Awards.


On the Net:

http://www.tompetty.com/


Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Bush Supporter & Talk Show Host Ann Coulter says Bush 'boozing it up!'.

With all that the Republican Party has been going through lately...accusations of outing a CIA spy; Bill Frist being accused of wrongdoings in the stock exchange arena; Tom Delay having to answer to charges of corruption; Carl Rove having to appear yet again before the authorities for the continued investigation into his wrong doings; the lowest approval ratings in Pres. Bush's term; the response of millions of Conservatives who are disgusted with the selection of Ms. Harriett Miers as a Supreme Court Judge; and now...the very spokepeople in the media who are the driving forces of furthering the Conservative 'movement' have become so angry with President Bush's selection (and non-participation in the 'movement') that they have turned from super supporters to just plain super rude....AGAINST THEIR OWN! Conservative talk radio has been in a tailspin as the Republican Party unfolds. During the Michael Medved radio show today it was reported that reknowned author, talk show guest and Conservative pundit Ann Coulter stated to her constituents that '30 years ago, when the Conservatives were planning to take over the courts, George W. Bush was too busy boozing it up!' That's an incredible statement coming from one of the most vocal conservative spokepeople in America! (Guess if you're not for 'the movement'...then you're out...even if you're the President! It's really funny to watch and at the same time...very sad!

BOOKS: Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende's 1999 release Daughter of Fortune is a book well worth your time and money. The very first page grabs your interest and continues to hold on until the very end. In this wonderful book you'll journey from England to Chile to the United States. Allende intertwines very precise historic detail with a riveting story line, transporting readers through the early 1800's. Daughter of Fortune shares the life of a Chilean girl who is adopted by an Aristocratic English family. Her growth, perils, anguishes and triumphs fill each page of this twisting saga.

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Not Recommended

Stephanie Smith-Jones
BlogAzine World
Book Critique

POLITICS: Bush: 'God Told Me To Invade Iraq, Afghanistan'

(Democracy Now)
As President Bush announces his renewed war on what he calls radical Islam, a new BBC series is revealing new details about President Bush's own perceived religious mission. According to the BBC, Bush told Palestinian ministers in 2003 that God had told him to invade Afghanistan and Iraq - and to create a Palestinian State. In the BBC program, Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen and foreign minister Nabil Shaath describe their first meeting with President Bush in June 2003. Shaath quotes Bush as saying at the time QUOTE "I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, "George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan." And I did, and then God would tell me, "George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq …" And I did. And now, again, I feel God's words coming to me, "Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East." And by God I'm gonna do it,'" Shaath quoted Bush as saying. The White House denied Bush made the comments, calling them "absurd."

WORLD NEWS: Over 30,000 feared dead in Pakistan Earthquake-Where's the American media?

At least 30,000 men, women and children are feared killed and tens of thousands more injured in what has been declared the worse earthquake in Pakistan history. The deadly quake will reportedly leave 2.5 million people needing shelter after the monterous 7.6 earthquake destroyed the Pakistan-Indian border. The damage spans at least 250 miles from Jalalbad in Afghanistan to Srinagar in northern India.
But where is the American media coverage. We have to flip through all of the cable news channels non-stop to catch even a quick blurb about this catastrophe. Why? Don't we care about the lives and horrific deaths of others. We expect other countries to care about us when catastrophes occur here in America, and the world outpouring of care is always tremendous toward us. But it is a sad day when tens of thousands abroad can be killed by a natural disaster and we just yawn about it.