Wednesday, June 13, 2012

How James Blunt Saved Us From World War III



He questioned US general's order while serving in Balkans

By Tom Peck
Monday 15 November 2010

Kosovo, June 1999. Serbia has withdrawn from the campaign. Hundreds of thousands of refugees wait over the border to return to their homes. A column of 30,000 Nato troops is advancing towards Pristina airfield – a crucial strategic position.

Unexpectedly, the Russian forces, reach the airfield first; Russia, Serbia's patron, is hoping to stake a claim in the occupation. The soldiers are pointing their weapons at the incoming Allied troops. "Destroy!" orders the US general over the radio – instructions from the very top. World War Three is on the cards. Enter crooner James Blunt. Crisis averted.

Blunt was then 25, a captain in the Life Guards and the lead officer at the front of the Nato column. He risked a court martial by refusing to obey those orders from General Wesley Clark to attack the Russian forces.

In a BBC radio interview last night, Blunt said: "I was given the direct command to overpower the 200 or so Russians who were there. I was the lead officer, with my troop of men behind us... The soldiers directly behind me were from the Parachute Regiment, so they're obviously game for the fight.

"The direct command [that] came in from General Wesley Clark was to overpower them," he said. "Various words were used that seemed unusual to us. Words such as 'destroy' came down the radio. We had 200 Russians lined up pointing their weapons at us aggressively ... and we'd been told to reach the airfield and take a hold of it. That's why we were querying our instruction." The end result was a victory for British common sense. "Fortunately," Blunt recalled, "up on the radio came General Sir Mike Jackson [commander of the British forces], whose words were, 'I'm not going to have my soldiers start World War Three.' He told us, 'Why don't we encircle the airfield instead?' And after a couple of days the Russians there said, 'Hang on, we have no food and no water. Can we share the airfield with you?'"

Blunt told John Pienaar, on Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics, that even without General Jackson's intervention he would have refused to carry out that order given by Wesley Clark, who was at that time the Supreme Allied Commander of Nato forces in Europe.

The stand-off lasted two weeks. Russian forces continued to occupy the airport, until eventually an agreement was secured for them to be integrated into peace-keeping duties, while remaining outside of Nato command. The row had seen General Sir Mike Jackson come close to offering his resignation. General Clark was eventually relieved of his position earlier than expected – his boss Hugh Shelton, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, later cited in a public debate "integrity and character issues". He went on to mount an unsuccessful challenge for the US presidential nomination for the Democrats in 2004.

Capt Blount, as he was then known, spent six years in the Army – two more than the minimum he was obliged to serve after taking an Army-sponsored place at Bristol University, where he studied aerospace engineering and sociology. He left the forces in October 2002, after standing guard at the coffin of the Queen Mother at her lying-in-state. He had only been back on civvy street a few months when he recorded his debut album, the soft rock Back to Bedlam, which contained the surprise hit song "You're Beautiful". (Some critics dismissed it as a cruel assault on rock sensibilities).

His song "No Bravery", on the same album and written in Kosovo in 1999, was taken up by the anti-Iraq war movement. Blunt has said he was deeply affected by his service in the Balkans. "For me, if anyone wants to be labelled pro-war, they would be obscene," he said. "War is an absolutely terrible, ghastly thing. I wouldn't bother describing the things we saw."

http://www.independent.co.uk

Gulf Times / Qutar : James Blunt, Press Conference And Signing Ceremony


James Blunt addressing fans in Doha yesterday. He is to perform for the first time in Qatar tonight as part of his global ‘Some Kind of Trouble’ tour 



Pop singer Blunt vows to regale Doha audience 
Publish Date: Tuesday,14 February, 2012, at 12:48 PM Doha Time 

By Peter Townson
Staff Reporter

British pop singer James Blunt yesterday expressed his excitement ahead of this evening’s concert in Doha, saying that he was looking forward to getting to know more about the country during his first visit here.

Blunt is set to perform at the InterContinental Doha beach, with around 4,000 fans expected to attend the Valentine’s Day concert.

During a press conference and signing ceremony before the event, the singer said that he was keen to get to know more about Qatar during his brief stay here.

“I have friends who live in Qatar and so I know a little bit about it from them,” he said, adding “I don’t know much about this place, but I know that my friends are here and they both have an amazing time.”

Blunt is best known for hits such as You’re Beautiful and Goodbye My Lover, which catapulted him to the top of the charts in 2005. Since then he has been a mainstay of the pop music scene, with his acoustic, folk-style pop music proving popular around the world.

The album ‘Back to Bedlam’ which features both of his most famous songs, was the biggest selling album of the ‘noughties’ in the UK, ensuring the singer’s place in pop history.

He said he was in Qatar as part of his worldwide tour for his latest album, ‘Some Kind of Trouble’ which has seen him perform during more than 220 concerts across the globe.

“My music is not necessarily just the stuff you hear on the radio,” he said, explaining that he has brought a band with him to Doha, and promising “a big show.”

“I’m known for some sad slow songs but the concert we give is full of a life, full of energy and I have a blast when I’m on stage – we have a lot of fun,” he said, explaining “but we are totally dependent on the audience being involved otherwise it would just be a dress rehearsal.”

“I don’t actually know which songs I’ll play, but I’ve got plenty to choose from – you’ll have to come to the concert!” he added.
He did promise that he will play his most famous hits, for any fans who might be worried about a complete change in style. Blunt also spoke about the types of music he likes to listen to, referring to some of his favourite musicians.
“I love all kinds of music, and especially music from the 70’s like Elton John, Leanard Cohen, Cat Stevens. Paul Simon, bands like Fleetwood Mac, and David Bowie,” he noted adding that living in Ibiza has also increased his appreciation of dance music and some of the biggest DJ’s at the moment.
Blunt also mentioned the upcoming Yusuf Islam concert in Doha. “I am a great fan of Cat Stevens and a friend of his too,” he said, expressing his disappointment at having to miss his show on Thursday. “I really recommend that you go and see Yusuf in action as he is a phenomenal musician and a huge inspiration to me,” he urged.
Blunt, who served in the British army for six years, said that he would still be a military man if it were not for his career in music.
He expressed his respect for peacekeeping efforts and the importance of such work, before condemning the modern media for trying to highlight the differences between cultures.
“I don’t think it matters what race or religion, what colour what creed, what sex, or what sexuality - I think we share the same hopes and fears and that’s what drives me as a musician,” he said, adding that he feels a motivation to share these experiences with an audience, and to reach “out to people on equal terms.”
This proved a particularly popular sentiment with the crowd of fans who turned out to meet the singer during his signing ceremony, and the friendly, self-deprecating demeanour he displayed throughout is certain to prove a success on the stage this evening. For couples looking for a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, the singer promises to provide a few memorable moments to enjoy, while his promise of a lively and exciting show will also entertain other members of the audience.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/printArticle.asp
cu_no=2&item_no=486535&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

News From James Blunt: Third Time Lucky In Afghanistan



2am departure from RAF Brize Norton (Mon 27 Feb)



By James Blunt (Formerly Capt J H Blount LG)

I am, as I write, nervously seated in an RAF Tristar circling over Dubai. The plane came into service in 1972 - over 40 years ago. It has gone out of service now, with me aboard it, at 33,000 feet.

Our journey had started 13 hours earlier, at 2am from RAF Brize Norton. Unusually for the hour, the Movements Officer was still on duty to oversee our departure, I was informed. We had arrived at the Oxfordshire base by taxi, were escorted across the foggy, orange-lit runway passed the ageing aircraft in which I find myself now, and led into a small waiting room with some coffee, sandwiches and a silent Brigadier reading his Kindle in the corner.

The more important cargo was in the large hall next door - a hundred or so soldiers, who we were accompanying as they deployed to Afghanistan. Looking at them, a memory from a past life flooded over me. I have been here, some 13 years earlier, en route to Kosovo.

Tonight, we flew via Hanover to pick up more soldiers, via Cyprus to refuel and on to our final destination - Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. As we took off on the final leg from RAF Akrotiri, my keyboard player sitting beside me said cheerfully, "Well it looks like you will get there this time! Third time lucky, huh?"

Third time. I have travelled with soldiers en route to Afghanistan three times. I have spent seven full days in the hands of those whose job it is to get men and equipment into battle. I have done so of course unpaid and at the request of the Armed Forces. And every single time, myself and the soldiers I have been travelling with have failed to get there.

The first time, we'd flown from London to Dubai, and sat on a runway for three days while they tried unsuccessfully to fix our broken aircraft or find another. The soldiers I was with said they were very used to it. In a way, they didn't mind - it was three less days being shot at, but for the soldiers who were at the other end being picked up to come home with wives and girlfriends anxiously waiting for them, and until recently, those lost days cut from their official R&R (Rest & Relaxation) allowance, it must have been wildly irritating. And for those soldiers going into battle that day without their buddies who are delayed in Dubai, it must be life-threatening, to the extent that the Special Forces soldiers I was with went online to buy civilian flights into Kandahar with their own money.

My second attempt was at Christmas over a year ago. Snow was putting added pressure on the task of transporting manpower. Check-in had moved, along with the soldiers, from Brize Norton to East Midlands airport, but boarding was initially delayed due to difficulties with loading the packed meals (I struggled to fully understand this, and can't believe it was true. Surely just give the guys their packed meals as they climb the steps? But that was the reason given for the initial delay). When we were eventually bussed across the apron, I saw an old charter plane in the distance and laughed internally at whichever poor buggers were going to end up on it. We did. For seven hours. Of course it didn't work, so a replacement part was sent for and flown in, and we stayed on board because there weren't enough buses to take us to the terminal, so the crew had to stay on board with us, so that when the part had arrived and been fitted and the plane was fixed - the crew had done too many hours and the flight was cancelled. I was told it took the soldiers three days to get into theatre that time. They were paid during this time, by you and I, the taxpayer, and I'm sure they're grateful. But I'm also sure it's not how you and I wanted our tax money spent.

And now here I am, with more soldiers, failing to get to a war we have been fighting like this for 10 years. And although the military says they are under-funded, and more funds have been sent, I have to wonder if the funds are being spent in the right place? Sure, the soldiers are much better equipped, I can see that. But they can be as well dressed as you like sitting waiting on an airfield in the middle of nowhere, but it's not going to scare the Taliban that much. And you can ask me to come and raise (or perhaps lower, in my case) morale as much as you like, but if you can't get them home to see their families on time, you've done that for me.

And so, as I write to you more than six miles above the desert in the Middle East, we learn from the ever-calm Loadmaster that this iconic old aircraft we are in, the same era as the Triumph TR6, that we bought second-hand to get us to the Falklands War in 1982 from British Airways, has got an air leak. It has become very cold and we've put combat jackets and overcoats on, and eventually flown the four hours back to Cyprus to land. The soldiers were led away to a hanger for their overnight stay - this happens often enough that the hanger is pre-prepared as temporary accommodation.

The next day we are led out to a different Tristar which takes off, but soon develops a problem with the undercarriage. It won't close properly and after several attempts, we fly out to sea to dump our fuel before returning to Cyprus. If I'm honest, I'm scared. I don't need to be here. I have a very happy life on a safer kind of tour. Maybe this is why I left the army to inflict you all with my music? Blame the RAF. Right now, I blame Catherine Jenkins (she's on the plane too). For a second day in a row, we're circling in a knackered old plane hoping to get down alive.

And as we land, and say we've had enough, and get a Monarch flight home the next day, leaving a bunch of Great British soldiers sitting on the runway beside two broken planes that should have been decommissioned well over 10 years ago, and as two hundred soldiers sit in Camp Bastion whiling away the hours hoping their wives frustrations aren't boiling over into anger, and as the few thousand remaining soldiers in theatre advance to make contact with an enemy you and I will never meet, in a country I will never go to, at a cost in life and limb to a brave few and vast sums of money to the nation at a time when we hope our institutions are spending money as wisely as possible, I ask what's going wrong? Why can't we deliver people to the front line as required? Have we bought too many fast jets and not enough transport aircraft? Is it down to mis-management of resources, or painfully enacted bureaucracy at senior level? I don't know. I know I can see huge inefficiencies in deploying man-power and huge amounts of money being wasted. The fuel we dumped over the Mediterranean was worth fifty-five thousand pounds at the pumps alone.

I know that every soldier, airman, Non-Commissioned Officer and Officer that I met was professional, hard-working and keen. Every single one was charming and a pleasure to meet. Every single one made me proud to have met them. But every single one was also resigned. Resigned to the fact that someone, somewhere has constructed a vastly expensive system that simply doesn't deliver.

Either that, or they REALLY don't want me to sing to them in Afghanistan.






Broken down in RAF Akrotiri after developing an air leak over Dubai. (Mon 27th Feb)






24 Hours later, we have a new (well, different) 40 year old Tristar.






After takeoff, we had a problem with the undercarriage and had to dump fuel before we could land






Two broken 40 year old Tristars

http://www.jamesblunt.com/news,third-time-lucky-in-afghanistan_119.htm?pg=1&f=all

From The Vaults : James Blunt: Return to Kosovo - Revisiting the Villages









This is why he wrote this song.




No Bravery Lyrics

There are children standing here,
Arms outstretched into the sky,
Tears drying on their face.
He has been here.
Brothers lie in shallow graves.
Fathers lost without a trace.
A nation blind to their disgrace,
Since he's been here.

And I see no bravery, 
No bravery in your eyes anymore.
Only sadness.

Houses burnt beyond repair.
The smell of death is in the air.
A woman weeping in despair says,
He has been here.
Tracer lighting up the sky.
It's another families' turn to die.

A child afraid to even cry out says,
He has been here.

And I see no bravery,
No bravery in your eyes anymore.
Only sadness.

There are children standing here,
Arms outstretched into the sky,
But no one asks the question why,
He has been here.
Old men kneel to accept their fate.
Wives and daughters cut and raped.
A generation drenched in hate
says, he has been here.

And I see no bravery,
No bravery in your eyes anymore.
Only sadness.



[- From :http://www.elyrics.net/read/j/james-blunt-lyrics/no-bravery-lyrics.html -]

How James Blunt saved us from World War 3

Singer questioned US general's order while serving in Balkans


Tuesday, June 12, 2012

James BLUNT / SINIK : Je réalise LIVE




Sinik feat James Blunt -- Je réalise




Sinik - I Realize Lyrics

Featuring: James Blunt

[Verse 1: Sinik]

I realized that the years goes by quickly is worrying
I realize that seven years will Kelissa 20 September

Every day men self-destruct with an ax
And to escape the stronger cross the seas to swim
I saw the difference between Beauty and the Beast

Here the war potato but the trouble is peace in the street,
you know the benefit men offenses in ten years,
 the kilo cam will be the price of a kilo of apples

I realized later that regrets penalize me
And it hurts when I realize that so few dreams come true
That I not advance that their justice is slowing

That France is not so beautiful,
 my history teacher lied

That in life make peace is not profitable
I realized that making peace is the nightmare of arms dealer

I realize the night chases in city
​​But never fear because death is only the continuation of life

[Chorus]

And I'll take everything
 I would take everything to take the joys and tears
(Mmm, mmm, mmm)
In this life
In this life I'll join everyone
When I die

[Verse 2: James Blunt]

Ooh, thesis feet carry me far
Oh, my body,
oh so tired
Mouth is dry
Hardly speak
Holy Spirit rise in me
Here I swear
Forever is just a minute to me

[Chorus]

 [Verse 3: Sinik]

 I realized what was not,
where did evil in our ZUPs

What cars that caught fire did not fit into your urns
What everyday friends die dungeon
How certain are desperate to get a hot meal

I realized that the human being does nothing other than bleed
What in life is to hurt is easier than love
What the neighbors is not "The Girls next"
What in the land of human rights of families living in hotels

Understand the weight of words,
sometimes life fucks cockroach
Thieves are pinching but rapists BAFA that in life
I have always felt this gene
How I serious trouble saying I love you to those that I love

[Chorus]

Join the France RapGenius community!

Courtesy of;
http://rapgenius.com/Sinik-je-realise-lyrics

I Hear What Is Said. I Know I'm Not Dead. The Pain! The Agony! Reminding Me Of My Destiny



I dream of days without memory,
with the warmth of no enemy.
Where time marks my inner me,
and relieves me of all I see from thee.

Answering in perfection;
Pass the Key to Eternity.
The way that makes a life to be,
I am at the end of learning: READ!

Onward, forward, goes my march.
Until such time I'm off or in charge.
And, fall I do, so very often, I knew.
It is what happens when your due.

Inasmuch as I can know.
It is to much, and, it starts to show.
"EVIL" shout behind my back,
to anyone that will listen to that.

I begin to become, broken-up some.
Dis-heartened to say the least,
I guess that without a soul,
I must stick out and look not whole.

Only a Girl, when it was sold.
A lifetime spent with this very big hole.
Obvious and often void
of emotion, I'm not a toy.

Gossip of such terrible things,
rumors become whats happening.
I go a way, on my own,
it is to say; A personal zone.

Leave be what is, 
I do not fit
into Society's ordered writ.

I am aware, I was called, "It."
The Spawn of Satan,
they did insist.

Each day, each moment,
I would not kneel.
they beat me to teach me.

"I will not repeal."

Should I be the Beast you see.
And my number matches me.
Then 666 will be surreal
and I offer you no deal. 

Looking towards the one to seal,
all of this inside of REAL.

I dream of days without memory,
with warmth to know no enemy.
The love will come from with-inside of me,
then you'll know I'm deep in need.

Without such things, I'm public foe.

Formalities For The Sake Of..........Proper Manners: The British Public School Rule



To imagine change is to know "Truth."
In  the clarity of what this is,
I ponder my life.

To look into the future, of ones most recent past;

"Is a Riddle!"

I guess, it would be better explained,
by saying,

"This is a way, to change my own "Stars."

Love is bound,
by each and every single person whom has tied
a loop around a frown,
all so that a smile, cannot come 'round.

Another Hero Dies,
not "I."

To reprehend, "Know" sin.
I have noticed that it is a way to know where you have been.

The silence of another human being,
the guilt of their just seeing and not saying:
Shows on their every cell,
jailing what is not so well.

Aging, is by no mistake, "A tell."

Deeper into what I know will be,
I dismiss myself with personal glee.

To discount the notion of;
An Idea, A Theory, or Actual find,
is not just ignorance
but, proves you are "BLIND."

No inquiry?  No Quest?
The, "I know best!"
A type of person, who is a fool.

I ready for what you'll do.

But, it is said,
"Fools Rush In."

I guess, it's much like a Sin.

Never assume.
Do not practice what you cannot preach.

Advice to what I see,
"A leach,"
it is not Me.

For, neither, Experience, Education,
nor, "What you have heard,"
could balance such Ill-Report.

You are a bump.

Friendship should be so much more!!

That dismissal of such a thing,
(friendship)
should not include, 
ignoring or pretending not to be.

Shoving, taking, turning from.
It is as if you believe I am dumb.

To be graceful, to not be the same.
Knowing that I have been trained.

I'm not perfect,
I do hold my own reframe. 

Anger, enhances, my every day!!

Saying Farewell, amongst such pain,
is done instead of turning from:

This I do, for I due know,
better than, to just not show. 

"What to do?"

I face the one, who has no class,
manners forgotten or never last.
Apologize and set a banner.

Done, "Eye to Eye,"
it keeps it dry.
The British way!

I often sigh.

Teaches difference, shows the truth.
And last, but not least, will state your feat;

I don't lie!! 

Why?

Just 'cause.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Popularity Pleads



I see with the clarity of my "Mind's Eye,"
I often must begin a gentle sigh.
For it is the very same guy: "Hi!"

"I miss you."

My question for you is,

"How does one say goodbye?"
"Could "Life" be as I imagine?"
"Could this twin be my begin?"

It is madness that I even want to see him,
introducing myself yet again,

"Am I in another life?"

A last one, hopefully.

I am a "9" and an "11"
according to the numerology sum.

It is not that I either believe, 
nor do I not believe in such things.

I'm confused on these accounts,
but, I like the "Fishing around."

My solace seems to rest,
upon this thought, I give in.

Peace inhabits my being;
"It brings me relief; Why?"

You are so striking!!

"What is, or, what has the appearance of Innocence?"

It is a Curse of what is naturally to come.
Thinking, Thought, Idea's, Genius, Savant or the like;

"It is an intellectual development of the mind of man?"

To stop, to kill, to wipe-out, control! 
Or, hide from others by force such abilities of another.

"Is this a normal thing to be? For it has been."

 Sensing with Mind.

"Is this unnatural, or, just an unusual find?"

Naturals are delivered by the need thereof,
I would believe.

They are the State of Being that Evolution has brought to counter
what is not bought by Education but by "TIME."

"Ability right on the spot?"

A Natural born Seer is a "Normal Adventurer,"
The result of mans presumptuous invasion of privacy.

Prescribed by Nature,
for Nature, of Nature.

A Natural.
No license needed; 
Nor provided.

Evolution or Creation of the Human Being
is merely a stated fact.

By whom? Us?
For if that were the case
the Being above would fall dead.

No factual find to the answer.
Almost makes the question of such, mute.

Yet, you point your fingers and make your claims.
People seem to listen and follow old ways, and say:

To sensitive for earth,
to close to death.

Still you continue to complain!!
Possession!   Possession!
 
Do you even know what you are doing?

Just as a suggestion should be;
This will be your own personal undoing.

The noise created by what is so unnatural:
Announces to the World their actual.

The Mind, the Ancient Brain, 
the Man that can no longer stand.
He has been bulled over by what he cannot believe.

The unique find in the News.
You see?  
This will be what halts this being.

I will fight!  For I do see! I do not lie!
And I have survived.

My Soul that was bought,
this I do know.

Now take a good look,
 at what has come out of the horrors,
 of this World.

Me 
And I am very angry.

At my own boiling point!!!

 Crimes perpetrated throughout history
developed that which can "Know" without "knowing."

Jealousy Hits!
 Beaten for more: 
I may hit the floor; Again.

However, I will rise and face these lies. 
'cause promises have been......

Made my friend
and a promise can never be broken.

The Rule of such is a secret too! 

Strangeness of such a command,
a force far greater than is known to Man.
But it will ask,

"Why?"

Blood Lost!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

What Screams?



It comes to Mind and will not line
with anything other than itself.

Exorcisms are one of a kind.
So, expectations of difference are futile.

It's dark; My brother is where?
I can barely see a cross.

Laid out upon a table
Confusion becomes this label.

So much like: Yet! Worlds apart
"Come Hither" to gain such sight

For one was Kind.
The other Fright.

A Dead Boy gave no light.
Just the same his skin I gained.
My brother passed out and I might....

But, stood I did and I swear, I promised
to tell my brother, 
"They LIED, he was DEAD, you killed no one."

Silenced by FEAR.

'Til Forty Years, I held my sear.
For scarce I was to find.

For very few things from here,
ever kept me round.

I held true to Brother too!!
Told him at the age of, "Forty-Two."

Keeping simple tragic things
he said, "they worked it out."

I said, "o.k." then I made,
an Artful, Purposeful mistake.

I handed him, what I wrote
and mailed to over 1200 friends.

Not mine.

Our Mother paled;  I'm sure
she cried, "Take her children, Right?"

My brother cried.
Ran outside and sobbed;

"I didn't know you remembered!"

No tears were shed from my eyes
I felt no pang of death as I had expected.

I never saw what Hurt I would feel.
The sight of my big brother running from the room we were in.....

It ended only to begin in an even greater degree.
The consequences for carrying such a message for so long:

I didn't know

The Pain ran into Me and opened veins:
Not of Blood, but, of Agony.

The Notion Of A Fool



The Wretch that returns weakness.
Regards Wizardry as Salt.
Religion as Pepper.
Magic as Spice,
and Reality as false prophecy;

Is a Fool.

The sting of such ill-repute
Sets the Sun,
moves the Moon
darkens new life:

Killing Ancient Stars For Fun!!

A learned perversity will befall.
Animals will snap necks on crooked walks or falls.

For when the measure of a fall takes "Life" by surprise,
Death will greet with happy accord.

All so disappointment does not contage the balance of breath.

Dominate your personal watch,
wealth will become lust,
should Intelligence lack Luster.

Why Turn Left? Because Death Said So!



Worlds!

Do not disregard a Nation for its State.

For if you hold an Adult Knowledge of legends from the start,
than wise you are to History loosing footing;
Changed.

A Falsehood, A Mystery, Mythology is good.

Thinking these things are ways to change,
the truth of worth or definitions of words.

Nature of which will bring Countries to sing,
down to their knees is what this brings.

The tune will be in a breeze,
"Save the State thereof, please."

It is not just what has been said.
The pointed fingers, the already dead.

But, casting children out of Villages now?
Saying they are possessed and should be....

Not Blessed?

As a Human, in what is called "A Race."
To the finish, I will be screaming to whom is below, above and/or sideways, 

"ERASE!" 
"For they have had a taste"

----------------
Live in Nigeria, today, this condemnation of what has happened to me when I was young is happening again as we speak.  Just as it was then and as it was for me, people just turn away and say that it is none of their business, until......it happens here.  

Which it already has in the 60's and I am sure before.  The problem I have, is, it looks as if it has never stopped.



courtesy Rev. Bob Larson

Rev. Bob Larson, Exorcist-For-Hire, 
"Will Rid You Of Your Demons At Airport Hilton Today"
By Tim Elfrink Fri., Jan. 14 2011 at 9:00 AM


​Been feeling a bit odd lately? Did your last date with a Oujia Board end with your roommate babbling in ancient Assyrian and levitating off the ground? Had any head-spinning vomiting moments this month?

Don't worry: Rev. Bob Larson is here to help. America's top exorcist-for-hire is in Miami today, and he'll kill your demonic possession for the low price of $495. Riptide caught up for Larson for a chat about the life of an exorcist. Click through for a Q&A.

Larson, who rose to prominence with his syndicated Evangelical talk radio show Talk Back, turned his focus to exorcisms in the 90s. He says he studied the craft with the Vatican's top demon-slayers and now runs an Arizona-based church focused on exorcisms.

Now he has books, DVDs ("Do You Have a Demon?"), even an online DemonTest that claims to figure out your vulnerability to Lucifer's minions. (Riptide is too scared of the answer to give that one a shot).

Larson is holding a free seminar on exorcisms at the Hilton Miami Airport tonight at 7 p.m. He's also available for private one-on-one exorcisms, but those will set you back $495. (Intrigued? Possessed? Call 303-980-1511 if you're in the market.)

New Times: Do you find a lot of people wanting exorcisms these days?

Rev. Bob Larson: I seldom ever am in a city where I don't do one or more live exorcisms. There's a lot of need out there.

Just read the headlines over the weekend about what happened in Tucson. That's an obvious example of something more than just an ideological or a schizophrenic act. A psychotic person might do something like shooting a politician. But to put a bullet in 9 year old girl? That's pure evil.

In a case like Jared Lee Loughner, though, isn't there obviously mental illness at work?

Mental illness is obviously involved. But the vast majority of schizophrenics and or psychotic people don't commit mass murder. Something else is at work inside of them.

My reason for referencing Tucson, really, is that's a vivid illustration of what's bubbling underneath our culture, ready to explode at any moment. The number of people walking the streets with demons is far more excessive than most people realize.

Let's back up and talk about your background. Exorcisms are usually associated with Catholics. How did you get involved as an Evangelical?

I've been to the Vatican, actually, and I've met with the chief exorcist there. We are in agreement on almost all the issues. I'm very familiar with the Catholic rite. Our ceremony isn't dissimilar, except it's not quite so formal and ritualistic in tone. But the basic facts and information is essentially the same.

The root of the ritual is to find out who the demon is and how it got there. And then to use the authority of Christ to cast it out. The basic elements are still there.

What kind of things do you see doing exorcisms? Is it ever Hollywood-style paranormal stuff?

I've see everything. I've seen levitation and supernatural languages. Materializations and dematerliazations. In general, what I see is a troubled person who is also experiencing supernatural phenemona in their lives. And not knowing what to do about it.

Last Friday night, in my last seminar, I did an exorcism of a huge guy, 6'4", 200 pounds, trained to kill in the Army Special Forces. He had a demon that had been in the family bloodline for four generations, and it was wanting to use his training to kill people.

Even though he himself was a really nice guy when he was in his own right mind. But this evil was embedded in him and his family for four generations.

Don't people like him need mental health care or drug treatment more than an exorcism?

When you've done as many thousands and thousands of exorcisms as I have, it's not that difficult to determine whether it's a psychotic issue or a demonic issue. You can spot it quickly. If someone has a mental health issue, I tell them that all the time, that they need to seek medical care for that problem.

You can spot immediately a person who has a mental health issue. It's clear from how they talk. It's quite different from a possession. Almost always, the demon overtakes the person, and the demon speaks in the third person and addresses you in a state of consciousness in the part of the person. That's different than someone who's delusional and talking crazy and saying things that don't make any sense.

Occasionally, of course, you find people who are both psychotic and have demons. In those cases I don't deal with it until they've been properly treated psychiatrically. I'd be happy to do an exorcism, but you have to go back to your psychiatrist first.

How did you get started doing exorcisms?

I'd sort of been doing it behind the scenes for quite a while. For 20 years I did a nationally syndicated radio talk show, and they'd call me up and other voices would start speaking out of their bodies on the air.

So I'd start dealing with it on the radio. Then twelve years ago I decided to go public. The subject, as long as it was in the backroom behind closed doors, it wasn't being faced by society. The peole who needed help wouldn't reach out to find it. They weren't aware of the possibility. By my doing my work in public, I'm making people aware that there's help out there.

Anyone reading this who is aware of a friend or relative or family member who is spiritually tormented or tormented some kind of way that may be supernatural should talk to us. Or also people who are just curious. They should come to the seminar tonight. Often, the people we're doing the most exorcisms on are not those coming thinking they need to get an exorcism.


http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/01/rev_bob_larson_exorcist-for-hi.php

www.globalpost.com

Nigeria witch children find refuge at center

Children called witches by preachers are outcast but a center cares for them.


Toby Binder  January 25, 2012 19:41



EKET, Nigeria — More than 100 Nigerian children have been branded as "witches" by church
ministers and have been cast out by their families and shunned by society.

Some of the 


children pariahs have suffered violence from their families and from others. The campaign


against the "witches" has been pursued by some zealous preachers associated with small 



Christian sects that also incorporate some animist Nigerian beliefs.







Those who identify the "witches" are encouraged by evangelical pastors, according to 
human-rights groups in the area. Drawing on the community's fears, preachers sometimes 
denounce specific children as witches, leading the young ones to be abused, abandoned and 
even murdered.

Now, one local group provides refuge for children who have been forced out of their 
communities. The Nigerian non-governmental group Child‘s Right And Rehabilitation 
Network, has taken in 160 children scorned as “witches."

“So many people here believe that children can be possessed by demons that there is rarely
any action taken against those who claim to deliver the children in violent exorcisms,
says Sam Itauma, of CRARN.



His organization looks after children who have been abandoned or abused after being 
accused of being witches. As one of a few in the community who supports the ostracized 
children, he is often verbally and physically attacked.

Stella is one of the children now at the center after she was accused of being a witch. 
Abandoned by her family, vulnerable and frightened, she wandered the streets in 
southeastern Nigeria, struggling to stay alive.

Stella was found by Jehu Tom, a network rescue officer who lives at the center with 160 other
children who have been branded witches, blamed for all their family‘s woes, and abandoned. 
Before being pushed out of their homes, many were beaten or slashed with knives, thrown 
onto fires, or had acid poured over them as a punishment or in an attempt to make them
 “confess“ to being possessed.

In one case, a young girl called Uma had a three-inch nail driven into her skull.

So-called witches are identified by powerful religious leaders from local churches where 
Christianity and traditional beliefs combine to produce a deep-rooted belief in, and fear of,
 witchcraft. The ministers spread the message that child-witches bring destruction, disease 
and death to their families. And they say that, once possessed, children can cast spells 
and contaminate others.

The religious leaders offer help to the families whose children are named witches, 
but at a price. The churches hold evening exorcisms, where the pastors attempt to drive
 out the evil spirits. Only they have the power to cleanse the child of evil spirits, they say. 
The exorcism can cost the families up to a year‘s income.

But some children are thrown out of their homes.

By the time the children are found by the rehabilitation group, they often have come to
 believe that they are witches — even if they aren't sure what a witch is. “Can you fly at nights?
 Then fly!” Itauma tries to provoke the new arrivals at the children’s home.

At the refuge, they are safe and attend school. Many remain traumatized by their experiences.

At the center, they make first steps to become integrated back into “normal life,“ and with luck
,


 they may be reunited with their families and communities. That is the network's aim.



“The children belong back to their families,” said Itauma, “but as long they are not safe there,
 we take care of them.”

http://www.globalpost.com/http%3A/%252Fwww.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/
nigeria/120117/nigerias-witch-children-find-refuge-at-center

Nigeria




Living back in the burning time

LEONARDO LEPSCH

Thursday, 03 June 2010




The children of Niger Delta, in Nigeria, are being victimised by attacks of unscrupulous pastors-witch hunters. The attacks are similar to the ones regarding the Middle Age witch burning which caused the death of many in the Inquisition time. However, now the victims are mere innocent children who are unjustly targeted for their supposed mischievous behaviours and branded as witches by religious leaders.

The Pastors or Prophets make families believe that any unfortunate situations taking place in the heart of the families is due to the children mischievous behaviour, who possessed by evil forces -cast spells, bring about diseases and death. The religious leaders brand the children “witches” and demand that they must be exorcised. The exorcism costs a lot of money for the families – up to a year’s income.


When the families cannot afford to pay the required fees the result is tragic. The children are, in many reported cases; murdered, poisoned, drowned, buried alive or even abandoned on the streets by their own families in an attempt to drive the evil out of their souls.


The religious leaders are extremists which ideas originated from the fusion of Christianity and traditional African beliefs that combined, produce prejudices against witchcraft. But what is hidden behind these religious practices is a highly lucrative scheme to make money from the abuse of poor and innocent families.


Local agencies say that in only two states of Nigeria around 15.000 children have been stigmatised and one thousand murdered since the attacks started a decade ago. There have been also an alarming number of cases in Democratic Republic of Congo.


So far, there are three NGOs fighting the problem; Stepping Stones Nigeria, who fights for the children’s rights; The Orphanage CRARN, that rescue stigmatised children from the streets; and The Way to the Nations fighting the ignorance of the people about the gospels.







Least you forget the relative?

Never forget "The Twin."

Love will desire truth.

______________________________________________________________________________



"A thing is never too often repeated which is never sufficiently learned.


____Seneca.

Thanks to:
"My Book Of Golden Thoughts"
Copyright 1931
Printed in the U.S.A.