Two figures in American History

Yesterday from 1:00 - 8:00 PM at the Apollo Theater in Harlem the Hardest working man in show business, Soul Brother #1, Mr. Dynamite, The Minister of the New New Super Heavy Funk, Mr. Please Please Please, The Boss, The Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown will be viewed by thousands of friends, family, and fans one last time. One of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century, James Brown's R&B in the sixties and the funk of the seventies has influenced so much of American music. His music is the foudation of hip hop, taught Prince how to dance, Sly Stone how to shout and Marvin Gaye to croon . The consumate entertainer was still on tour, at age 73, when he died. James Brown lead his super tight band for decades. But he didn't stop there. He was politically and socially active and outspoken. "Say it Loud! I'm Black and I'm Proud!" He will be missed and will be remembered as one of the largest and most influential musical and cultural American icons. Alas, there will be no cape for him to throw off tonight.

Another American figure has left us in these last days of 2006. President Gerald Ford has died at age 93. His funeral began today. President Ford took over for the most notorious president in modern times, richard nixon, after nixon resigned in disgrace. Stating in his Inaugural Address "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over." President Ford presided over the final withdrawl of US troops from Vietnam and some would say healed this nation from the anger and sadness that seemed to engulf it during the end of sixties and early seventies. Ford may be remembered by most as the man that granted "a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in" before nixon was even tried. It is interesting that here we are in a time where it is not completely unthinkable for the current president to resign in disgrace. We too are a nation angered and saddened by war and scandal. Who would be our Ford? And how about all of the old photos of President Ford with his staff, including a young dick cheney, a young don rumsfeld, and a young james baker. Seems the last three (four counting Jr.) republican presidencies were run by the same guys. If their faces have remained the same over the years, who should be blamed for the current failure. But that's not for today. Today we remember two figures in American History. Thank you both for all you've done for Our Country and its culture.

"I don't think, if I had been president, on the basis of the facts as I saw them publicly," he said, "I don't think I would have ordered the Iraq war. I would have maximized our effort through sanctions, through restrictions, whatever, to find another answer."
"I just don't think we should go hellfire damnation around the globe freeing people, unless it is directly related to our own national security."
-President Gerald Ford July 2004

"We gotta love each other again."
-James Brown