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A singer who was to perform the "Star Spangled Banner" at the presentation of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's State of the City address yesterday substituted the "Black National Anthem" without notifying anyone, because she says as a black, she just doesn't feel American.
"I pulled a switcheroonie on them," Rene Marie said in a report in the Denver Post.
In a video of the event, Marie had been introduced by city council president Michael Hancock, who said she would sing the national anthem. Instead, she sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing," also known as the "Black National Anthem," to the tune of the "Star-Spangled Banner."
Audience members were bewildered, council members outraged and the mayor expressed his disappointment.
"We were as surprised as anyone that jazz singer Rene Marie did not sing our national anthem at today's State of the City ceremony, as our staff had requested. As I listened to her sing, I assumed she would eventually move into the traditional Star Spangled Banner," Hickenlooper said in a statement.
Council member Charlie Brown said, "There is no substitute for the national anthem. Period. This is the State of the City address. It's not an NAACP convention."
Some of the strongest reaction, however, came from Denver area residents who were participating in the forum page on the controversy at the Rocky Mountain News.
"Can you imagine what it would be like for whites if we had a 'white national anthem'?" speculated "Jan8." "I heard someone saying this had nothing to do with race? What?"
"Was she asked to sing the Black National Anthem? Obviously her color is more important to her than this country. Is it a 'black pride thing'? Is she trying to tell us she wished the U.S. were a black country?"
The newspaper reports said the singer explained she had decided months ago not to sing the "Star Spangled Banner" anymore.
The Post reported she was being interviewed by a Russian broadcaster who asked her what it was like to be American.
"And I realized I didn't feel like an American, and that bothered me a great deal," the singer said.
The singer told the Post she deliberately didn't tell anyone her plans, "because I don't think it is necessary for an artist to ask permission to express themselves artistically."
Hancock said the stunt was "inappropriate, and he's been getting hate-filled e-mails over her actions.
"As if I made the decision to do this – I'm receiving a lot of hate mail," he told the paper. "I've received quite a few e-mails that are quite nasty."
Also on the Rocky Mountain News forum page, "Dinty," concluded, "A total lack of respect for the occasion."
Among the hundreds of comments, "scotterjag" added, "all i can say about her, and anyone who supports her, is CLASSLESS! when given the chance to sing The National Anthem, it should be considered an honor, and not one's personal platform to express their views. if you want to express your views like that, I'll buy you a one way ticket to any other country you want to live in, and you can get the hell out of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!"
September 19, 2008 HOW MUCH IS YOUR PROPERTY WORTH?
Garland homeowners may well be paying property taxes based on appraisals done twelve months or more ago. If this is the case you may be paying too much property tax. Homeowners should challenge their appraisal if property tax for 2008 is not calculated on current market values.
In the last twelve months there has been a 22.87% overall decline in the value of existing residential housing in Garland. These estimates are based on Fidelity National's automated valuation model.
Enter the address you are looking for. The value that appears is based on what your house was worth 12 months ago. With the housing market in free fall, deduct at least 15% from the price shown. Check the Dallas Central Appraisal District website below and compare the numbers.
Here is a YouTube short version of a speech given by Lord Christopher Monckton October 1, 2009.
Copenhagen is about to become the successor to Kyoto as the synonym for the U.N.'s plan to control climate change. The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change will meet in Copenhagen December 7-18. Until this meeting ends, expect to hear a growing number of climate-related horror stories, presented by a wide array of so-called environmentalists, at a rising decibel level that's sure to drive the sane quite mad.
HOW LIBERALS SUPPORT ISLAMIC-JIHAD SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AT ELECTION TIME
FACT: Canada, our neighbor to the north, is incorporating foreign Muslim laws into their provincial social benefits system. Hundreds of GTA (Greater Toronto Area) Muslim men in polygamous marriages are receiving welfare and social benefits for each of their spouses.
FACT: Commissioners at the Minneapollis-St Paul airport considered punishing Muslim cab drivers who refuse service to passengers possessing alcohol or seeing-eye guide dogs. The cabbies claimed transporting those items violates Islamic law. Nearly 40 million people travel through this airport annually. Over the past 5 years, airport officials say 5,400 passengers have been turned away. (Source: ABC News-2007)
FACT: The Kansas City International Airport has added several foot-washing basins in restrooms to accommodate a growing number of Muslim taxicab drivers who requested the facilities to prepare for daily Islamic prayer, WND has learned. "Why are we constructing places of worship for them inside our airports?" said an airport official who requested anonymity. "Why are we catering to their rituals? We don't do it for any other religion: (Souce: jihad watch.org) WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?
FACT: A well-armed Muslim militia – - composed not of American citizens but foreign militants – - operates under the noses of federal and state law enforcement officials. They occupy a 45 acre compound owned and operated by Fethullah Gulen and are engaged in training for guerilla warfare. Entrance to the compound is forbidden to outsiders. If you doubt it, google his name or pay a visit to Saylorsburg, PA, in the heart of the Pocono Mountains.
Gulen has established over 90 Islamic schools (madrassahs) throughout the United States, where students are indoctrinated in the tenets of political Islam. These charter schools are funded by American taxpayers. One school – - Tarek ibn Zayed Academy (TiZA) in Minnesota – - has been so radically Islamic and subversive in nature that the Minnesota Department of Education issued two citations against it and the American Civil Liberties Union is suing it. Why is the Obama Administration turning a blind eye? WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?
FACT: There are thousands upon thousands of examples on the internet that reflect how our government is selectively enforcing "separation of church and state" for Christians while accomodating Muslim demands.
THE FREE WORLD IS AT WAR WITH RADICAL ISLAM
IN THE NAME OF TOLERANCE, DIVERSITY AND "POLITICAL CORRECTNESS" ISLAM IS WINNING THE CULTURE WAR ************************ WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Request your City Council pass an Ordinance whereby every person entering a government building must be identifiable. Cities have "drug-free" zones, and "gun-free" zones .... it's time to take a stand and create "hood-free" zones!
MAYORAL ELECTION COMING UP .... MAY 11, 2013
WHO IS BEST QUALIFIED TO LEAD GARLAND?
Doug Athas - His Vision for Garland
We must unite the districts and work together for the good of Garland.
We must have representatives that respect the citizens' will.
We must follow the City Charter, our local constitution.
We must conduct city business to the highest ethical standards.
We must be fiscally responsible.
We must develop and restore healthy neighborhoods and thriving businesses.
We must understand the vitality of any district is limited by the vitality of the city.
We must make informed and educated decisions.
We must embrace our diversity.
We must have officials with vision and planning skills for Garland’s future.
We must believe in Garland and invest in its future.
Demonstrated Experience
Planning Experience
•Garland Plan Commission-8years
• A longtime member of the American Planning Association
•Endorsed by all members of the Plan Commission not running in this election
•City representative to Downtown Northside Conferences I and II
•Garland’s "We the People" Conference
•First Ring Cities Conference
•First Street Visioning Process
•Downtown Garland Charrette, and others
•The Seaside Institute Conference on Traditional Neighborhood Development
•Multiple planning seminars by the American Planning Association and
•The Center for American and International Law and
• North Central Texas Council of Governments
Neighborhood Experience
•President, The Greens Homeowners Association
•Acting-President, Garland Homeowners Coalition; Garland umbrella group of homeowner and neighborhood associations
•President, Texas Neighborhoods Together; statewide lobbying and educational group for Texas homeowner and neighborhood associations
Community Experience:
Let Us Vote!, Spokesman and Leader
American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Publicity Chair
PTA, Austin Academy
Professional Experience:
Telecommunication Consulting Company
Director of Site Development, PrimeCo, now Verizon
Senior Manager, Telecommunications Division, Fluor Daniel
Site Acquisition Consultant, AT&T Wireless
Doug Athas, Former Garland City Councilman
Larry has been involved in community service and volunteering for most of his life. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America starting as a Cub Scout and continuing on to became a Scoutmaster at 21 and served for many years thereafter.
Appointed by Gov Perry to the Texas Workforce Investment Council (TWIC) in November of 2003.
From 2005 to 2009, Larry served as TWIC's representative on the advisory board for the Texas Technology Access Program (TTAP).
Involved in economic development in Garland and North Texas. Served four years on the Garland Economic Development Steering Committee recruiting new business.
Larry is a consultant and author who retired after 40 years of teaching. Published more than 200 technical textbooks since 1976. Helped inventors build prototypes. Serves as a free consultant to school districts. He is currently working with GISD as they build their new technical facilities at South Garland High School.
