On My Mind: God Bless Kate Smith

Singer Kate Smith 

The Philadelphia Flyers hockey team joined baseball's New York Yankees

this past Friday to end the playing of "God Bless America" by the

legendary Kate Smith before the opening of home games, due to

 recent allegations which have surfaced claiming that Miss Smith
once sang songs that are "racially insensitive" to black Americans.
She sang these songs over 80 years ago.

The Flyers have since covered up the statue of the singer which has

stood outside the Philadelphia sports complex since 1987.

According to the Flyers official statement: "We have recently become

aware that several songs performed by Kate Smith contain offensive

lyrics that do not reflect our values as an organization. As we

continue to look into this serious matter, we are removing 

Kate Smith's recording of "God Bless America" from our

library and covering up the statue that stands outside our arena."

According to various media reports, way back in 1931,
Kate Smith sang a satirical song about racism called,
"That's Why Darkies Were Born"
which contained the lyrics: "Someone had to pick the cotton,
Someone had to pick the corn,  Someone had to slave and
be able to sing, That's why darkies were born."

It seems clear to me that Miss Smith has become the latest 
 victim of the twisted agenda wielded by those who like to 
 refer to themselves as  "Social Justice Warriors"  a.k.a.
the Thought Police of 21st century America.

The news media jumped right on this story
like a duck on a June bug.  However, I am curious to know 
just who or what brought this information forward in the
first place and why the media seems to be 
protecting the identities of Miss Smith's accusers?

Furthermore, if this song is so 'racially insensitive' then
 why is it only Miss Smith whose being taken to task here,
 when Paul Robeson, a black American actor and civil rights
activist also recorded the same song?

Is this really a case about 'racial insensitivity'?

Or, is this just another veiled attack on America and
 all that is good and right about this wonderful nation?

The statue of iconic American singer Kate Smith was recently covered

up after charges of racism recently surfaced against her.



 Composer Irving Berlin wrote, "God Bless America" during World War I but
later changed the lyrics shortly before World War II.  By the time he re-wrote 
 some of the original lyrics in 1938, the nation of Austria had been invaded by
the forces of Nazi Germany.  During the war, Berlin wrote a few more
songs in support of the war effort in America, including an anti-Hitler
tune called, "When That Man Is Dead And Gone".

 Kate Smith's robust rendition of "God Bless America" is a song which 
 bolstered the morale of the brave American soldiers and sailors
fighting our enemies in Europe and the Pacific during World War II.

To me this classic song reflects the personal love and deep  
 appreciation I have for this great and beautiful land of freedom  
 I am unabashedly proud to call "my home, sweet home."
  
And it was for similar reasons to mine that "God Bless America"
was chosen to be played during the New York Yankees
 home games not long after the terrible events
 which occurred on September 11, 2001.

On that tragic day, regardless of race or politics or religion,
or social status, we were all Americans standing together.
Unfortunately the spirit of E pluribus unum,  which in
Latin means, "Out of many, one" and is found on
the Great Seal of the United States did not last.

As Irving Berlin once said, "There's a cynicism about patriotism and
flag waving until something happens. 'God Bless America' for instance.
  It's an emotion, not just words and music."

Meanwhile, they covered Kate Smith while Jussie Smollett walks free.

Tomorrow is Resurrection Sunday.  A time when Christians
celebrate our risen Lord.  I often think of His wonderful gift to us.
Jesus, the perfect Son of God, willingly drank from the cup of
His Father's wrath against the entire human race.
He took our transgressions with Him to the cross
so that we would be set free from the stain of our sins
and the curse of death.

May God Bless Kate Smith

And May God Continue To Bless America



"God Bless America"
Kate Smith
Originally recorded March 1939

The Reaper and the Flowers

There is a Reaper, whose name is Death,

And with his sickle keen,

He reaps the bearded grain at a breath,

And the flowers that grow between.

Lilacs On The Table

Ivanov Vladimir

"Shall I have naught that is fair?" saith he;

"Have naught but the bearded grain? 

Though the breath of these flowers is sweet to me,

I will give them all back again."

He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes,

He kissed their drooping leaves;

It was for the Lord of Paradise

He bound them in his sheaves.

"My Lord has need of these flowerets gay,"

The Reaper said, and smiled;

"Dear tokens of the earth are they,

Where He was once a child.

"They shall all bloom in fields of light,

Transplanted by my care,

And saints, upon their garments white,

Those sacred blossoms wear."

The mother gave, in tears and pain

The flowers she most did love;

She knew she should find them all again

In the fields of light above.

Oh, not in cruelty, not in wrath,

The Reaper came that day;

"T was an angel visited the green earth,

And took the flowers away.

Lilac Angel

Laurie Snow Hein


"For last enemy to be subdued and abolished is death"
1 Corinthians 15:26

"The Reaper and the Flowers'

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

(1809-1882)

American poet and educator

The Crown Jewel Of Biblical Feasts: Passover In All Its Glory

"The blood shall be a token or sign to you,

the doorposts of the house where you are,

that when I see the blood, I will pass over you,

and no plague shall be upon you to destroy you

when I smite the land of Egypt."

Exodus 12:13

Zola Levitt Presents

"The Miracle of Passover"

Part 1 of 2

(1999)

Zola Levitt

(1938-2006)

"And He said to them, I have earnestly and intensely desired

to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 

For I say to you, I shall eat it no more until it is fulfilled

in the kingdom of God.

And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He said:

"Take this and divide and distribute it among yourselves;

For I say to you that from now on I shall not drink of the

fruit of the vine at all until the kingdom of God comes,

Then He took a loaf of bread and when He had given thanks,

He broke it and gave it to them saying,

"This is My body which is given for you, do this

in in remembrance of Me.

And in a like manner, He took the cup after supper,

saying, "This cup is the new testament  or covenant,

ratified with My blood, which is shed, poured out for you."

Luke 22:13-20

Zola Levitt Presents

"The Miracle of Passover"

Part 2 of 2

(1999)

Zola Levitt

(1938-2006)

"Purge (clean out) the old leaven that you

may be fresh (new) dough, still uncontaminated

(as you are) for Christ, our Passover Lamb

has been sacrificed."

1 Corinthians 5:7

The Way Of Suffering

Down the Via Dolorosa 

In Jerusalem that day

The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street

But the crowd pressed into see

The man condemned to die on Calvary.

He was bleeding from a beating

there were stripes upon His back

And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head

And He bore with every step,

The scorn of those who cried out for His death.

Down the Via Dolorosa,

called the Way of Suffering,

Like a lamb came the Messiah,

Christ the King

But He chose to walk that road

out of His love for you and me.

Down the Via Dolorosa

all the way to Calvary.

Por la Via Dolorosa triste dia en Jerusalem

Las soldaldos le abrian paso a Jesus

Mas la gente se acercaba,

Para ver al que llevaba cruz

Por la Via Dolorosa  que es la via del dolor

Como oveja vino Cristo Rey v Senor

Y fue El quien  ir por su amor por ti por mi

Por la Via Dolorosa al Calvario y a morir.

The blood that would cleanse

the souls of all men

Made its way through the heart

of Jerusalem

Down the Via Dolorosa,

called the Way of Suffering

Like a lamb came the Messiah

Christ the King

But He chose to walk that road

out of His love for you and me

Down the Via Dolorosa

all the way to Calvary.

Via Dolorosa

Sandy Patty


"Via Dolorosa"
Miklos Rozsa
(1907-1995)
Hungarian-American composer

Film clip from the movie,
"The Passion of the Christ"
(2004)

Just In Time For Easter: The Full Pink Moon!

Oh, well the world is dreaming

Under the April moon,

Her soul in love with beauty,

Her senses all a-swoon.

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac website, this

year's Full Pink Moon will reach peak fullness on Friday, April 19th.

Tomorrow is Good Friday and Passover will begin at sundown.

The best time to view this moon, however, will be tonight,

according to the folks at the Almanac, when it will be

near peak fullness as it sails across the spring night sky.

Unless, of course, it is cloudy where you live!

Full Pink Moon

 (2019)

In the language of my Cherokee ancestors, this month's moon

is known as "Kawoni" or the Flower Moon.  The first plants of the

new spring season come out at this time of the year.  One tradition,

which is still being carried on today, is the annual gathering of

wild plants called, "Ramps".

  For many centuries, the Cherokee Indians living

 in the Appalachian Mountains have gathered

 these annual greens, which are similar to 

 wild onions, and are often called, "mountain leeks".

These medicinal plants are not only delicious to eat,

but chock full of Vitamin C and other nutrients.

Wild Ramps

Each spring in  North Carolina, the Cherokee Nation

hosts their annual, "Rainbow and Ramps" festival.  Local Cherokee

members gather the wild plants from their families own ramp

patches, whose locations are kept secret due to the plant's

 delicacy, and to protect the root system for future growth.
  At the yearly celebration, the ramps are served up

 fried like onions, along with freshly-caught, filleted
rainbow trout, which is breaded and deep-fried, and

  served with delicious sides like cornbread and potato salad.

"Under The April Moon"

An excerpt from the poem

by  William Bliss Carman

(1861-1929)

Canadian poet

Make Jesus Glad

The blood-red sweat in the garden

And the broken heart on the tree,

Are enough for my suffering Savior

To bear on earth for me.

Gethsemane

Liz Lemon Swindle

Till I meet Him in glory,

May I gladden His yearning soul

By bringing each day to Jesus

Some wanderer from the fold.

My sins and follies that grieve Him,

As He watches me day by day,

Are enough for my patient Savior

To bear along life's way

The scoffs of those who despise Him,

And the sneers of those who revile,

Are enough for my loving Savior

To bear for me awhile.

Garden of Gethsemane

Jerusalem, Israel

"Make Jesus Glad"

Amzi Clarence Dixon

(1854-1925)

American Hymnist

That's Right Ms.Omar, We Will Never Forget!

The words recently spoken by Minnesota Democrat Congresswoman Ilan Omar

seem to confirm the old saying, "If you give'em enough rope they'll hang themselves

every time!"  Omar has once again sparked controversy when she made remarks

concerning the terror attacks on September 11, 2001 in which she claimed

that *CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) was "founded after

9/11 because they recognized that "some people did something" and that

"all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties."

Hey, Ms. Omar, do you think "these people" that "did something" 

 might have been jihadists motivated by hatred just like you?

Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) recently defended his criticism

 of Ilan Omar's latest controversial remarks.  I feel that the biased media's rush to 

judgment against him while excusing Omar's behavior is both hypocritical and

 and ridiculous. Mr. Crenshaw is an American patriot, dedicated public servant 

and honorably discharged military veteran.  Furthermore, he has every right

 to vocalize his opinion of this obnoxious troublemaker!

However, before I am accused of being unfair here, let me make it clear that

while there are decent, law-abiding American Muslims who love this nation

and whom contribute positively to our society, to hold all Muslims accountable
 for the actions of those who have chosen to use their religious beliefs
  to maim and murder innocent people,  would be no different from
blaming all Christians for the perverse actions and protests
of the radical Westboro Baptist Church.

 People driven by a religious spirit are always ready to persecute others
whom they feel are different from them, and in this regard, there is nothing

decent or law-abiding about jihadists, or those who spew anti-Semitic hatred, 

or a member of Congress who makes deliberately evasive and provoking  
 comments about a national tragedy like the September 11th terror attacks.

Meanwhile, the media has absolutely no reservations when it comes 

 to disrespecting President Trump or calling him a "racist" while

 claiming that he is "against all Muslims" for his recent criticism

 of Ms. Omar.  Some in the media have even accused him of 

 "politicizing" the  9/11 tragedy with his tweet:

"WE WILL NEVER FORGET"

New York Post Special Edition
(September 11, 2001)

Many Americans, myself included, will never forget the shock

 and horror we felt on that September morning nearly 20 years ago.
I will always remember how blue the sky was on that late summer
morning with a touch of fall coolness in the air.  Suddenly,
darkness and death rained down from those bright blue skies,
and gone forever in an instant was the feeling of complacency
that America was a safe haven from acts of terrorism, from
enemies with a profound hatred for us, driven by a satanic-
inspired, religious mandate to murder all people whom
they have deemed, "infidels" according to their beliefs.

As I wrote in an earlier post, the late Italian journalist,

Oriana Fallaci, tried to warn America and the rest of the world 

 in her books, "The Rage and The Pride" and "The Force of Reason"

in which she graphically outlined the diabolical plans of the sons of Allah

and their determination to conquer and  subjugate the West.

Although I read her books nearly a decade ago, I often wonder

how many people, especially here in America, also read them,

and how seriously they took to heart what she had to say.

 I know I did because I love America and I love my freedom!

I do not want to see this great and wonderful nation I 

call home taken over and our constitutionally-protected, free 

Republic manipulated and destroyed by the machinations

of people like Ms. Omar and those who think like her.

On a closing note, I would like to point out another familiar saying:

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

This has not only been proven true time and again throughout history,

but should serve as a wake up call for this generation,  and especially

 with the mainstream American media who seem all too ready to excuse

Omar's belligerence while attacking people like President Trump

and Representative Crenshaw for having the guts to stand

up and speak the truth!  As Oriana Fallaci once said about
the reticence of placating politicians and media in Europe: 
 "It is because they are afraid of offending the sons of Allah." 

During the infamous Nuremberg trials, the editor of the Nazi

propaganda rag, Dur Sturmer ("The Storm") whose name was

Julius Streicher was put on trial for his part as a conspirator in

the mass genocide which took place during World War II.

Although Streicher never physically participated in the

atrocities committed by members of Hitler's Third Reich,

he was nevertheless found guilty of causing the deaths 

of millions of innocent people through the use of his pen.

While it is said that, "The pen is mightier than the sword"

 in Streicher's case, the noose at the gallows fit his

neck just as smoothly as it did the Nazis who were 

 found guilty of committing crimes against humanity.

Newspaper Editor Julius Streicher gives
his last statement at the Nuremberg trials.
(1945-1949)

*CAIR was actually founded in 1994.  It has  been listed

with other organizations tied to the American network

of the Muslim Brotherhood, and has a long affiliation

with the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah.