Archives December 2009

PRECIOUS      Rating:   9

On the upside, this is a movie you will be talking about as you leave the theater, and probably for days after. It’s powerful, it’s dark and dirty, it invades the deepest bowels of urban depravity and it’s about reaching inside the victim of horrible circumstance that 99.99 percent of will never have to experience (thankfully).

On the downside, it’s not for people who want to walk out feeling good, as it is one of the most depressing motion pictures I’ve ever seen. But, kudos to the director, writer and actors who pull off a tremendous job. Gabourey Sidibe plays the lead role, an overweight teenage girl who has born two illegitimate babies, stripped of self esteem by an ignorant, selfish, violent mother powerfully played by MoNique who is deserving of an Oscar nomination along with Sidibe.

Meanwhile, see if you can identify Mariah Carey who plays a significant role. It took me a few minutes to realize who she was. Her performance showcases her as a superb acting talent as well as a pop diva. I was amazed.

EVERYBODY’S FINE Rating 7

The movie drags slowly, following Robert DeNiro’s every move as he travels the country trying to unite with his adult kids for Christmas for the first time as a widower. A lot of deep feelings and messages that many families might relate to. DeNiro, as always, is superb, but don’t expect any Oscars this year. Drew Barrymore also stars as one of the daughters.

It’s about compassion, loss, love and the need for family bonding. Worth seeing.

BLIND SIDE Rating: 8

Probably the best acting role for Sandra Bullock ever. Based on a true story, the Bullock character is an upscale rich-bitch who inadvertently meets a giant black homeless kid from the ghetto and rebuilds his self image until he becomes a good student and a star football player. Quinton Aaron, who has done a few movies as well as appearances in Law And Order shows on television, does a credible job playing Michael Oher.

It’s an old worn-out plot where the underdog is given a second chance at life by a caring philanthropist and succeeds, making everyone feel good.

INVICTUS   Rating  8

Another Clint Eastwood gem but not on the same level as The Unforgiven or Million Dollar Baby. This is a good movie, not a great movie. Morgan Freeman will undoubtedly be nominated for a Best Actor portraying Nelson Mandela. Matt Damon probably reached the pinnacle of his acting career, well deserving of a supporting Actor nomination for his role as a rugby team captain for South Africa.

The upside: Great acting, an interesting exposure into the divided worlds within South Africa, revealing scenes about the sensitive and forgiving Mandela, and lots of action on the rugby field.

The downside: It’s more about sports than it is about the struggle of Mandela as most of the story focuses on rugby as the catalyst for mending the nation’s wounds. The handheld camera on the rugby field is enough to drive the viewer insane, as it is almost impossible to make out what is happening with the constant blast of herky-jerky close-ups.

Next: The Road starring one of today’s finest actors, Viggo Mortensen. Then, Up In The Air with George Clooney, touted as a possible Oscar nominee.

With the Oscar race in full gear, this is the best time of the year for movies, if you love the cinema.

More links:

Where was NBC, ABC or CBS. How about USA Today? Funny this didn’t make news.

When I first saw this, I could feel my heart stop and the blood drain from my head. Then an empty feeling in the gut.

Before going any further, please open this link to an article and photograph from Portland based Examiner.com. It’s not very long. It’s quite telling.

Some Obama lovers will say “so what’s the big deal, he’s showing diversity.”

I say: This man is not my president.

Wake up folks. You’re sleeping through the revolution.

I … as all of us…have had serious issues with prior presidents, G.W. Bush included. Our choices, to be sure, have not been made of greatness. Jimmy Carter was an incompetent president, but I never thought of him as UnAmerican. Almost every election since Goldwater/Johnson, I think I’ve voted against a candidate, not for a candidate. Like millions of others, I’ve often registered vehement opposition to policies of them all. But I’ve never questioned a president’s loyalty to country. Never. Until now.

This is a whole different ball game. Forget about policies. That’s for political gobligook. Who is this guy, really? What is his true long range agenda?

This is not about democrat/republican partisanship. Health care and other issues are part of the smokescreen, because there is a greater objective going on behind the scenes, one that is not transparent.

I don’t just dislike Mr. Obama. I fear him, and the stealth machine that backs him. I fear that machine, because every signal tells me that it’s anti-American. Every signal tells me, it’s all about breaking down the national infrastructure and building greater power over the people, rather than power to the people…which is supposed to be the premise of our republic.

In my seventy years, I’ve never seen one president garner so much disdain from mainstream Americans. I’ve never seen so much mistrust. Many say the Mr. G.W. Bush earned mistrust, and some of that might be true. But while his policies and decisions may be questionable, most of that cynicism translated to greedy politics and corporate favors. No one ever thought of him as anti-American, un-American or even, non-American.

Much was written about Obama’s sordid associations with unsavory characters on his past, which his supporters excused. Much was written about his connection to the Muslim world, and the influence it has upon him as an adult, which his supporters ignored. Much was written about the mysterious lack of candor about his birth records, his college records, his travel passports, and his legal status to serve in the Oval Office, which his supporters defend. Meanwhile, I challenge those supporters to name one other president where these kinds of questions ever came into being.

I wish I could say that the Muslim world wholly consists of peaceful people, except for a few radicals, that these “radicals” hijacked this peaceful religion. In truth, those radicals are not few at all. Radicals, translated as “Jihadists” number into the multi-millions, perhaps 200 million, with operating cells in over seventy countries, including the United States. They have one long range goal: To overturn the constitution and create an Islamic caliphate in which the flag of Islam will fly over the White House and the Capitol building will become the largest mosque in the world by the end of this century.

The powerful Muslim Brotherhood organization (Google it) is duty-bound to Allah to see this happen and by their own pen, devised a plan many years back which includes the infiltration of America using deceit as a tool to gain political access to power.

And now…this.

Terrorism is another tool, one that garners fear and intimidation. No matter where you look in the world, Russia, London, Madrid, Bali, India, Africa, and New York, the common denominator for the thousands of terror acts is one word: Islam.

These folks mean business, folks. In the meantime, our media is asleep at the wheel, afraid to offend or expose the truth about Islamic infiltration.

Again, I reflect back on that slip-of-the-tongue, when interviewed by George Stephanopoulos as recorded in this short video:

Click here: YouTube – Obama: “My Muslim Faith”

For those who excuse this, please tell me of one non-Muslim person, including yourselves, who have ever made that slip of the tongue. You? Me? Your mother or father?

Then, there is the now-famous “bow” to the most powerful Islamic leader in the world, the king of Saudi Arabia…who holds the purse strings to international Jihad.

Click here: American Thinker Blog: Obama bows

This is our American president.

Then I think about some of his speeches, apologizing to the Muslim world on behalf of the United States. Apologize for what? The 1993 World Trade Center Bombing. The 9/11 attack of 2001 which killed almost 3,000? The bombing of Marine barracks in Lebanon. The bombing of American embassies in Africa? The killing of thirteen Americans inside the secure boundary of their own military base? The 270 killed — from 21 countries — in a bombed Pan Am flight at Lockerbie. The list is infinite…murders of multi-thousands in the name of Islam. Anyone can Google it.

The Muslim Brotherhood has declared war, in writing, and by their actions, with the United States. The president knows this. But he still has the chutzpah to stand before the world and expect us to believe we are not at war with Islam. He declared that we will never be at war with Islam, during a June speech in Turkey.

Who is he president of? The United States? The world? The world of Islam?

I don’t know.

Now comes the trial of Islamic terrorists. With relative ease and safety, the trial could be held by a military tribunal. But Mr. Obama, and his AG acolyte, has made the conscious choice to change the jurisdiction to a civilian venue, and hold trial in a court where their confessions will be thrown out, their actions will be lauded by extremists throughout the world, security is at a major risk unnecessarily and the chances for a hung jury maximized. The terrorists couldnt be happier.

What amazes me, is that a third grader could connect all these dots. It’s that obvious.  Yet, the blind love affair goes on…with great peril.

This is our president? Of the United States? I don’t think so.

Jefferson, Roosevelt and Reagan would roll over in their graves.

Beware, the enemy within.

Click here: YouTube – OBAMA the Muslim – HIS OWN WORDS

I wasn’t going to go there, but since the issue has ignited a firestorm, it’s irresistible.

Tiger Woods has been one of my few living American heros. He still is.

Tiger cheated on his wife. Everyone would agree that is dishonorable. But it is dishonorable as it pertains to his personal life, not his public life nor his sport. So, here’s a few observations, as I see it:

1) Tiger’s infidelity is a private matter. I cringe every time I see a comedian make jokes about him. Every time there is a “Breaking News” story about his latest admissions, or a summary of those dalliances with a long list of females, I feel like we are invading the inner sanctum of someone else’s life which is none of my business, nor yours. We…primarily Americans and Brits…are constantly hungry for the dirt on celebrities, as though we are entitled. We’re not.

Unless of course, we’re talking about a state governor who disappears for four days to another country while he’s supposed to be on the public teat. Unless, of course, we’re talking about a president who uses the White House (Our House) as a forum for head jobs while he’s supposed to be keeping our country safe. Then, it is our business.

Otherwise, what Kobe Bryant, Tiger Woods or Brad Pitt do in their private lives, is a family matter, not a public matter…unless they break the law.

2) I think about the media frenzy. This story has dominated every news show for two weeks, while wars are being fought on two fronts, a nation is in financial crisis, and thousands of other heros lining hospital rooms at Walter Reed get little or no mention.

3) I think about all the people who mock and judge. Media, commentators, comics, talk show hosts, sports figures, etc., many of whom should look in the mirror before they cast aspersions.

4) I think about the lures associated with fame and wealth. It’s got to be tough for a hormone-raging, thirty-year-old jock, thousands of miles from home throughout the year, in party atmosphere one after another, to resist the constant temptations. Wealthy athletes associated with the NBA, NFL, boxing, golf, tennis and other sports, are constantly on the road, living out of a suitcase, socializing in hotels while wives are at home tending to kids, or their BOTOX treatments. No doubt, many of them are well aware that their husbands engage in the pleasures of women who throw themselves at their feet, or in some cases, accept huge sums of money in exchange for their discreet services. This doesn’t give Tiger a pass, but it does bring it into the human perspective.

5) I never thought about the racial issue until I listened to a radio talk show in which a caller, a black man, caught my attention. As the media examines Tiger’s behavior with a microscope, it’s pretty obvious that his preference in women all share a similar profile. Blonde, white and beautiful…like his wife. The caller pointed out, that many of these wealthy black athletes who marry, seem to gravitate to inter-racial relationships, generally white women, usually blondes.

The issue, he said, is how it plays out to black women. How do they feel? Why is it that so many of these athletes, who could anyone they want, make such choices? I must admit, it made me think. And if it made me think, it certainly must make black folks think.

6) I think about Tiger paying for sex via escort businesses. Makes sense. He had no interest in forming a personal relationship with women, thus the pay-for-sex route. He didn’t want anyone to fall in love with him, or vise versa. After all, he had a family…and an image to protect.

Oh well.

7) Tiger is still the greatest golfer of all time. His demeanor on the links has been impeccable, always supportive and courteous to his challengers, and accommodating to the press.

He has been a valuable role model to millions of kids, particularly minorities, who see him as a giant figure who stayed focused to overcome bias and discrimination. His generosity through foundations has opened a number of golf clinics around the world, mainly focusing on kids. And, at the age of 33, has already won 71 PGA tournaments and 14 majors, one with a broken foot.

I hope this will eventually pass and we’ll watch his magic on the links once again in 2010. But when he does come back on the tour, he will have a new and important role for the youngsters at those golf clinics. That’s teaching the importance of fidelity.

What say you?

This is a follow-up to my blog that was posted two days ago:

Click here:ISLAM SPREADS INTO SCHOOLS

A number of responders choose to write me private e-mails instead of posting comments, which is fine, although the rest of the interested readers do not get the advantage of the information they convey if they don’t post.

Writing these essays requires saying much in as few words as possible. Books can be written about it. For the sake of brevity in articles, information is often omitted which may be less striking or important. Rest assured, the separation curtain between religion and state in public schools is thinning by the day as the introduction of Islam into public schools is getting more pervasive. As it does, the Islamists become more emboldened. Why? Because we, the Americans who are incensed, are laying down. Oh well. Nothing we can do.

Part of the jihad plan, is going after the young. The college kids. And the kids in our schools. I’m not making it up, folks. Why do you think the Saudis have poured multi-millions of dollars into scores of American universities, like Harvard ($28 millions) and Georgetown ($20 million) and Berkley ($20 millions)…and so on. They don’t do it for nothing. There is a kick back, and that kick back is foot baths, mosques, prayer rooms, Islamic professors, Islamic student organizations, and freedom of expression….unlike freedom of expresion in…? Where else? Saudi Arabia.

Some of you have brought other facts and articles to my attention, which I will share (below). But the most over riding question is: What can we do about it?

Here’s some suggestions:

1 – Speak out! Raise hell! Show our outrage. Write your congressional representatives, your governors, and your local school boards demanding adherence to the state/religion separation edict, which goes for Islam as well as Christians and Jews.

2 – Write letters to your newspapers, and the network/cable news stations admonishing them for failing to cover this as a major problem in America…not to mention the hypocrisy.

3 – If schools will not prohibit the introduction of Islam into schools, contact your priests, pastors and rabbis and start insisting on equal time, with indoctrination of public school kids with Christianity and Judaism. Demand copies of the Torah and the Bible on campus, with prayer rooms and prayer time set aside for people of all religions.

4 – Demonstrate (lawfully) outside any school that endorses the indoctrination of Islam into public schools. Get the attention of the media!

5 – Write/contact the ACLU and demand the same legal action from them as they would (and have done) when Christianity or other religions was introduced into public schools.

There is one organization in the U.S. which is actively engaged in the fight against creeping Shariah. Led by Lebanese-born Brigitte Gabriel, ACT for America has the active support over 71,000 Americans (and growing) who are doing what they can to offset this terrible trend. They have made a mark on capitol hill with their lobbyists and counter-measures to the spread of Shariah and, they are an information base for any American who cares about this menace. Over 500 local chapters are now actively meeting and disseminating data as it comes forward, with speakers and updated videos and literature. I urge those who care about this threat to check it out. Click here: Act! for America – Home

I am not a joiner of organizations. I’m disillusioned with our political parties, which is why I am Independent. But ACT for America is worthwhile. They could use your support.

Here are a few more articles on the subject title (selected):

Click here: Some say schools giving Muslims special treatment

Click here: Public Schools Teach the ABCs of Islam

Click here: Islam in America’s public schools: Education or indoctrination?