"I DREAM THINGS THAT NEVER WERE AND SAY WHY NOT"

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I was called in by the principal for teaching this song to my students in my first few years as a public school music teacher: Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream. From then on, I was forbidden to teach this song to the children.
Above it is sung by Simon and Garfunkel. Uploaded by JudeOrEleanor
Sung here by John Denver

The lyrics

Last night I had the strangest dream,
I never dreamed before,
I dreamed the world had all agreed,
To put an end to war.

I dreamed I saw a mighty room,
The room was full of men,
And the paper they were signing said,
They'd never fight again.

And when the paper was all signed,
And a million copies made,
They all joined hands and bowed their heads,
And grateful prayers were prayed.

And the people in the streets below,
Were dancing around and around,
And swords and guns and uniforms,
Were scattered on the ground.

Last night I had the strangest dream,
I never dreamed before,
I dreamed the world had all agreed,
To put an end to war.

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Text at youtube by the singer derkman:
Recorded in 76 languages, this has become one of the most enduring and treasured peace songs. Possibly the very best anti-war song ever...a strong argument presented sweetly and with reason. This song was written in 1950 by Ed McCurdy and has been recorded by many artists over the years including The Weavers, John Denver, Simon and Garfunkel, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Johnny Cash and Garth Brooks.

"My brother (Robert F. Kennedy) need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life, to be rememberd simply as a good decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it. "Those of us, who loved him and who take him to his rest today pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will someday come to pass for all the world. "As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him: 'Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.'" Edward Kennedy

HEAVENLY CAUSES NEED THEIR CHAMPIONS

The song The Impossible Dream was sung beautifully by Brian Stokes Mitchell Friday night at Ted Kennedy's memorial service. The sound had some technical difficulties. Here is another time Mr. Mitchell sang The Impossible Dream.

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Brian Stokes Mitchell singing The Impossible Dream with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Click on the post's title to go to the Ted Kennedy special tribute website.

At tedkennedy.org/pages/video_celebration_of_life_memorial_service can be found the song Just A Closer Walk With Thee performed by the Boston Community Chorus from the Ted Kennedy Memorial Service of August 28, 2009. Using the top video on the page - slide to 2:42:35 for the song.

Kennedy memorial service: poignant, powerful TV

It was good for my soul to watch the memorial and funeral services.

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A comment

Vitriol appears all over the internet. Those who leave their vitriolic words in comments show what they carry around with them on the inside. Those comments are deleted here. This blog is not a place of any speech is okay place. Freedom of speech isn't a given here. Disagreement with me is not the issue. But, comments of disagreement are required to be delivered here with a sense of respect. I figure if you want the freedom to say anything you want in any way you want, you can create your own blog to do what ever you want. Here, this is like my home. You are a guest here.

There are those who love to hate. Love to drop their anger here and there. Love to put on the outside what they have on the inside. And it doesn't take too many words to show what kind of life is going on inside. There are plenty of places on the internet for them to find their soul mates. It just isn't here.

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Michael Ball sings
Uploaded by aragornluvr580

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Love Changes Everything
as sung at Ted Kennedy's memorial service by Nick Littlefield

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Sarah Brightman sings
Uploaded by estellepuna

Whatever you did for one of the least of these

We are visitors on this planet.

We are here for ninety or one hundred years

at the very most.

During that period,

we must try to do something good,

something useful, with our lives.

If you contribute to other people’s happiness,

You will find the true goal, the true meaning of life.

H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama

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www.savedarfur.org

www.stopgenocidenow.org

1-800-GENOCIDE

If We Only Have Love

WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS WHO ARE LESS WELL OFF - TED KENNEDY

This is a tribute to the man Ted Kennedy.
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Uploaded by TodaysNetworkNews

Bear with the annoying music at the beginning. You might want to mute it at least until 28 seconds in.

I am learning more and more how Ted Kennedy lived his life. He is the kind of United States citizen that I want the world to know. This is how to use our voices.  This is what freedom of speech should rise up and give to the world. One voice is important.

Text that accompanies the video above:
TodaysNetworkNews: 27 August 2009 - Human Rights First: At the 2008 annual dinner, Human Rights First honored Senator Kennedy for his unwavering and courageous leadership in advancing human rights at home and abroad.

"As we mourn his death, we would like to share this tribute to his life and work." said Human Rights First spokesperson.

HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST believes that building respect for human rights and the rule of law will help ensure the dignity to which every individual is entitled and will stem tyranny, extremism, intolerance, and violence. See: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org

TODAYSNETWORKNEWS IS A GLOBAL NEWS NETWORK FOR BREAKING INTERNATIONAL NEWS, OPINION, VIDEO AND TELEVISION BY INTERNATIONALLY ACCREDITED NEWS JOURNALISTS.

Click on this post's title to find a website with gems about Ted Kennedy, including pictures.

PASSION WITH PURPOSE, VOICE USED FOR VULNERABLE ~ U.S. MA SENATOR TED KENNEDY LIVED OUT HIS LIFE IN SERVICE

I, like Senator Ted Kennedy,
am proud to be a liberal

Jack, Bobby and Teddy
Three Kennedy Brothers

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Ted Kennedy delivering the closing part of the eulogy
at the funeral of his brother Bobby,
using excerpts from Bobby's famous speech to
the students of a South African university in 1966.
Uploaded by PaddyIrishMan2

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Health Care for All. A Right Not a Privilege

December 9, 1978 | Memphis, Tennesse

"One of the most shameful things about modern America is that in our unbelievably rich land,
the quality of health care available to many of our people is unbelievably poor, and the cost is unbelievably high."

To read the speech:
Ted Kennedy's Own Words ~ 1978_Health_Care

Teddy on Jack's Shoulders

Teddy and Dad
Pictures are from www.tedkennedy.org

The True Meaning of Life

We are visitors on this planet.

We are here for ninety or one hundred years

at the very most.

During that period,

we must try to do something good,

something useful, with our lives.

If you contribute to other people’s happiness,

You will find the true goal, the true meaning of life.

H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama

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Uploaded by edkennedy

Tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy from the 2008 Democratic National Convention

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A Season for Hope
Physicians for Human Rights honored Senator Edward M. Kennedy with an award for his work on the Right to Health.
www.PhysiciansForHumanRights.org
Uploaded by PHRvideo

Ted Kennedy's Speech on Hate Crimes

Click on this post's title to go to a wonderful website in memory and in hope for Edward Moore Kennedy.

Ted Kennedy - in His Own Words

Kennedy_Compound

Cape Cod

LIBERTY AND JUSTICE

FOR ALL

WHAT A LEGACY

MATT JERZYK INTERVIEWS PATRICK KENNEDY THE DAY HE ENDORSES BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION

Matt Jerzyk wrote this: I just got off the phone with Congressman Kennedy and posted my interview with him about his Obama Endorsement on my blog: http://www.rifuture.org

Best,
Matt

Here it is:

Interview with Rep. Patrick Kennedy Regarding Obama

by: Matt Jerzyk

Mon Jan 28, 2008

I just got off the phone with Congressman Patrick Kennedy and wanted to share with you some of his thoughts on the presidential election and his endorsement of Barack Obama for president:

Question: What did it feel like to be in that crowd today?

It was electric, absolutely euphoric. You felt a part of something much bigger than yourself.

We are looking past the prism of narrow minded special interests and looking for a greater vision of this nation and the world. The Obama campaign is an inspiring thing to be around.

When you work in Washington and the work is dominated by individual issues competing with one another – to have this much bigger idea of unifying everybody –this idea of inclusiveness – is just terrific and it resonates with everybody. Everybody wants to believe again and everybody wants a better country. We have been dominated by a politics that doesn’t ask the American people to participate; the only people that run the country are “the professionals.”

That an ordinary person in America should have a say in the process is at the heart of what this is all about. Obama is the perfect antidote of 8 years of cynicism and an effort by the Bush administration to drive people away from the political process.

Question: Did you talk with Sen. Chris Dodd before making the endorsement?

Chris and I have spoken. Chris talked a great deal about the new patriotism in his campaign. It was a patriotism of national service and it was a cornerstone of his campaign and something I was very attracted to. He spoke about how he was called to service by President Kennedy and about how he - once again - wanted to bring Americans together around service – not just in military service, but serving as mentors, teachers, in the community. He hit the tone that’s necessary to bridge the divide in this country. In addition, I felt like Chris had the ability to repair our image in the world. We need the world to see us as a friend. Barack has the same strength with his ability to repair our international image and improve our standing in the world.

Question: Will you be getting involved in the grassroots campaign in Rhode Island to support Barack Obama and, if so, how?

Absolutely. We want to work with all of Barack’s supporters in RI to get the vote out.

The Clintons have spent a lot of time in RI and we’re up against a formidable challenge with the number of supporters who have endorsed Hillary. But there is a great network of enthusiastic supporters on campuses around the state and people who want to get involved in the Obama campaign.

This is a terrific opportunity to get the grassroots going and give people a chance to show that this democratic process can be changed by their participation

No one could have thought that this race is as wide open as it is right now and Rhode Island is going to matter. Rhode Island is going to count and the people out there working hard are going to count.

…My office will be working closely with Barack Obama supporters in Rhode Island to do whatever we can to get out the vote on election day.

Let me just add that I told Congressman Kennedy that I can only imagine the amount of political pressure that the Clinton machine was putting on him and his family and that I commend his courage and his vision in endorsing Obama. It certainly wasn't the most politically expedient thing to do. But it was the right thing to do.

BARACK OBAMA'S RESPONSE TO GW BUSH STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH JANUARY 28

I never have to hear George W Bush give a State of the Union speech ever again. Yay!

Here is Barack Obama responding to George:
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Militia kill 21 in West Darfur-residents, rebels
Tonight George Bush gave a little "lip service" to Darfur and the 5 year old genocide that he has done essentially little to end. The following article is from WORLD Africa 01/23/08 Darfur Hijackings

Darfur hijackings hit food distribution

• Story Highlights
• World Food Program says 22 of its vehicles attacked and stolen this month
  
• Five separate attacks targeted aid workers in Darfur on Tuesday alone
  
• WFP says it doesn't know who was behind the latest attacks

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) -- A surge of truck hijackings threatens to cut off food rations for more than 2 million people in Darfur, the World Food Program said Wednesday, after 22 of its vehicles were attacked and stolen this month alone.

With 18 drivers still missing, the U.N. agency said its main contracting companies refuse to send more food convoys into Darfur.

"If the situation continues, we'll be forced to cut rations in parts of Darfur by mid-February," Kenro Oshidari, the head of WFP operations in Sudan, said in a statement.

The increase in violence comes barely three weeks after the United Nations took over peacekeeping in the remote region of western Sudan where 2.5 million people have been chased into refugee camps by five years of war.

Five separate attacks targeted aid workers throughout Darfur just on Tuesday, officials said. Among those were ambushes of two WFP convoys in West Darfur and the detention of five WFP staff when their cars were stolen near the North Darfur state capital of El Fasher.

"They've now been released, but it was pretty traumatic," said Emilia Casella, the WFP spokeswoman in Sudan.

A vehicle from the United Nations security services was also attacked near the West Darfur capital of El Geneina, while an aid group's car was attacked inside the capital, which is under Khartoum government control.

The agency said it didn't know who was behind the latest attacks, which it blamed on "bandits."

Top U.N. aid officials met with the Sudanese government Wednesday to extend by a year the agreement that allows international aid groups to work in Sudan, but the meeting didn't address the increased hijackings.

Over the past year, WFP has been feeding between 2 million and 3.2 million people in Darfur. It plans to distribute some $500 million worth of food in the region during 2008.

The food convoys to Darfur form the world's longest humanitarian route, with nearly 1,864 miles (3,000 km) to cross between the nearest port on the Red Sea to the desert town of El Geneina, near the border with Chad.

Nearly twice as many WFP trucks have been hijacked this month than in the previous four months combined, and the U.N. said seven humanitarian vehicles have also been stolen so far.

Some 369 tons of food were looted in the latest attacks, and the lack of trucks means deliveries will be cut by half.

"Without these deliveries, WFP faces a rapid depletion of stocks" and could face a shortage by the time seasonal rains block most roads in May, Oshidari said.

The escalation came as the U.N. launched a new peacekeeping mission to try to quell the chaos in Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have died since early 2003, when ethnic African groups rebelled against the Arab-dominated central government and accused it of discrimination.

Khartoum denies accusations of widespread atrocities against civilians.

The U.N. mission had a supply convoy attacked by the Sudanese army days after taking over from the previous African Union force on January 1. The new mission is meant to grow to 26,000 peacekeepers and police officers, but less than half have reached Darfur.

"We are still lacking the aircraft, equipment and troops that are crucial for us to be present everywhere in Darfur and improve the situation," said Noureddine Mezni, the spokesman for the U.N. mission, known as UNAMID.

Sudan's government opposed for months a U.N. deployment before agreeing last June to a "hybrid operation" jointly run by the world body and the African Union. But Khartoum has since vetoed troops from some European and non-Muslim Asian countries, and U.N. officials say a series of bureaucratic hurdles could impede the deployment of an effective force.

The peacekeepers also lack some heavy military equipment such as attack helicopters.

The previous AU mission was viewed as having largely failed because it was understaffed and under-equipped.

Jean-Marie Guehenno, the chief of U.N. peacekeeping operations, is touring Darfur to assess the mission's needs. Mezni said UNAMID's leadership was appealing for U.N. members states to offer the equipment and troops "vital for the mission to succeed."

The Associated Press.

Khartoum continues to make a mockery of the international community by
elevating a known Janjaweed leader who has been sanctioned by the UN to a
high level government post:Africa Reuters Top News

Where is our sense of outrage and urgency? New York Times 2008/01/27

Sun 27 Jan 2008

By Opheera McDoom

KHARTOUM, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Armed militias backed by Sudan's government killed 21 people in an attack on a village in West Darfur, anti-Khartoum Sudanese rebels said on Sunday.

Read the full article: Africa Reuters Wire News

IT'S A FIGHT FOR SUPER AND PLEDGED DELEGATES ~ OBAMA GETS VALIDATION BY 3 KENNEDYS

Remember when Hillary Clinton said she would be going after the votes in American Samoa when she lost in South Carolina to Barack Obama by 28%? American Samoa and Guam both have 3 pledged and 3 unpledged (super) delegate votes respectively to cast at the Democratic Presidential candidate nomination convention. For an explanation about voters, pledged delegates and super delegates go to bluebloggin.

For the numbers state by state, including American Samoa and Guam, go to Pledged and Unpledged (Super) Delegate Votes.

What role for Democratic 'super-delegates'?

Governors, senators, state chairs, and even Bill Clinton get automatic vote

By Tom Curry

WASHINGTON - It’s called the Democratic Party, but one aspect of the party’s nominating process is at odds with grass-roots democracy.

Voters don’t choose the 842 unpledged “super-delegates” who comprise nearly 40 percent of the number of delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination.

The category includes Democratic governors and members of Congress, former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, former vice president Al Gore, retired congressional leaders such as Dick Gephardt, and all Democratic National Committee members, some of whom are appointed by party chairman Howard Dean.

The Republicans do not have a similar super-delegate system.

These super-delegates don’t have superhuman powers, but unlike rank-and-file Democrats, they do automatically get to cast a vote at the convention to decide who the party’s nominee will be.

Although dubbed “unpledged” in Democratic Party lingo, the super-delegates are free to come out before their state’s primary and pledge to support one of the presidential contenders.

Why the 'super-delegate' system?

Why did the party adopt this partly undemocratic system?

Super-delegates were supposed to supply some Establishment stability to the nominating process.

Before 1972, party elders, such as Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Charlie Buckley, the boss of The Bronx who helped John Kennedy clinch the 1960 nomination, wielded inordinate power.

But in early 1970’s, the party’s rules were reformed to open the process to grass-roots activists, women, and ethnic minorities.

Sen. George McGovern, the leading anti-Vietnam war liberal, won the 1972 nomination. McGovern turned out to be a disaster as a presidential candidate, winning only one state and the District of Columbia.

So without reverting to the days of party bosses like Buckley, the Democrats decided to guarantee that elected officials would have a bigger voice in the nomination.

Source: MSNBC

Caroline, Ted and Patrick Kennedy endorse Barack Obama for Democratic candidate for the nomination for President of the USA January 28, 2008.

Senator Edward Kennedy chooses Obama, spurning Bill Clinton plea

"I'm looking for the leader who is going to be able to inspire," Kennedy said last year on ABC News's "This Week." "I want to see who out there is going to be able to inspire not only our party, but others, because I think we're going to need the inspiration in order to bring a change in American foreign policy and domestic policy."

After Obama won the Iowa caucuses, associates to both men said, Kennedy concluded that Obama had transcended racial lines and the historical divisions the Kennedy family had worked to tear down. Kennedy was also impressed at how Obama was not defined as a black candidate, but seen as a transformational figure.

It was then, associates said, that Kennedy began talking with family members, including Caroline Kennedy, who had reached her own judgment some time ago independently of her uncle. They then agreed last week to move ahead with their endorsement, coordinating their decision before the Feb. 5 contests.

Kennedy has a long history of working with both the former president and Senator Clinton on health, education and other social issues and, according to Kennedy associates, has a good relationship with both, coupled with respect for the work ethic and determination of Senator Clinton. While the Clintons were in the White House, the families socialized and sailed off Cape Cod.

But multiple sources said Kennedy was upset over what he saw as attempts by the Clinton campaign to highlight Obama's race and by what he viewed as distortions of Obama's statements and record. He made those views known in a call with the former president.

Obama courted Kennedy as well, using late-night sessions in the Senate to get some tutoring from his senior colleague about the intricacies of the institution. Conversations about the White House began more than a year ago, with Obama paying Kennedy a visit to seek his thoughts about whether he should run for president. Kennedy told him that he should because such opportunities rarely come along. This is page 2. For page 1 see: The International Herald Tribune

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TAVIS SMILEY | Guest: Sen. Ted Kennedy #1 | PBS
Uploaded by pbs_usa

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Tavis Smiley Part I interviews Senator Ted Kennedy regarding his announcement to endorse Barack Obama for the Democratic candidate for President.

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TAVIS SMILEY | Guest: Sen. Ted Kennedy #2 | PBS
Uploaded by pbs_usa

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Tavis Smiley Part II interviews Senator Ted Kennedy regarding his announcement to endorse Barack Obama for the Democratic candidate for President.

Transference is the process in psychoanalysis or other psychotherapy whereby somebody unconsciously redirects feelings, fears, or emotions onto a new object. When anyone, including myself, makes a judgment statement or criticism I ask myself if transference is happening. In other words, is the judgement or criticism valid or is it a reflection of the person making the claim. I ask this when I watch the Presidential candidates. And I ask it about the political pundits, especially Pat Buchanan. With Pat Buchanan I am certain that my judgment is clear and true. Pat Buchanan is guilty of transference when it comes to Barack Obama. He constantly makes judgments about Barack that are not merited. They are false. But Pat Buchanan is redirecting his own personal feelings and fears upon Barack. And he is so blatantly wrong about Barack and illustrates that he is being anything but fair, clear-thinking and valid. Buchanan should lose his job of political analyst. He isn't analyzing but he is using his "platform" to slander Barack. MSNBC shouldn't be giving Buchanan the leverage to spit his anger and agenda-driven comments about Barack.