THE TRUE CLARION CALL: Time Will Not Erase Her Memory

THE TRUE CLARION CALL: Time Will Not Erase Her Memory: "Tuscon AZ- April 1, 2011 a 9ft 11inch metal memorial statue made from steel taken from the Pentagon, and the World Trade Center was e..."

Good Bye and Thank You

Now that we have entered the first week of 2011 I would like to take the time to pay homage to the lives of those who left us in 2010. Of course this list is but a small group of the lives of those men and women famous or not, but none the less these individuals will be remembered for their body of work in film, writings, conversations, politics, thoughts, photos, and in some cases our dreams.

To those named and un- named individuals I take the time to say thank you for allowing your life to be shared with those of us who are still looking into our future to discover what legacy we will leave.

K. Gerard Thomas



Art Clokey- Cartoonist creator of Gumby and Pokey

Thank you for bringing Joy to millions of children world wide.




Art Linkletter - "Kids Say the Darndest Things "
Thank You for showing a humorous & wholesome side of Reality TV and even though sorrow and tragedy came to your family , you never quit as a humanitarian and entertainer.


Barbara Billingsly Actress -"Leave it to Beaver " and "Airplane"

Thank you for being a wise Mom that was the model we all wanted even though it was television. Thanks for one of the most funniest moments in motion pictures talking " Jive " in Airplane.



Robert Culp Actor- "I Spy" and "The Greatest American Hero"

Thank You for being apart of a ground breaking era on television in which
an African American co star ( Bill Cosby ) was equal in his ability to lead
and make decisions not just comedy relief.


Peter Graves Actor - "Mission: Impossible " and "Airplane"

Thank You for entertaining us with intellectually savvy spy and espionage
programing and your ability to express humor with a straight face.


Fess Parker- Actor "Davy Crockett " and "Daniel Boone"

During the fifties a movement among children was started as a
result of the popular Disney motion picture as real life frontiersman
and politician Davy Crockett and in the sixties Daniel Boone.



James Macarthur- Actor "Hawaii Five-O"

The real one and only "Danno" who respected the authority
of his captain. "Book Em Danno" is a quote that is part of
television lore.



Patricia Neal Actress - "The Day the Earth Stood Still" "The Walton's Homecoming" Overcoming a stroke and being one of the most respected actresses in the industry watching her tough as nails roll of the Walton's mother is always a memorable part of my Christmas holiday.





Ms. Dorthy Height- Civil Rights Leader

At a divisive time in our nations history she used her God given ability to organize others for the common good, as a leader she was instrumental as a significant voice for African American women and men. Thank You for helping in giving a voice to those of us who would have been ignored if not for your willingness to stand on our behalf.



Tony Curtis Actor- "Some Like it Hot " and "Spartacus"

A tough guy with the heart of a kindness and a willingness to challenge
boundaries thanks for the many years of entertainment of which my
favorite was your portrayal of "Houdini" .



Tom Bosley Actor -"Happy Days"

"Mr C" to all of us late "Baby Boomers" a quintessential representation
of understanding fatherhood Thank You for helping me as a father in
learning how to communicate with my children with out getting to
flustered especially those bed side chats.



Teena Marie- Musician, Singer, Writer , Producer A powerful voice that rocked the music world and before Mariah and Christina there was only Teena your willingness to keep going during the early years allowed us your fans to experience your wonderful gift ..Thank You.


Teddy Pendergrass- Singer

The romantic rough yet smooth Voice of the lead vocalist of " Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes" to a successful solo career that may be responsible for launching multiple births in the late seventies and beyond. Thank You keeping romance going and even today Teddy can set the mood unlike any other.




Gary Coleman - Actor "Different Strokes"

The tough but extremely cute child star who in spite of his personal
physical challenges kept pushing forward to entertain us weekly
Thank You.



James Mitchell - (Palmer Cortland ) "All My Children"

Best known as Nina Cortlands father and the thorn in the side of "Pine Valley"
during my early years in college he was the main reason I watched AMC. Strong but loving his family almost to a fault some of his qualities reminded me of my father...Thank You for staying true to your character.



Ron Banks- Lead Singer of the "Dramatics"

The high falsetto voice others try to mimic but strain themselves because it

is not natural but Ron made it seem effortless, capturing our attention from

beginning to end of a song. " Be My Girl" "Me and Mrs Jones" and a host of

others showcased his true talent as one of the founding members of the

" Dramatics" Thank You for giving me joy and memories of eight tracks in

my car singing your music to my self and to others ...especially girls.

Leslie Nielsen- Actor  Naked Gun and Air Plane

Starting as a serious leading man he parleyed is ability
to entertain in a more successful venue comedy.. a cross
generational entertainer that captured the hearts of from
children to the more senior members of film goers.
Thank You for the many years of laughter you have given
to your audience.



John Forsythe Actor -"Charlie's Angels and Dynasty"

The original voice of "Charlie" and "Blake Carrington" the patriarch of a Denver
multimillion dollar business empire. Surrounded by a bevy of gorgeous but crafty
women was not easy to pull off but John held his own as the symbol of secure man
hood.    






Lt Col Lee Archer- Tuskegee Airman

One of the many of the  heroes of WWII who passed this year
our nation is forever thankful for your service.   


 

Elizabeth Edwards - Humanitarian

As the true backbone of leadership you fought for those
who were less fortunate and at a time of great trial you
demonstrated to us all what dignity and courage looks like. 

Thank You 
 
 

My Earliest Christmas Memory

My earliest memory of Christmas was the days shared with my mother and fellow siblings at my grandmothers home in St.Louis. As a little boy I did not realize how modest her home was it was not as large as many of the homes in today's suburban communities , but it was large enough to entertain each of her 7 grandchildren; from the Amway merchandise filled basement, to the upstairs small 3 bed rooms.

The living room was always the most exciting place in the home it was where the Christmas tree and fireplace would bring the family together before the Christmas feast and after.

My older sisters and oldest brother would assist in setting up the dining room for the Christmas dinner while my mother , grandmother and on some occasions my aunt would be putting the last minute touches on the meal.

My older brother and I were close enough in age to enjoy the same toys but it was not a long time of play for me, because I enjoyed hanging out in the kitchen or bugging my oldest brother for a comic book drawing.

The most exciting moment was when my father would come through the door with a gift or two for both my brother and I. He would sit and talk with my grandfather and uncle as the room would smell of iced spirits and cigar.

My grandfather was the envy of all of the youngest boys in the household, because he owned two items we coveted most, his beige recliner and the old zenith three button color television remote control.

To most adults the recliner was just a nice relaxing chair, but to a young boy of the mid to late sixties it was an Apollo rocket ship or Captain Kirk's commanders chair, and the remote control was our phaser... Oh the fun we would have... until our grandfather was ready to take control of the bridge.

looking back on those perceived innocent days of my youth, I am reminded of how little it took to keep us entertained, we enjoyed each others company, and even during the rough times we managed to find some redeeming value in how we coexisted with each other. My siblings and I were the off springs of a broken home, yet in spite of what some would judged negatively, on Christmas.. none of that mattered.

We may not have been the Osmond's or the Walton's yet today , after seven grandchildren , twelve great grand children, and ten great great grand children our family continues to grow, and most importantly we did.. (and do) share the same precious gift with both of the before mentioned famous families which is... the gift of Love.

Merry Christmas

K Gerard Thomas

He Did It...

President Obama Did It Again ...Just when some thought he was down for the count he got back up to continue his fight for what is best for the citizenry of America. Some may have not got all that they wanted some of those in the progressive or conservative camps complain but it is a hell of a lot better then what would have happened if compromise on both parts had not taken place.

Merry Christmas to all those men and women who worked hard to prove to the world our nation is more than just Democrats and Republicans but we are E plubrius unum.."from many One."

Yes We Did!

"God Bless Us Everyone"

Media Made Controversy

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.
edstetzer.com/2010/11/17/tsa-logo.gif&imgrefurl

TSA Problem 2009

Now that the smoke has cleared since November 2nd election all the pundits and press are focusing their attention on the new uproar regarding pat downs by agents of the Transportation Security Administration.

It has been proven the United States citizenry has a very short term memory and it saddens me to say we are easily duped to follow where ever the media leads, that is why they keep pushing
Palin 24/7.

Why are we now talking about the TSA? It fits the season, (think about it) , this is the high travel season so what better time to keep stirring up controversy and scare tactics with a dash of Palin.

How Did We Get Here?

After 9/11 our nation has been confronting multiple attempted attacks by would be terrorist such as the "Shoe Bomber" and last years "Christmas underwear bomber" .

The online web site The Grio reports the following from an Associated Press story regarding last Christmas attempted suicidal bombing incident on flight 253.

"Passengers on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 forced the alleged bomber to the front of the plane as it approached Detroit Metropolitan Airport last Dec. 25 carrying nearly 300 people. Authorities say he was trying to set off explosives hidden in his underwear. The incident exposed flaws in security and intelligence.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't

After the alleged Christmas Bomber was caught the Republicans blamed the president for not doing enough to protect fliers. Of course they were gung ho for the new stronger security methods, but now it is Obama's fault that some people are complaining about TSA agents going too far in their zeal to assure the safety of the travelers.

According to 'Crooks and Liars' online article.. Republican Jim De Mint Blames Obama for "Christmas Bomber" While putting Hold On TSA Appointment .. Logan Murphy

"Last Sunday Republican Jim DeMint used the alleged Christmas Bomber issue to attack President Obama and the TSA because the agency's screeners might *gasp* unionize.

As it turns out, DeMint was really trying to deflect attention away from the fact that he voted against TSA funding earlier this year and has put a hold on Obama's nominee to head the department"

2010 Problems

Why is the press pushing this story so hard are these complaints new? or is it just convenient because we are approaching the Holiday season and the lazy reporters don't want to cover news of more substantial value.

Has the TSA been searching people more aggressively since the "Christmas Bomber" incident in December of 2009 or did it just start this week.

Ever since 9/11 our national security has been primary and if it takes a scanner or even a reasonable some what uncomfortable frisk by a TSA agent to continue to secure our safety I'll take it .

Yeah.. We Think You're That Stupid

Press manipulation is when they attempt to interview a guest that knows very little about the subject for which they are being interviewed but because they can stir up controversy the press will allow them to proliferate unsubstantiated or vetted comments just because.

Such was the recent CNN interview with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal who as instructed by the Republican House Leaders stuck to the script of attacking his president on every thing from the BP Oil Leak to how the TSA is to intrusive.

Jindal is hocking his new book and thus he must concentrate on how the last two years was the apocalypse. ( Here is the funny part ) Jindal said former Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin could make a "compelling case" for president." I like governors because they have to balance their budgets, they have to run their states,".. Oh but didn't she quit the governor ship.

Another Jindal zinger was he said there should be some system of profiling of passengers who deemed to be a threat ...Yeah Bobby Jindal said that.

What Will the New Congress Suggest we Do?

Here is the sneaky part.. John Mica(R Fla) stated on CNN this weekend that Private Security Firms should be in charge of Transportation Security thus opening the door for corporate money making entity like maybe "Black Water" ...Nah they wouldn't do that.

K.Gerard Thomas


http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1110/111910nj2.htm

http://crooksandliars.com/logan-murphy/republican-jim-demint-blames-obama-ts

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/21/top-goper-appears-to-discount-white-house-run/#more-136536

Update to... What Will Happen If Democrats Loose House and Senate on November 2nd?

Prophetic Words of October 2010 now has come to pass as result  we are in trenched in a battle between those who know very little about our democracy and those who are willing to forgo political power or posturing for the sake of the greater good. 

In the next two weeks the press will continue to push the alleged consensus that the Democrats are doomed for a great defeat on November 2nd, this is the only narrative that matters to the main stream media. The only thing that can shut them up is a strong powerful showing on or before November 2nd.

If these so called "Tea Party" Republican candidates succeed in taking control of the house and Senate there will be a return to the Bush era of greater partisan bitterness and an even larger divide within our nation not seen since 1994 a time of constant grid lock in Washington DC where nothing gets done because the needs of the people are less important then the needs of the wealthy and the elected officials political ideology.

As a nation we should be working together to try to move forward yet there are those who continue to stand in the way and block our ability to offer more assistance to the nation's middle class.

If the Tea Party candidates win ..our country will suffer the greatest loss since the days of the depression and we will no doubt discover (too late) that most of these candidates were and are limited in their knowledge of how government works.

In the opinion of some .. after listening to their rhetoric regarding what they will do if elected they will damage our economy in ways the Bush administration could never dream of.

Some of these candidates have zero qualifications to hold the office they are running for, but because our nation is still in recovery from the eight years of recession like treatment of the middle class (under the republican party I might add ) disgruntled Mc Cain Palin voters from 2008 have re branded themselves as members of the Tea Party are willing to put any body in office.


The only way to offset the financial power of those who are the financial backers of the Tea Party is to use the ballot as your weapon. The wealthy Republican leaders don't have to worry about medi-cal  medicaid, or paying for their child's college tuition. It is simple they are wealthy the middle class worker is not wealthy so they struggle to pay bills and enjoy financial security. 

The middle class is expendable, and while our unemployment rate is high multimillion dollar corporations ship jobs over seas assuring that citizens of other nations benefit from cheap labor while many citizens in America benefit from zero labor.   

The national Press has written off the Democrats and are continuing to push the same old tired talking points that the Republicans will sweep the upcoming election on November 2nd even when polls are tightening all across the nation and many of the Democratic candidates are now taking lead in their races but don't let the truth or the facts get in the way of a good national press induced fight.


Go Vote... as if your life depended on it ...(If health care reform is repealed) it just might.

A Day of Remembrance Ten Years Later

Ten years ago while getting ready for work I turned on the television as I often do in order to check the local weather and traffic report just like most commuting suburbanites who have to travel some twenty plus mile or more to work and back, we had no idea that this terrorist attack would for ever change the lives of millions of Americans for ever.  

On that Fateful Day

Our local Los Angeles newscast was preempted by a live video feed from New York City and what first seemed to be just a containable fire coming from a floor in the World Trade Center soon became a story about a possible small Cessna airplane that flew off course into on of the Twin Towers in Manhattan.    

The Video Footage Changed the Story

Within minutes of the first live journalistic assumptions and questions, a video footage showing a large (high jacked ) passenger transcontinental air plane crashing into the north tower of the WTC,  the public later learned it was American Airline flight 11 caring 92 passengers of which there were no survivors.

While observing the live feed from New York a second plane crashed into the south tower once I witnessed this tragic event  before my very eyes, I knew right away, this was no accident, and my family and I were now witnessing in real time one of the most horrific and heroic moments in our nations ever changing history.  The second plane was United flight 175 caring 60 passengers as well as the hijackers. Two other flights were also hijacked on the same day  flight 77 which was en route for the Pentagon in Arlington Virginia ,  and flight 93 which was assumed to be en-route for the White House.    

Like many Americans I was worried that this was not the end of attacks. I was raised with a strong faith in God’s sovereign ability to watch over our nation, knowing we as Americans would have to rely on each other and Gods mercy to get us through this painful moment for years to come.


What Have We Learned ? 

As a result of what took place on September 11, 2001 multiple lives have been affected worldwide. Each year since we still mourn those whose lives that were taken on that fateful morning, and we honor the thousands of service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our nations freedom.

Today I am saddened and angry at the way some have used this terrible moment in our history to excuse their bigoted remarks, and physical and verbal attacks on innocent citizens and others who are seeking a peaceful solution to the bitter narrative of anger, racism, and revenge.

Recent news stories shed some light on how 9/11 has become a tool of manipulation to further the political, monitory, and racist agenda for those who continue to fan the flames of division in our nation and the world. We are still learning how to accept what happened it is a process but we must not turn on each other because that would play into the hands of those who committed this horrendous act.


How do we pay our Respect to Those who’s Lives Were Lost?


Some used this solemn day of remembrance to offer service to others donating their time and skills, such as helping in a shelter for the less fortunate, assisting in building homes, donating or serving food at a food bank, giving monetary assistance to a charity or church out reach program. Whatever we could do to offer some menial service to those in need, cannot in any way comparing to what our service men and women encounter each day on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.

This week rather than focusing on the negatives of those who have used 9/11 for their personal agenda, (which in most cases has some negative slant), I choose to offer a narrative of respect and honor to the lives of those lost and to my country as a whole.

Billy Graham in one of his last national appearances with a sitting president Reverend Graham stated " We come together today to reaffirm our conviction that God cares for us, whatever our ethnic, religious or political back ground may be."



May God Bless the 9/11 Families, the men and women of the Armed Services and their families, and our President and Congress and finally May God Bless the United States of America.

K. Gerard Thomas