Our Wish for you... That you keep on moving...

Happy Holidays :)

Another 9/11

I have found myself dreading the acknowledgement that it is again 9/11 for many reasons. Partly because it's a reminder of such a terrible tragedy, though I feel it is necessary to be reminded of those who died that day with a sense of respect and wishes for those left behind, who, because of the media attention, won't be able to pretend today is just another day like any other.
The second reason is because it reminds me of how the Bush administration has used all that suffering for its own benefit and has, as a result, caused twice as many deaths of Americans and an incredible number of civilian deaths. The justification for this atrocity is so beyond my comprehension I decided to just let the numbers speak for themselves.

Number of deaths 9/11 2001 = 2,993
Number of deaths of American soldiers in Iraq as of today = 4,261
Number of Iraqi deaths (mostly civilians) as of today = 101,539

Then how is one to face yet another 9/11? I decided to just allow myself to be reminded of how we felt then, when compassion from others for the violence we had suffered and a deep sense that killing people unjustifiably was an unreasonable and vicious act was the focus. When we couldn't imagine causing those deaths ourselves. Who knew what was to come...

David Letterman's words that day. A rare and raw moment of humanity in american television:

Tay Zonday, underdog conquers obstacles

Tay is one of those unique musicians that would never have been considered "cool enough" for most music companies. Well, the power of the internet has showed its face because he is becoming an overnight sensation. His unique style, unique voice, and, gee, unique everything else has given him a cult following.

Michael Jackson in Brazilian slum

Michael Jackson singing "They don't really care about us" with a school of samba in one of Brazil's largest slums.

Why do people care that Michael Jackson has died?

It is during a time like this, when a huge celebrity dies, when people are gathering on the streets and crying over the loss that makes us all wonder why. Why do people care that much? Why is it that all the media outlets that constantly used him as a way of making money by pointing every single flaw, now treat him like a dear lost friend? The answer is simple:

There is one thing this culture enjoys more than making idols, and that is to destroy them, and it's particularly successful at that. Truth is, we will never know for sure what Michael Jackson did, what he didn't do. Is it possible that he's done a lot of harm? Of course it is, but we simply don't know. It is also very possible he paid people off for knowing he would have never had a chance in court. His weird behavior had been reported by the media for years and had become a joke of sorts. He exposed himself and his flaws in the most human of ways, and yet, people stopped looking at him as a human being, a child prodigy who was made even more flawed by living such a surreal life. People forget that behind the shiny gloves and the dance moves, was someone's child, someone's parent, someone's friend and that some basic human courtesy is due.

What cannot be denied is that he was the creator of the songs that permeated millions of lives. To me, he represents kids dancing on the streets while we tried to copy Thriller, dance parties and dressing up with a single shiny glove and having people think that was cool. Wondering what moves he'd come up with and understanding we could have never guessed.

He was absolutely unique. Not thinking and behaving like everyone else is what made him so brilliant, even if that is what made him lose his boundaries later in life.

"We are the World" was my first exposure to the fact that children were hungry in places other than Brazil and that solving it at home was not enough. "Beat it" showed homeless kids in the streets of Brazil that they could dance like "Makel"( how they called him) and make enough to have a few meals and have people actually clap and sing along instead of pretending they didn't exist. People all over the world have stories, moments in their lives and reasons to associate them with one of his songs and the wonder that it just seemed soooo perfect at the time.

That joy and that talent is what people are mourning. It is sad to know we will never see that talent in action again. RIP, Michael. It's about time...

Amazing follow up on Filipino singer, Charise Pempengco.

First saw this filipino girl sing when she was 12 years old doing a crazy Korean talent show and she blew me away. Few people can sing with their whole soul no matter how old they are. Amazingly she is even better today, at 16!!!

Below, Charise today with lyrics to her new song: Note to God.

It is our turn. Help president Barack Obama. Service is the way to change things.