Detroit Welcomes Obama with "Fired Up" Chants of "Four More Years"

Please click on post title link above to listen to related audio  podcast to this post by Rev. Cynthia Wilson

Throngs of enthusiastic labor leaders and workers qued up on Detroit's major thoroughfare,Woodward Ave.(photos below) early in the day to participate in the Annual Labor Day Parade,an event that honors and appreciates labors rich legacy.  It is a much anticipated event in which the people who use their physical bodies and minds often employing elbow grease to make life easier for the rest of us. This year's parade was special, filling the hearts of Detroit's labor community with pride and enthusiasm.  It would be topped off with an extraordinary opportunity to hear the first Black President of The United States, Barack Obama, make pledges to stand up for labor and to provide renewed hope for jobs.

 If you were labor you were admitted in the same general area as VIP attendees, which was a welcome psychological switch for many workers I am sure. While many in the crowd were eager to hear about the administration's job strategy,  Obama said he was not going to give it all,but he did give a small hint of some of the strategies in mind i.e., the need for construction and improvement of the nation's infrastructure.The fact that the President chose Detroit, a city with a rich history of labor organizing and worker culture due to the auto industry, now among cities with the highest unemployment rates in the nation, was proof positive  that Obama cares and is on a dedicated course to do something about Detroit's and other similarly situated cities plights.

As he approached the microphone poised to give a lenghty speech,he was met with rousing applause,cheers and "fired up" chants of "four more years". The Queen of Soul, aretha Franklin  had warmed the crowd with some heartfelt deliveries of classics such as "Respect","Chain of Fools" and superb jazz scatting.

It was a day to remember for many Detroiters and there were informal conversations going on between friends and strangers alike about how wonderful it was to witness the President's presence in the beautiful yet humble surroundings of the GM parking lot behind Hart Plaza and adjacent to the Rennaisance Center. Many were just super thrilled to have a chance to hear from the President in person,take pictures and to be in such a historical gathering.

Some Reflections on John Mayer’s “Born and Raised” Scheduled for October Release

 

Singer songwriter John Mayer has a new and much awaited album scheduled to drop in October. Entitled “Born and Raised, a first listen to the songs reveals a folksy side reminiscent of his first non-studio release “Inside Wants Out”. The released album versions are likely to be highlighted throughout with Mayer’s adeptness in subtlety blending genres of rock, pop, folk, blues, soul and hip hop. Mayer has  managed to uniquely weave it all together into the now signature, John Mayer Musical Sound on his earlier accomplishments such as Continuum, Heavier Things and Battle Studies.

Mayer’s projects are consistently remarkable blends of thought provoking , sometimes cerebral and heart warming melodies. He is also regarded for his electric and acoustic guitar playing prowess. The new Born and Raised songs have strong Bob Dylan influences. Preliminary releases of the songs demonstrate how Mayer layers skillful guitar playing with strong harmonica solos and raw poetry on such tunes as “Whiskey, Whiskey”, “The Age Worry”, “Speak for Me” and “Born and Raised”. But he clearly gets back to his usual song and guitar stylings on the rest of the songs on the record.

Prophecy and Credibility

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My Take On Paul Knitter's Prophecy and Credibility


This recent post which I ran across in Union in Dialgue strikes the nail on the head and I resonated with it immediately. Paul Knitter creatively addresses the challenge faced oftentimes by the weary prophet or as referred to in Richard Sennett's article in the Nation which fuels Knitter's response, 'leftists' and in more ancient times 'seers'. He speaks to the heart of the matter,  the prophet's ongoing struggle to achieve credibility, a key to creating palpable dialogue, maintaining harmony with people dead set against seeing, perceiving let alone sitting down to the table and discussing things eye to eye and face to face out of an enormous predisposition to disagree. More likely than not, they have also put up an invisible wall or two in places such as the psyche and other undetectable places a prophet may have already sensed which contributes substantially to their stridency. Somehow receptivity in all its seeming understatedness and subtlety has a remarkable way of piercing the iron albeit invisible veils of social,political and cultural intransigence which have historically surfaced as common culprits in the broken and unjust societies prophets are 'called' to fix.

Thank you, Dr. Knitter for your thoughtful article.

Joy Comes In the Morning

Today's word is a message about joy as well as a prayer for those in need. I am dedicating it especially to our nation today during this time of downgrade. Let's keep the spirit of the U.S.A lifted up.

Joy Comes In the Morning

An Inspiration fund...Buy American

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For whatever reason, a good portion of government aid for the ordinary citizens seems to have clogged up in one political bottleneck or the other. It just does not seem to be pouring out fast enough to meet people's immediate needs. The nation could use more jobs. Our state and local governments could use a little cash to spruce up our infrastructures and save our educational institutions. If I hear of another school closing or drive by another business location that was once thriving and now boarded up, I'll...no not scream, but pray harder. Buy American is as much a needed slogan as it is a needed reality. It could'nt hurt to emphasize the purchase of goods and products as well as continuing to buy into and not give up on the American Dream.

Banning together is the key. If we could just convince our legislators and the people they represent of this important phenomenon. I applaud the President for the job he is doing in the face of so much bitter and often times mean spirited opposition by House Republicans overdosing on infusions of Tea Party dogma. My prayer circle prays for him and our political leaders daily,including those whose views or tactics we don't necessarily agree with. Diversity within the unity is what makes democracy healthy.

Let's also keep this spirit of unity lifted up so that layers of delay and set back as has reared its head in the recent debt debate won't be a recurring reality. Perhaps if Community Awareness 101 with a prerequisite of a sleep over or field trip to a blighted and underprivileged area was required for all members of congress there would be more compassion for the poor. Financial predators who profit and gain from schemes and plans designed to benefit only themselves at the expense of others could be put on an intensive track.

Not caring about others as long as you get yours comes with a price. One that is at the end of the day really too high a price for such a great nation as ours to pay. Just look at where our country stands economically in relation to some countries that were once trailing us. That should speak volumes...

Happy 85th Birthday, Tony Bennett

Legendary crooner Tony Bennett receives birthday wishes from artists  contributing to his latest recording project Duets II,slated for release next month.

Shar House

These are photos taken during a recent visit to a drug rehabilitation and self-help addiction center Shar House. Our church has adopted one of the rooms which is in the process of being redecorated and spruced up by some spirit filled sisters.

 What I loved most about the place was the spirit of genuine sharing that embodies its philosophy to the extent that it is in fact a reality, not just a superficially promoted slogan. The house is truly built of  community efforts of the various churches and organizations that come together to adopt individual rooms and beautifully decorate them with amazing wall colors,window treatments,art work, stripped,varnished and glistening hardwood floors. It demonstrated what can be done when people really come together in a spirit of camaraderie and cooperation with love in their hearts.  No duress or coercion involved,simply inspiration.

The above pictures were taken of the walls inthe conference room which,as you can see, were filled with encouraging and uplifting aphorisms.