Anderson@Large

Happy Birthday to the Drum Major for Justice

Today is the actual birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the drum major for justice, peace and righteousness.

Save the Children

In his remarks at the Sandy Hook Interfaith Prayer Vigil, President Barack Obama said:

It comes as a shock at a certain point where you realize, no matter how much you love these kids, you can’t do it by yourself. That this job of keeping our children safe, and teaching them well, is something we can only do together, with the help of friends and neighbors, the help of a community, and the help of a nation. And in that way, we come to realize that we bear a responsibility for every child because we’re counting on everybody else to help look after ours; that we’re all parents; that they’re all our children.

Obama added:

We will have to change… We can’t tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change. We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law – no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world, or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society.

Stop the gun madness. Save the children.

Don’t Advertise Your Man

I’m a blues lover who subscribes to the credo, “ain’t nobody’s business if I do.” At the same time, I mind my own business.

But when your business is plastered all over the Internet and the airwaves, Schadenfreude happens.

The investigation that led to the downfall of Gen. David Petraeus reportedly was triggered by emails from his outside woman, Paula Broadwell, to a second woman, Jill Kelley.

Although Broadwell is a graduate of West Point and Harvard, she could have learned a lot if she had listened to Sippie Wallace. Way back in the day, the blues singer advised women:

Women be wise, keep your mouth shut
Don’t advertise your man
Don’t be no fool!
Don’t advertise your man
Baby don’t do it.

Happy Independence Day

Flag Day 2012

Today is Flag Day.

This is the flag that Francis Scott Key saw flying over Fort McNair during the War of 1812. It inspired him to write "The Star-Spangled Banner" which officially became our National Anthem in 1931 (h/t National Museum of American History).

Sixty years later, Whitney Houston's rendition of the National Anthem inspired the nation.

The Last Dance

They say tragedy occurs in threes. Last week we lost two musical greats, Chuck Brown and Donna Summer.

The Disco Diva worked hard for her money.

On Sunday, Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees died at age 62.

Summer and Gibb book-ended the 1970s. Their music will stay alive.

Happy Presidents' Day