Wednesday, December 26, 2012

A Country Of Many Religions And A Few Arrogant Attitudes

A letter to President Barack Obama is being circulated on the internet from a 95 year old gentleman, who served in the military for 23 years before, during, and after World War II.  While I admire him for his service to our country, I disagree with his impression that President Obama needs his advice in this case.

The retired military veteran takes issue with President Obama traveling to other countries and making statements like, ” We’re no longer a Christian nation”, and, ” America is arrogant”.  It is a well-written opinion, and, based on his military experience and background from 90+ years on Earth, it's somewhat understandable how he may have came to the conclusions he did, but he's wrong.

It's easy to take comments out of context and make them seem terrible, but, in this instance, it's hard to see why they're objectionable, unless you look at them from a contrary point of view.

The fact is, literally, the United States is not just a Christian nation. There are dozens of religions practiced in this country every day that have little to do with Christianity. This is due to United States residents, immigrants and citizens alike, having the freedom to believe what they want and to follow the religious path that they, individually, wish to follow. Freedom of Religion is part of what this country is all about, therefore, we are not a Christian nation. We are a multi-religion nation.

President Obama's statement about America being arrogant is simply stating the facts. People who live in other countries probably do think of the United States of America as being arrogant. That's because there are far too many elected officials and statesman in this country who have given that impression over the years.

This country, as a whole, is largely arrogant in it's thinking about the rest of the world. With all of the nonsense ideas thought, spoken, and acted upon, by some in the government and outspoken individuals that we have a right to invade, intervene, and police other countries, because they're not doing it right, how can anyone in another country not help but believe, that we, as a country, are "arrogant"? We can easily be perceived to be arrogant by people in another county, just as some in this country see others as arrogant.

The retired U.S. Navy Master Chief also disagrees with President Obama's statement after 9/11, in which the disgruntled man says President Obama said, ”America hasn’t lived up to her ideals.”

The plan fact is, even though there have been many strides made to live up to some ideals, there are still prejudices by parts of the population and government representatives that make it difficult to imagine anyone believes we have lived up to all of our ideals, completely. Try as we might to follow laws that enforce our ideals as a nation, some individuals keep the turmoil going. It seems to be human nature for some people to buck what is the correct and fair path to take.

In addition, the unhappy man faults First Lady Michelle Obama for saying "America is mean-spirited".

To be truthful, some of the people in the United States of America have been and are "mean-spirited".  They have the "bah, humbug" attitude that allows them to think they have a right to be mean-spirited. They are the ones who don't even acknowledge to themselves, or worse yet, they don't have the ability to know, that they are being mean-spirited in their attitudes toward others of a different color, immigrant status, economic standing, nationality, or religious beliefs, etc. They don't even like it if you give them the "wrong" Christmas present.

We are all human beings, trying to get through life the best way we can, just like the writer of the letter to President Obama. Underneath it all, we, as a people, are just like everyone else, even like the letter writer.. Some are trying to get along with everyone else, and, ironically, some are also mean-spirited, biased and with prejudices, as well. However, just because some of us are "different", doesn't make any of us bad people to hate just because we are what or who we are.

The writer of the letter to President Obama has a right to believe, write, and say what he wishes to. He also is welcome to send his advice to the President of the United States, but, in this case, he may have gotten worked up about something that doesn't require imparting his advice.

It seems to me, the letter writer has a different interpretation of the facts, which gives him a distorted view of what President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have been doing and saying. More than half of the people of the United States agree with what President Obama says and does in performing his duties. President Obama's re-election and polling since, proves that to be true.

It's too bad some people can't see the other side of the coin, without reading into the facts, ideas limited by their own outlook on life. Just as coins have two sides, there often can be two different interpretations of what is said or done by all of us, including the President. The key is to look at the subject at hand with an open mind.

Just Saying,

GARY W. MORGAN

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Thursday, April 19, 2012

Music Must Have "A Good Beat" and Be "Easy To Dance To"

We're sad to see the passing of Dick Clark, a man who introduced generations to Rock and Soul music on national television and made them both acceptable as mainstream forms of entertainment. I remember that dozens of girls and some of us guys would try to get home after school to watch the regular studio dancers and music guests performing on black and white television sets. Yes, I was a high school student when Clark first started hosting American Bandstand years ago. (I think we were called "pupils" back then.)

Dick Clark, of American Bandstand from 1957 to 1987, got us enthused about learning how to tell when a song had a good beat and was easy to dance to, and so much more. We learned that most high school students in nearly every part of the country loved what we called Rock and Roll back then. It didn't matter what we believed about anything else. It was the music that was the great leveler of teen age society. The Baby Boomers learned how to be Sweet Rock and Rollers, the American Bandstand way, and, to most of us, Dick Clark was American Bandstand.

We also learned how to dance through watching the regular studio dancers on American Bandstand. Girls and boys in every part of the United States learned new steps and learned that, if we tried, we could all dance the way the kids on American Bandstand danced. All we had to do was be observant and practice in our bedrooms, alone, in front of a mirror.

Of course, when it came to public dances, even though we knew how to dance the way we saw the regulars dance, some of us still didn't have the nerve to actually do it on the gym floor at school dances. Not in front of other kids!!!! After all, we feared being made fun of, and, what if our feet wouldn't do what they were supposed to do???!!

We also learned how to dress like an "almost grown-up teenager" by watching the dancers carefully, and taking mental notes about what to look for the next time we went shopping for clothes. Even if we didn't want to admit to anyone else that we were trying to be like the dancers on American Bandstand by dressing as though we were one of them, many of us did, secretly feel that way. We were all, naive, back then. It was kind of like what kids did years later, when they watched the music videos, and soon you saw teenagers and preteens all over, wearing similar clothing.

After his stint as American Bandstand host, Clark went on to a career as a producer of countless music and entertainment oriented TV shows that perpetuated further, what we, at GreatGold.fm Classic Hit Oldies, believe. Music can give anyone who listens, extreme enjoyment, peace of mind, and satisfaction, from the melodies, the words, the messages, the performances, and, yes, the beat that's easy to dance to.

Thank you, Dick Clark for educating us, influencing us, and guiding us, softly, to being people who accept each other by looking for the similarities in each other. Those of us who paid attention, learned that, even though some of us may not look the same, inside we are more the same, than not.

We also learned that Rock and Soul is all, Rock and Roll!!!

Just Saying,

GARY W. MORGAN

Monday, February 13, 2012

Grammy Tributes and Shining Stars!

News accounts indicate that Whitney Houston Tributes and more Pushed the Grammy telecast, on CBS-TV Sunday, February 12th, 2012,  to the  Largest Audience Since 1984. 39 Million people tuned in to enjoy some of their favorite musical acts win, or at least to get a glimpse of some of the shining stars in the audience who didn't win.
It was great to see the Grammy Tributes to Whitney Houston, Etta James, Glen Campbell, and Beach Boys, as well as some other performances, like Taylor Swift and Adele, and the mention of Don Cornelius (Soul Train), who was influential in helping to popularize Soul/R&B. The Tony Bennett and Carrie Underwood duet was charming. It was also outstanding to see Wisconsin's Bon Iver (translation: Good Winter)  win two Grammy's for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Album (accepted by Justin Vernon).
Just a few complaints about the Grammy Award presentation broadcast on CBS-TV: (1) What's the deal with the noise that "mouse" was making at the end of the song by Foo Fighters? (2) Nicki Minaj's Roman Holiday was a waste of viewer minutes. She should've stayed in the audience, instead, wearing that silly red riding hood outfit. (3) I won't mention how unhappy I was to see woman-beater Chris Brown "performing" and, then winning a Grammy. What's with that?
On the eve of the 2009 Grammys, Chris Brown beat his then-girlfriend Rihanna, for which he later pled guilty to a charge of assault and was sentenced to five years of probation and six months of community labor. Brown has worked to repair his image, undergone domestic violence counseling. A restraining order required Brown to stay 50 yards away from 23-year-old Rihanna, but the restriction has since been reduced to 10 yards if they were at a music industry event. Rihanna also performed Sunday but the two never shared the stage.
Indulge me a fantasy: Wouldn't it have been fun to see Rhianna come on stage when Chris Brown was accepting the Grammy for Best R&B Album (F.A.M.E.: Forgiving All My Enemies) to get her revenge for the disgraceful beating he gave her three years ago by beating HIM senseless? Or, at the very least, rearranging his face? ...............Just a little bit??? Sorry, I forgot, it was a family show. We sure wouldn't want our impressionable children and the so-called "adults" in the viewing audience, or at the event,  to believe using their fists to harm another person is "acceptable", would we?
Maybe I'm just getting Crabby in my Advancing Age, or maybe, I'm Close to the Heart of the Matter, or Something Else.
Just Saying,


GARY W. MORGAN


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Friday, February 10, 2012

Those Who Control the Airwaves Control Our Thoughts And Actions

One of my Facebook Friends in the broadcasting industry recently posted something she had seen somewhere: "It won't come as a shock to the thousands that have felt the sting of radio's downsizing -- but it still hurts to see it in print. CBS MONEY WATCH asks, 'Will these 10 jobs disappear in 2012?' -- and Broadcast Announcer is #6 on the list."

That post prompted other Facebook Members to add their comments at the bottom of her post, and, it awoke an old pet peeve of mine. I don't often participate in these "added comments, but, this was one of the times I had to get something off my chest. So, I added some of my own comments as well, regarding the trend of fewer and fewer, live people manning broadcast booths at radio stations around the USA.  Unfortunately (or fortunately for the Facebook crowd), I didn't complete my written thoughts in Facebook, so, I'll do my best here:

Downsizing in Radio Broadcasting began when the FCC, many years ago, relaxed rules about how many stations one company could own. It has easily gotten to the point now where only a handful of companies own most of the stations in the United States. It's also often that one company owns all or most of the stations in cities which have multiple stations.

For starters, there are three things wrong with that scenario: (1) Too much control of information and one-sided political viewpoints. (2) One staff for many stations instead of many staffs for many stations. (3): There have been fewer and fewer Broadcast Announcer jobs each decade for several decades.

It can happen to anyone in Broadcasting at any moment. I hate to say it, but, I would not be surprised that there will be no actual people behind "live" microphones at any radio stations, anywhere in the U.S., except for Rush Limbaugh and others who mislead listeners with inaccurate, not fully truthful accounts of what is going on in the world.

Of course, sadly, that's probably what was planned all along, when multiple radio station ownership rules were changed. Did you notice, or realize, that most of the radio stations in this country are owned, managed and manned by people who lean toward the Republican Conservative side of the political spectrum? You can bet that's not by coincidence.

Control The Airwaves and You Ultimately Control How and What Your Listeners Think, especially if listeners have no other source for information and opinion. If listeners in any particular community, anywhere, are bombarded with a steady diet of Slanted Shock and Awe, It's logical that those listeners attitudes and thought processes will be changed. Do you think there's no connection?

As proof of my contention: There's a State Assembly Seat that had been held by a Democrat for more than three decades. During that time he was an excellent representative for the area, doing so with high ideals and constant concern for his constituents. Also, during the time he served in that capacity, the local radio station presented a variety of viewpoints, giving the listener accurate information about issues from as many sides as possible, so listeners could make up there own minds.

Then the station was sold; programming became all Republican, so-called "Conservative" views, all the time, and the minds of people began to change, until, a Republican was able to gain enough votes to overtake the veteran statesman. I'm sure an abundance of anti-incumbent advertising dollars had something to do with unseating the Democrat, but, this is about the undue influence wielded by the one-sided viewpoints coming from far too many radio stations around the country, and, it. unfortunately, being the ONLY viewpoint available in far too many communities.

It is logical that those who control the airwaves also control the thoughts and minds of men and women. If you tell people what to think often enough, they will soon believe it must be true, and the thoughts inside their heads are there own. And, they will act accordingly at the voting booth, often going against "common sense"; against the "logical"; against the "better choice"; and against "their own interest".

The sad thing is, it has been happening far too often, to a large degree because the average listener to local radio does not have more than one set of voices to listen to for the information they should be getting so they can make up their own minds. People have even been electing political office seekers who turn out to be, for example, Governors, Senators, and Representatives, who take rights away from the people who elected them. Through these actions, these elected officials threaten the way of life that we "all", deep down, want to continue.

Let's hope that people wake up to the reality that, if they are listening only to so-called "Conservative" talk radio and only viewing Fox-News, etc.,  they are not really in control of their own thoughts, nor of the urges to vote the way they do. It's best to hear news and opinion from more than one source, from more than one viewpoint, from more than one slant. Then, maybe, you'll actually come to a decision, an opinion, a thought, an action, that is based on having all of the information you need to come to a sane, rational and logical choice, not one that you were TOLD was the "right" choice.

The trouble is, most communities no longer have more than one commercial station providing news, information, opinion, conversation and talk programming. That situation is largely because a handful of companies own far-too-many radio stations and other news and information outlets in this country.

There must be diversification of ideas from all sides available to all of the residents of the United States, So We Can Keep The Freedoms This Country Was Built On. So we continue to have the FREEDOM to think the thoughts and do the things we want to do, because WE think it is the correct thing for us to think and do, not because we were duped into believing what that one-sided voice coming from our radio speaker drummed into us.

Something must be done about Multiple Radio Station Ownership Regulations. Those Who Control the Airwaves Control the Thoughts, Minds and Actions of Men and Women. That, at the very least, is Detrimental to the Well-Being of Our Democracy.

Just Saying,

GARY W. MORGAN

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Thursday, February 2, 2012

Kelly Ripa: Stay In The "Kelly Chair" Where You Really Shine

I had an unusual opportunity to watch the first half of Live with Kelly Ripa on television today. This prompted me to write a few words about my observations of how the show is doing from a production and a spectator level.

I have enjoyed the Regis and Kelly Live show off and on, whenever possible, ever since Kelly came to Regis' rescue after Kathy Lee left. I also watched from time to time when Kathy Lee was sitting in the "Kathy Lee Chair".

Kathy Lee was always a "hoot" and the chemistry between her and Regis Philbin was extraordinary. Few thought Kathy Lee could be replaced, but the audience crossed their fingers that it could be done, while Regis continued his steady and often humorous hand to inform and entertain, while a replacement was being sought.

The production finally landed a superb replacement to sit in the "Kathy Chair", in the form of Kelly Ripa, and, the team of Regis and Kelly settled into a well-oiled machine, entertaining and informing, only the way Kelly and Regis could. What a great hour to spend with two sort of "family members" for us in the viewing audience, nearly every day. What a feat to accomplish! 

Kelly was a great asset to "Live" back in the day when Raging Regis was the guy in the stage right seat at the start of the show (audience left) after Kathy Lee moved on to other things in her life. However, it had to come to an end, sooner or later. Nothing that enjoyable, especially the segment at the top of each show, could go on forever.

When Regis decided to "retire" after being on television for umpteen number of years, I, for one, was saddened, because Regis is a unique, wonderful talent who has left a hole, hard to be filled by anyone else. However, I knew, down deep, that Kelly could carry on, because I have great respect for her abilities to make the audience and guests feel extremely comfortable. Now, if only they could find someone to comfortably settle into the Regis Chair.

I don't have as much time available to watch the show every day since Regis retired, partly because, let's fqce it, I miss Regis and Kelly together. The combination of Regis and Kelly was "just right". On the other hand, I had a few moments today to check out the show.

I found that Kelly continues to be an asset to the show while trying to continue on without Regis, but, she's not Regis (of course no one is). It's just really difficult to see her in the seat occupied by Regis, so well, at the beginning of the show. I, personally feel more at ease when she's sitting stage left (audience right), in the Kelly Chair, at the beginning of each episode.

They complimented each others efforts to be entertaining and informative, everyday. I understand that there comes a time for everyone to want to retire, but, it will, indeed, be very difficult to come up with an on-camera match for Kelly's talents to be fully realized on "Live" again. Take your time, production staff and producers, and everyone else in on the decision, until you have the right person for that Regis Chair.

In the meantime, for goodness sakes, from the point of view of an appreciative viewer and an experienced broadcaster, Kelly, make yourself more comfortable in your current role, and the audience more comfortable when watching:

Take the seat that is the "Kelly Chair", because, it would be hard for anyone else to fill that seat, now that you've spent so many years making the Kelly Chair your own place to "shine" most, even more than you do when you try to fill the "Regis Chair". Let someone else make the Regis Chair, their own chair, just like you put in your time and energy to make the Kelly Chair, your own.

Just Saying,

GARY W. MORGAN

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Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Music Can Take Away The Sting

I just realized that it's been awhile since I sat down at my computer keyboard to write something in my GabbyGary.Blogspot.com "Blog". So, with the sounds of Weird Al Yankovic doing his 1984 hit parody, "I Lost On Jeopardy", coming out of my stereo speakers through the magic of streaming internet radio, let's do this.

There are so many things that have been happening since I sat down to enter my thoughts here last, that I don't really know where to start. One of the reasons that I haven't taken the time to pour out my feelings about a subject, before this, is that I have been angry, frustrated, saddened, and disappointed in many ways, about events and activities that affect all of us. I'm talking about the World of Politics and the Government that should be looking out for what's best for the country and the people who live in our individual states.

This has nothing to do with the above paragraph, but, I've got to share this: The original recorded popular 1960 hit, "Sixteen Reasons", sung by Connie Stevens, is playing through my stereo now.  It, and the song by Weird Al, are a couple of examples of the unique mix of songs from 1955-2000, and a few beyond, that are included in the wide-ranging playlist streamed by GreatGold.fm Classic Hit Oldies, 24 hours everyday. For instance, right after Connie Stevens' song, The Pointer Sisters began their hit, "I Need You" from 1983, and Stephen Bishop performing "Everybody Needs Love" (1978) wasn't far behind.

Earlier, before I started writing this, the 1992 Certified Gold song, "November Rain", by 2012 Rock Hall of Fame Inductees, Guns and Roses, thrilled my speaker cones and made me wonder at the majesty that a masterful Rock song can become. These are just a few examples of the GreatGoldHits and ClassicHitOldies heard all the time, throughout the day and night. The Super Mix of Top 40 Radio hits from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and a few of the best from the 2000s, streamed by GreatGold.fm Classic Hit Oldies, contains the Best of The Best.

The really nice thing is that it's not only available to hear on your computer, through your headphones, or plugged into your stereo system for greater, fuller sound, GreatGold Classic Hit Oldies stream can also be heard on Cell Phones and Other Wireless, Mobile devices. Search for greatgold or great gold in many players like TuneIn, RadioTuna, Shoutcast, and others. If the player/directory you use doesn't have it listed, request that GreatGold.fm be added.

Anyway, it's really special, how Good Music can soothe away some of the anger, frustration, sadness, disappointment, and disbelief at the apparent lack of understanding and unwillingness by our government officials to get along, compromise, and Do The Right Thing. I'm not talking about doing the partisan "Right" thing. I'm talking about doing the right thing for the situation, and for ALL of the people in this state and this country.

If you pay attention to what's been going on, by reading reputable, responsible, news sources, watching more than one television news channel/network, and listening to more than one radio talk show host or interview program, you, too, should be able to see that this country is headed to someplace, that is not a "better place". It's easy for one to feel disdain and despair in their head, heart and soul, over the rhetoric and, often, zany comedy that comes from the mouths of United States politicians on the federal and state levels.

The great thing, is that we can always turn to enjoyable, real, creative, melodic, unforgettable music, such as that heard in the music stream of GreatGoldHits and ClassicHitOldies at GreatGold-dot-fm, to take away the sting and soothe away the hurt.

Just Saying,

GARY MORGAN

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