Month: September 2017

Protesting the National Anthem.

national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation’s government as the official national song,  or by convention through use by the people.

The Star-Spangled Banner” is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from “Defence of Fort M’Henry“, a poem written on September 14, 1814, by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy in Baltimore Harbor during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. Key was inspired by the large American flag, the Star-Spangled Banner, flying triumphantly above the fort during the American victory.

“The Star-Spangled Banner” was recognized for official use by the United States Navy in 1889, and by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in 1916, and was made the national anthem by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931 (46 Stat. 1508, codified at 36 U.S.C. § 301), which was signed by President Herbert Hoover.

Ft._Henry_bombardement_1814 (2)

By Original uploader was Dr.frog at en.wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3661221

In 1899, the US Navy official adopted “The Star-Spangled Banner”. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson ordered that “The Star-Spangled Banner” be played at military and other appropriate occasions. The playing of the song two years later during the seventh-inning stretch of Game One of the 1918 World Series, and thereafter during each game of the series is often cited as the first instance that the anthem was played at a baseball game, though evidence shows that the “Star-Spangled Banner” was performed as early as 1897 at opening day ceremonies in Philadelphia and then more regularly at the Polo Grounds in New York City beginning in 1898. In any case, the tradition of performing the national anthem before every baseball game began in World War II.

KeysSSB

By Francis Scott Key - Frank A. O'Connell; Wilbur F. Coyle (1914). National Star-Spangled Banner Centennial, Baltimore, Maryland, September 6 to 13, 1914 (1914). Baltimore: National Star-Spangled Banner Centennial Commission. p. 64., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3807435

The Star-Spangled Banner – 1944

National Anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner

Lyrics

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;
O 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, O 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 homes and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry 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!

 Additional Civil War period lyrics

In indignation over the start of the American Civil War, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.added a fifth stanza to the song in 1861, which appeared in songbooks of the era.

When our land is illumined with Liberty’s smile,
If a foe from within strike a blow at her glory,
Down, down with the traitor that dares to defile
The flag of her stars and the page of her story!
By the millions unchained who our birthright have gained,
We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained!
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
While the land of the free is the home of the brave.

Right or Wrong to Protest the National Anthem?

“The Star-Spangled Banner” is traditionally played at the beginning of public sports events and orchestral concerts in the United States, as well as other public gatherings. The National Hockey League and Major League Soccerboth require venues in both the U.S. and Canada to perform both the Canadian and American national anthems at games that involve teams from both countries (with the “away” anthem being performed first) It is also usual for both American and Canadian anthems (done in the same way as the NHL and MLS) to be played at Major League Baseball and National Basketball Association games involving the Toronto Blue Jays and the Toronto Raptors (respectively), the only Canadian teams in those two major U.S. sports leagues, and in All Star Games on the MLB, NBA, and NHL. The Buffalo Sabres of the NHL, which play in a city on the Canada–US border and have a substantial Canadian fan base, play both anthems before all home games regardless of where the visiting team is based.

Two especially unusual performances of the song took place in the immediate aftermath of the United States September 11 attacks. On September 12, 2001, the Queen broke with tradition and allowed the Band of the Cold-stream Guards to perform the anthem at Buckingham Palace, London, at the ceremonial Changing of the Guard, as a gesture of support for Britain’s ally. The following day at a St. Paul’s Cathedral memorial service, the Queen joined in the singing of the anthem, an unprecedented occurrence.

There is pride in the history carved in the intimate fibers of a nation’s flag and the deep sentiment of its patriotic national Anthem. The blood boils and the heart quivers. When someone attacks a nation it revives the feelings of homeland and heroism. People turn to the God we trust, the history, the meaning of the flag and the hymn. The courageous soldiers that gave their lives for our freedom. Memorial Day and Veterans Day give a especial meaning to the fallen who lived and died in search of freedom. Our greatest pride!

 “O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry 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!”

 When a leader betrays the nation, there are broken hearts, inexplicable anger and desolation. The courageous men a women stand tall to show pride and readiness to fight back and defend what has cost so many lives.

 “We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained!
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
While the land of the free is the home of the brave.”

 

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_anthem
Flag Picture:
By Original uploader was Dr.frog at en.wikipedia – Transferred from en.wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3661221
 Lyrics Picture
By Francis Scott Key – Frank A. O’Connell; Wilbur F. Coyle (1914). <a rel=”nofollow” class=”external text” href=”http://www.archive.org/stream/nationalstarspan02nati#page/n63″>National Star-Spangled Banner Centennial, Baltimore, Maryland, September 6 to 13, 1914</a> (1914). Baltimore: National Star-Spangled Banner Centennial Commission. p. 64., Public Domain, <a href=”https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3807435″>Link</a&gt;
 “The Star-Spangled Banner” video: Title: Movietone News: “The Star-Spangled Banner” (Version II) (ca. 1944) Sumary: Patriotic montage of scenes accompanying performance of U.S. national anthem as sung by Merrill Miller. Producer: Fox Movietone News Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W Keywords: Patrioti

 

It’s Real

My heart can’t stop crying the reality that my parents are not longer with me. No calls from them I will get today. No Happy Birthdays, “mañanitas” , blessings or good wishes. And yet, I know they wanted the best for me, they still want it. Their sentiment wasn’t for just a birthday or a  season of my life.  Their prayers were heard in heaven day after day,  year after year.

Thank you Mom. Thank you Dad.  I miss you both so much.


Mi corazón no puede dejar de llorar la realidad de que mis padres ya no están conmigo. No recibiré llamadas de ellos hoy. No Feliz Cumpleaños, “mañanitas”, bendiciones o buenos deseos. Y sin embargo, sé que querían lo mejor para mí, todavía lo quieren. Su sentimiento no era sólo en mi cumpleaños o por una temporada de mi vida. Sus oraciones fueron escuchadas en el cielo día tras día, año tras año.

Gracias mamá. Gracias Papá. Los extraño mucho a ambos.

Resistance To The Unknown

The first resistance to the unknown is experienced when the baby cries after leaving the mother’s womb. From that point on, the baby is in continuous changing, learning, adapting, growing, failing and trying again. No body says it would be easy to walk without first some stumbling and falling, but we did it, and we don’t want to go back to crawling.

Baby Crawling

Just as the first experience, it happened again when we  went to school, college, university, work, marriage, having our own families and so on. In each season we had to face the fear of the unknown, learn and adjust to it.  The sooner we do it, the better it is.

Adjusting to a new life style after divorce, illness, financial loss, or dead of a loved one. Perhaps, we are working but some radical changes are happening that are hard to adjust. Maybe we are just praying for the right person to come to our life. Whatever the situation, there is always fear to the unknown.

Divorce

At times we have to adjust to situations we thought they were over for us: going back to school or to work again after retirement… yes,  we are always confronted with the unknown, every day, every minute. It can be  nerve-racking and it can drain our energy. Once done, many times we wouldn’t change it for nothing.

unknown

So, what can we do when the uncertainty comes?

I normally remind myself of whom I lean on. My Lord Jesus Christ. I claim his promises:  “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:2-3.

If I feel I failed, I remind the Lord his promise on Isaiah 54: 7-10. I claim His favor to me. “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will take you back. 8 In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer. 9 “Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. 10 For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you…

Just like the baby lean on his parents for comfort, we also need someone. Peace and calm come back when we face the unknown with Christ.  Thank you for His mercy. It helps us to keep on going facing every day until eternity comes… 

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Thank you!

Irma left Florida with a lot to be done and rebuild. It could have been worse. Thank you to the Lord for his mercy, to the emergency teams, meteorologists, reporters, government, neighbors, gas stations, stores and to all who made it possible to keep Floridians safer, informed and with the necessary provisions. They sacrificed their lives and families for us, and for that, I’m grateful.

I Learned to Pray in the “I” Form

I was just a little child when I learned to personalized my prayers. First, it was at school from my first grade teacher and then I heard that from an aunt.  What a difference it makes in my life. Those were very inspirational words of wisdom. Thank you!

Click to See Psalm 121  Continue reading “I Learned to Pray in the “I” Form”

Prayers For Deliverance From Irma

For the first time I really feel nervous with this monstrous hurricane. It’s coming straight to us in Florida. I’m getting ready for this one and hopefully all goes well and it decreases strength in the waters. Let’s pray for God’s mercy over all the affected in the path of Irma and that He may deliver us from it. Amen.

Irma

Talents: Genetic or Learnt?

“Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see.” 
― Arthur Schopenhauer

My thought today is about talent. Lets define it first.  According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary it is a special and usually inborn ability. It is  a special often athletic, creative, or artistic aptitude or a  general intelligence or mental power  also called  ability. The natural endowments of a person.  Synonyms aptitude, bent, endowment, faculty, flair, genius, gift, head, knack.

Are Talents genetic or learnt?

Perhaps, both. Whether we are aware of it or not, we all have a talent. There is a potential that if parents are artists, the children can be as well. Talent without practice becomes dormant. We know of people who an accident or illness  forced them to develop or  exercise a dormant talent or skill. Some examples of great talented people.

1) Stephen Hawking – ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) – Physicist
2) Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Polio – paralyzed from the waist down.) President of the USA.
3) Stevie Wonder (Blind) (Musician)
4) Vincent van Gough – (Mental Illness) Painter.
5) Sudha Chandran – (Amputation of right leg) Dancer

Talents can be learnt. Perhaps a dormant talent can be fired up with an unexpected opportunity or after a  “blessed season of adversity.”  It’s the case of Oprah Winfrey after a troubled childhood, Steve Jobs childhood  and his business ventures  or even Thomas Edison and the 1000 times he tried before created the light bulb.  Just to mention some.

The fact that one have a talent at something , it doesn’t mean that we don’t  need to bother about success.  You see, one may be good at selling but if we don’t  exercise our given selling skills to sell, we may  become one more talented person who never discovered his unique abilities and capabilities.

Lastly, talent is good and is evil and both will affect many people.

If you haven’t discovered your talent, pledge today to never surrender to adversity; …your talent may be about to flourish.