What Does It Mean to be an American?

What does it mean to be American to you?  How would you answer that question?  I know many of us take being American for granted.  There are so many people world wide who would die to be an American!  Below is an amazing video about a woman who became an American, but also is doing something incredible!  She symbolizes the idea of the Power of One!  We can all do something to make a difference!

Impact of War and Violence

"Zombie"

Another head hangs lowly,
Child is slowly taken.
And the violence caused such silence,
Who are we mistaken?

But you see, it's not me, it's not my family.
In your head, in your head they are fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are crying...

In your head, in your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie,
Hey, hey, hey. What's in your head,
In your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh, dou, dou, dou, dou, dou...

Another mother's breakin',
Heart is taking over.
When the vi'lence causes silence,
We must be mistaken.

It's the same old theme since nineteen-sixteen.
In your head, in your head they're still fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are dying...

In your head, in your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie,
Hey, hey, hey. What's in your head,
In your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh, hey, oh, ya, ya-a...

I love the song "Zombie" by The Cranberries!  When I was in middle school they were actually my favorite band, and I could not get enough of them.  The other day I heard this song, and as I was reminicing my childhood - I heard something new in the song.  I was listening to the lyrics, and couldn't believe what I was hearing!  I had never really listened to the lyrics - boy do they say a lot!

In a nutshell the song is about the impact of war and violence.  The biggest impact the song focuses on is family.  I cannot imagine having a loved one in war.  The lyric that stands out to me is "Another mother's breakin heart..."  There are so many Moms out there who have a heavy heart, and worry about their kids in harms way.  For those who don't have loved ones in war - have no idea what those families are going through.  The other lyric that stands out to me is "..it is not my family..."

For many they don't pay attention to what famalies and soliders go through. Most are Zombies!  The impact does not effect them, and life gets busy.  But we all should take a moment, stand still, and look.  Look at the impact and open our hearts!  We should do whatever we can to help the armed forces and their families!  If nothing else we need to say Thank You!

How Do You Tell?

The Sullivan Brothers

A powerful song is Sullivan by Caroline Spine.  Everytime I listen to this song I get goose bumps!  It is about the Sullivan Brothers during WWII who all joined the military, and were placed in the South Pacific on the same ship.  They were all killed, and what eats me up is the thought of how the mother dealt with this.  I can't imagine having kids in war.  Knowing they are in harms way, and never knowing fully if they are safe.  But this Mom had all 5 of her sons, and then one day gets a telegram that they were all killed!  This song captures the emotion and heart of this situation.

My favorite line is, "...so Uncle Sam will send you a telegram - so he doesn't have to tell you over the phone..."  That line speaks to me, and always makes me think.  I really think now after this song that if a family has a loved one die in the military the President should call the family.  That man or woman made the ultimate sacrifice and they deserve more than a telegram.  

Farewell, My Queen

My dear friend just showed me the most amazing trailer for a movie that is coming out!  It is called Farewell, My Queen, and it is about the French Revolution.  The French Revolution is my favorite historical period!  It captivates me, and I love every part of it!  This movie looks good, and I love that it is in French!!!

Blind Side

I just watched this movie on TV, and have to do a post!  What is great about this movie is the reminder that someone believes in you!  And when someone believes in you incredible things can happen!  In this movie Michael is a kid from the projects who is taken in by a wealthy family.  All of sudden so much is possible!  He is playing football, making good grades, and getting scholarships to colleges.  It was always possible - he just needed the push and drive!  Michael needed someone to believe in him!

Sandra Bullock as the concerned mother

So it makes me wonder - who believes in you?  Who pushes you, and expects excellence?  Is it your parents, a teacher, a leader in the community, or a friend?  Whoever is pushing you in your life - hold on to them and thank them!  You are so lucky!  If you think you have no one - you DO at BTW!  The administration, staff, and faculty love you so much, and want the best for you!  That is why at BTW teachers expect so much of you, and have high standards.  We want the best for you!  We want you to follow your dreams, and have the life of your dreams! 

Your life is your life.  You make it what you want, and in high school you will make decisions that will impact your adult life.  Just know that I'm behind you - your biggest cheerleader wanting you to accomplish all of your dreams and goals!  I saw Charlize Theron on an interview recently and she discussed helping kids in South Africa.  She said she came home thankful because circumstances worked out for her.  She is an Oscar winning actress making millions!  She was reminded that circumstances don't always work out for everyone.  We are blessed - how are you going to use your life?

The King's Speech

I love movies!  And I love when the movies take a historical event.  Because then it is exciting, and engaging.  You get a sense of what that event was all about!  How people felt, and what they went through!  There is a huge differenc reading about an event, and watching it!  A great historical movie is The King's Speech.  It came out a few years ago, and I was blown away!  It was the best movie I had seen in a long time!  I think I saw it three times at the theater - It was that good!  I knew it would win Oscars.  Colin Firth who plays the King won Best Actor!  And it was so deserved.

The King's Speech follows the King of England during WWII.  He must inspire his country at a horrible time, but there is a problem.  The King of England has a horrible stutter.  Radio has been invented, and all of his advisors want him to address the nation.  But he can't, and it is painful to watch!  So he hires a speech therapist to help him.  The relationship he develops with the therapist is so much fun to watch.  It is an outstandiing movie!  Rent it today!

The real King

Unbroken: The Power of Forgiveness

This is Memorial Weekend - a time to remember and thank all the men and women who fight for our freedom.  So this weekend I want to share an incredible story of service and forgiveness.  Now this story is captured in the book, Unbroken.  This WWII fighter pilot crashed in the ocean.  Luckily there was life raft for him to use.  He survived over a month weathering storms and fighting off sharks!  Eventually a boat showed up, but it wasn't a rescue party.  It was the Japanese who took him as a prisoner to Execution Island.  He spent a few years there where he was beaten, tortured, and starved!  I could not even imagine what he went through!

The most amazing thing about his story was years later he decided to forgive his torturers.  He didn't do it in his mind or paper, he went to Japan and forgave them face3 to face!  If he can forgive those men who tortured him and beat him - I can forgive anyone.  He said it has brought him joy, and it freed him!

     “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”

The World War II Soldier

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