NO PRAYER FOR 9-11

Marion Pellicano Ambrose 

Again, Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York has given me reason to be glad I moved to Florida! First he excluded first responders from the upcoming 9-11 Ceremonies and now I find he has decided not to allow any religious leaders to speak or offer a prayer. Regardless of the comfort and consolation this might bring to the families who lost loved ones and those who lived through this traumatic experience, Bloomberg has made a political decision rather than one from the heart.

Our country was built on the principal of freedom OF religion, not FROM religion. How beautiful would it be to have all faiths represented, all races, religions, philosophies and socioeconomic levels together with one purpose: to remember and honor.

The days of patriotism, faith and enthusiasm are not gone. Americans can and should stand up and speak out, or in this case PRAY OUT!  Isn’t that what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did? Didn’t our founding fathers rely on faith and prayer to see them through? We need to show Mayor Bloomberg that America is not silent or apathetic. We are still the spirit filled, passionate, patriotic, rebels who rose against the powers that tried to infringe on our freedom so many years ago! This is the opportunity for us, as Americans, to defeat these attempts by politicians to stifle our spiritual expression and silence the voices of our souls.

Pray on 9-11. Pray loud and clear so that our voices will echo through the World Trade Center site, through the hallways of the Pentagon, and across that field in Pennsylvania. Pray for those who lost their lives, those who lost their loved ones, and those who lost their faith that day. Pray for our country and its leaders, that we can enter into a new era where we can once again hold our heads high in the global community and say with assurance, America is the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I read an article by Tom Wetzel, http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/09/raise_your_prayers_on_911_tom.html

that challenged those at the ceremonies at Ground Zero to begin a “flash prayer” by reciting a formal, standard prayer, like the Our Father, and all who will be watching on TV to join with them in spite of Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to omit prayer. He stated:

“Those who do raise their hearts heavenward can be certain they will lift the spirits of those who lost loved ones on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as all those who have died defending our country since then. Sept. 11 will offer America a chance to deepen its connection with its creator and honor its victims and heroes. Hopefully, they will take advantage of this opportunity.”

I couldn’t agree more!

TV SPECIALS ON 9-11 ANNIVERSARY; WILL YOU BE WATCHING?

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

NEW CBS SPECIAL: 9-11, 10 YEARS LATER

The 10^th anniversary of 9-11 is close at hand. A new CBS special “9-11, 10 Years Later” will be aired on September 11, 2011 at 8pm and will document the changes that have taken place at Ground Zero since that awful day in 2001. It will also highlight the lives of some of the first responders at the scene of the tragedy. Robert DiNiro, who narrated the original CBS special, will also host this follow up program. DiNiro is from the Downtown New York area himself.

It will be interesting to see how many Americans tune in to see the unveiling of Ground Zero by President Obama. Over the past 10 years it seems the patriotism, support for first responders and participation in memorials has waned somewhat in the US. In addition, it seems that September 11, 2011 will be the date of the first full slate of games for the NFL season!

New DISCOVERY CHANNEL Special – Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero

The Discovery Channel will be airing a special series produced by Steven Spielberg on Sunday, August 28 which will air commercial free on the rebuilding of the World Trade Center Complex.

Executive Producer Steven Spielberg, Discovery and Science Channel Present RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO
A Two Week Television Event Marks the Rebirth of a City as the 10^th Anniversary of 9/11 Approaches
Premieres Commercial Free Thursday, August 25 at 8PM E/P on Discovery Channel,
All Day Encore Marathon on Science Channel Sunday, September 11 beginning at 5PM E/P

From executive producer Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Television, Discovery Channel and Science Channel comes the story of hope from darkness, life from ashes, a dream born from a nightmare.  RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO, premiering Friday, August 25 at 8PM E/P on Discovery Channel, showcases the men and women determined to rebuild and restore a sacred site, constructing the new, 104-story One World Trade Center.

“Discovery Channel is proud to be sharing this important story and transitional moment in the history of our country.  With incredible access and deft storytelling, RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO captures a city and a country moving forward but never forgetting.  September 11^th is something we all share and RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO will be a touchstone for audiences to remember, reflect and look forward,” said Debbie Myers, General Manager of Science Channel.

The six-hour special premieres Thursday, August 25 and concludes Thursday, September 1 from 8-11PM ET/PT each night.

Science will encore Discovery Channel’s RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO on Sunday, August 28 from 8-11PM ET/PT and Sunday, September 4 from 8-11PM ET/PT. The entire six-hour special will re-air on Sunday, September 11 at 5PM ET/PT.

 I hope on September 11, 2011, every American will have their flag flying, their hearts filled with pride and remembrance, and their souls strengthened and determined never to forget those who lost their lives in the attack and those who gave their lives so others might survive. The staff of DRL sends our love and prayers out to the survivors and the friends and family members of the victims of this tragedy. Many of us lost loved ones and friends as well. Remember: VOTE WISELY, GET INVOLVED, EDUCATE YOURSELF ON WORLD AND LOCAL ISSUES, PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY AND ITS LEADERS!

YOU MAY SAY I'M A DREAMER...

Tony Walker


I was reading Marion's Lunch Time Poll post about whether we should see the photos of Bin Laden.

I love what Marion said.... let's see the photos of the Navy Seals celebrating. Let's see all the celebrations.

After watching the footage today of Obama at Ground Zero some rantings I've seen on Facebook came to mind.
Have you seen the people on Facebook posting "Obama did not kill Osama... our Navy did" & the ones where people are upset that Osama got a "proper" burial? These postings upset me. It's become the in thing to bash everything. Why can't we for once not look at labels & celebrate together? No Obama did not personally kill Osama but he was in charge! You know what? Osama didn't personally pilot the planes into the WTC but he was in charge! This is not a who is a better President thing. Obama & G. W. Bush both deserve some credit here! I understand people being upset over the proper burial. I too am glad the man is dead. I understand people saying he didn't deserve a proper burial. I knew 7 people who died on 9/11. I understand people wanna celebrate in the streets like people did in the Middle East when the attack on us happened. But we are better than them! Do we really need to stoop to their level?

One thing we should've learned from 9/11 is what happens when you live with hate. Maybe if we tried to live more with love there wouldn't be so much bashing & negativity.

Instead of a declaration of war let's declare peace!!!!

LUNCH TIME POLL

"Egyptian-born doctor and surgeon Ayman al-Zawahri is al Qaeda's second-in-command expected to succeed Osama bin Laden following his killing in a firefight with U.S. forces in Pakistan. Zawahri has been the brains behind bin Laden and his al Qaeda network, and at times its most public face, repeatedly denouncing the United States and its allies in video messages."

We do not know the whereabouts of al-Zawahri.

Should we fear retaliation for killing bin Laden?
Will you be taking extra steps to secure your safety?
What are your thoughts?

BIN LADEN KILLED

Dawn Boyle

My blood runs red, white and blue. I am truly proud to be American, not only today...everyday. I am torn with emotions with the news over the death of that animal that attempted to destroy my country nearly ten years ago.

I had fallen asleep early last night to the Real Housewives of the OC and woke up to make my first of many nightly trips to the bathroom and when I got back into bed Andy Cohen was announcing that bin Laden was killed. I felt a rush of heat throughout my entire body. The images and fear I felt that morning, not knowing the safety of my husband and a number of friends and family. I was lucky that day as I held my two month old daughter. My husband did escape the horrors that occurred and would only find out in the days later the people who had touched my life that were not that lucky.

Everyone has a story of 9/11. Everyone remembers the unity of the entire country the days, weeks and months that followed. The new fears for our children, the heightened security, the War on Terror and all the men and women who bravely fight for our country.We all learned that day how life can change in a moment. We learned that you can go to work where you sit behind a desk or fight fires and not come home. We learned the true meaning of evil and how we could be paralyzed by some sick bastards with distorted views who masterminded such destruction. We learned how incredibly vulnerable we all really are.

May 1, 2011 will be remembered as the day Justice was Served. God Bless America, it's gonna be an interesting time ahead. We must NEVER FORGET. We must remember all the victims, from that day and all the days that followed, especially the CHILDREN OF 9/11. We must stay the course and be PROUD TO BE AMERICAN.