A Day to Think

Like many Americans today, I spent time reflecting on what happened September 11, 2001, and continue to try to make sense of it all. You can't really.

Some have said we need to identify who did this to us and not be so politically correct. Others go on believing and espousing that George W. Bush was behind the attacks, or knew of them in advance. The conspiracy theories abound across the web. Others, still, think we have not gone far enough or done enough damage to the "other side" to make a difference in the conflict.

It is not enough, I don't think, to say Muslims did this to us. Islamic extremists attacked before 9/11, attacked on 9/11, and go on attacking. They want an end to America so don't kid yourself thinking otherwise. I stopped blaming Muslims a long time ago, even though they make that difficult. After all, one is hard pressed to find any Muslim anywhere who publicly denounces what Islamic Extremists do.

September 11th comes and goes every year and I don't really do much about it, not really. Then I come across a video on YouTube from a young man just talking to his audience and partway through his talk he says something brief, yet absolutely remarkable. "What can you say [about 9/11]?...a day to think..."

Wow! That hit home. Of course, it is so simple, it takes a young man to explain it to me. Today is not a day to remember; it's not a day to grieve; it's not a day to blame. September 11th is a day to think. And that is exactly how I will honor the victims of 9/11 from now on.

Wow! A day to think.

Arcadian's Got Talent (or Bring Arcadian Back)

What happened to Arcadian Broad was completely wrong and unprofessional. I, for one, am very proud that he stood up for hisself.

The young man can dance! My feeling is he was set up to lose out. He was given a routine he did not want to perform (his words). Why was he assigned a partner when he auditioned as a single act? The producers did not separate the Three Tenors into a single act and tell two to go home, did they? Why wasn't Kevin Skinner partnered for a duet instead of being allowed to remain a solo act?

And the folks running the show wonder why people think America's Got Talent is rigged.

Arcadian auditioned and performed as a single dance act, not part of a gesticulating, poorly choreographed, and bumbling aggregation as the High School Musical routine seemed to me to be.

I have enjoyed America's Got Talent (and the many "Got Talent" versions around the world), but I must take a stand here. Bring back Arcadian Broad and let him do what he wants, then let the people decide on that. The judges "threw out the rules" for Fab Five and Voices of Glory, so throw out those same rules and BRING ARCADIAN BACK. If they can't or won't, they may have just lost a fan, for I shall never watch another episode of America's Got Talent ever again.

Sorry to be so direct, but I am troubled by what I witnessed in Part 1 of the Semis.