REFLECTIONS ON SISTER CARMEN RIVAS - GALA AWARD WINNER FOR 2013

By Noel Serrano

Carmen Rivas is a much beloved Woman of God who has dedicated her entire life in the Service of the Lord and is an exemplary Matriarch in the noble manner in which she nurtured and cared for her large family. I grew up admiring her loving and compassionate Spirit. In the early years of the 1960s and 1970s she a very active  Leader in the Church, La Sinagoga. Sister Rivas had an enduring strength that helped her remain steadfast in all  the struggles that she faced. She would often encourage me as a young boy to "Press On!" in the face of adversity Her favorite scripture that she often quoted to me was from Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be Strong and of Good Courage...Be Not afraid, neither be dismayed!, for the Lord thy God is with thee!" I can still hear the echoes of he soft, tender voice, encouraging me and planting those seeds of inspiration  to persevere and to press on!

Carmen Rivas is still that Noble and inspirational Woman, even now as she struggles with insurmountable  challenges in her advanced years. She continues to serve as a Beacon of inspiration to all who come near her. Carmen Rivas was one of the finest cooks that I have had the privilege of knowing. Whenever she invited our family to her home , we were welcomed to a Great Table of fabulous Latin Cuisine that was made with loving hands. Whenever I traveled back to New York City, Sister Evelyn would invite me to the Rivas home in Queens. My Mother, Felicita Serrano and Carmen Rivas were very close and as a child, I remember the many phone conversations with these two Godly women who prayed together , always interceding and in prayer for her growing families. Whenever they faced trials, they uplifted each other in prayer and encouraged each other in the Lord. As the years passed by, I recall many phone conversations with Sister Rivas and she always served as a Motivator, encouraging to "Press on" I valued her counsel and still do .  She always had an inspirational Word for me, in the same manner as when she encouraged me as a young child growing up in La Sinagoga.

Carmen Rivas is a shining Emblem of those Spiritual and Godly Women of a bygone era. Women that prayed and set a glowing Standard for a generation. We can all still learn from them and still receive inspiration from Carmen's example and her dedication. May God continue to Bless Carmen Rivas and give her strength to keep the banner high! Pressing On! and always declaring Victory!

THOUGHTS ON MY BROTHER IRVING SERRANO

By Noel Serrano

One of the great things that a man or woman can experience is when they have a brother that watches your back. a Brother that is totally devoted and totally trusting. This clearly describes to the fullest measure, my beloved Brother Irving. He was a chubby, shy toddler who had a very unique way of going up the stairs at the age of three. He would sit on the first step and slowly rise up only to sit again on the second step. On and on, he went till he climbed all the way to the top  of the staircase. When he wanted to go down the stairs, he did the same procedure in a much more careful and methodical manner. Irving realized that going down the stairs was quite a challenge but he always found a way to reach his destination. Irving grew to love and respect all his brothers and sisters and he paid particular attention to the two younger siblings. The bond of trust began at the childhood stage with a series of  classic experiences that were shared with the younger brothers. Irving grew in an atmosphere of competition  with the brothers and he began to struggle  at times because  he always seemed as if he had so much to say but he always had to wait his turn because all the other brothers had also many things to do and say. The consistent attribute of Irving was his willingness to wait his turn. His most notable trait was in diplomacy. If Irving was  a country...He would be Switzerland! As a young man, he demonstrated a capacity of an engineer. He loved to build things and  make electrical gadgets that were often ahead of their time.  There were times when I asked him ,"Irv, I need you to place a red light at the very top of my Bedroom door and I need a button that will snap it on and off and I want it to blink" Irving, always the obedient one, would run to Dad's Tool Shop and complete the project in several hours. I quickly relied heavily on his ability to invent all the gadgets that we needed to play with during those seemingly endless  Summer Months. So you see, the bond of trust and mutual cooperation began many years ago. As young boys, we always sat together in La Sinagoga in New York.  Mom would often dress us identical until we put a stop to that.  Irving enjoyed the part of the service when the Choir was ready to sing. They would stand and in a slow , regimented manner, they would form a train-like march towards the front of the altar where they would sing their beloved classic songs. Irving and I would  say "tren, tren, tren, tren " until our Dad would quiet us with one of his famous "Pats" on our heads. During those years we would relate and pretend that we were the Characters on Dragnet and Star Trek. Irving was the best Sidekick in the world. I remember the long summers riding bike, building Go-Karts, and establishing clubs where he was always the one that would  build whatever was needed. My late brother Frank once said of Irving..."If we can open up the head of Irving, you would find computer gears and sprockets blinking and turning endlessly" It's true! I remember, we needed a working refrigerator in the basement so we could place the bottle of milk that we quietly borrowed from the big refrigerator in the kitchen. Irving took an old silver box Cooler and placed a small fan and then we filled the cooler with ice and it worked well.It is no wonder that we never blew up the basement with all of the adventures we had as young boys. As we grew, Irving began to sway away and orbited with friends that were going a different direction. One of the major reasons why our parents moved the family to Florida in 1977 was to get Irving as far away from entanglements that were not helpful to him. There were some tough times for Irving as he grew to become a man, But God was always there to help him find his way. In the early 80s, I had just presented my Dad with a Gala Award for being the Exemplary Man that he was to all of us. (There is a Video that shows this moment)..and as I looked around the room... I saw my brother Irving sitting right next to me.. and I recall as if it were yesterday..."We honor him today and we will continue to honor many..I know , I see many who deserve this Award!" And I quietly glanced at my Brother Irving. That was in 1986. My Brother Irving was always eager to help me with the Family Organization, even at its infancy. He began writing beautiful articles for the original Family Times Publication (The Paper version) He would always be ready and willing to come to the aid of the Foundation. When Irving moved to Pennsylvania, we continued to stay in touch with letters and phone conversations. The bond of loyalty and trust remained intact. When Gala opened shop on the Internet, I wanted Irving to join with me in a more Official capacity and he quickly agreed. Many years later, we now have hundreds of articles that he has written exclusively for the Gala Sites, both English and Spanish . He is an enormous Asset to me and I thank God for him.  May God continue to bless my Brother Irving and his family. I want to thank him for his Service and Devotion to the cause that we both have labored in for many years. For the great memories that shaped us and prepared us to think of others and to think of the greater good. Irving Thanks for the Memories! I love you! I have a list of ideas for future inventions Lol We will talk very soon!

THE BIOGRAPHY OF SISTER CARMEN RIVAS- GALA AWARD WINNER FOR 2013

By Evelyn Melendez

Sister Carmen Rivas was born on July 16, 1924 in the town of Yabucoa, Puerto Rico . Her parents were Ms. Brigida Mojica Ortiz and Mr. Valerio . She was the 4th child of 10 siblings . At an early age she had her first daughter ( Nelida Crespo ) and she had to work to help sustain the family.

At age 32 she moved to the city of New York along with his 7 children and where God blessed him with three sons (James, Edwin and Evelyn ) . In total , Carmen had 14 children . Carmen was a beautiful and exemplary mother and grandmother. Carmen always cared about the health and well -Welfare of children. Carmen gave all her love for her home , her beloved husband, her children and grandchildren. The greatest treasure in the world is to have a mother, Herr love is a wealth of incomparable value . The day November 2, 1963 Carmen joined in holy matrimony with Mr. Rafael Rivas on Willis Avenue Pentecostal Church pastored by Rev. Diego Soto.

While overcoming an Evangelistic campaign was held in a small Independent Pentecostal Church located on Washington Avenue and East Tremont in the Bronx, surrendered to the Lord , accepting Christ as their Savior. God knew from the Eternity what every man would do, He knew that if the man surrendered to the Holy Spirit and accepted Christ as their Savior was destined for eternal life.

Carmen was a beautiful woman of God with great commitment , responsible for achieving and lead souls to eternal hope. As a missionary to persevere in the Lord Pentecostal Church of God ( The Synagogue ) for 40 years where she abounded in good fruit. She exerted in the presidency of the Ladies for 5 years , was President of the Sunday School Children , working hard in the Departments of Pro - Temple, Christian Love and Personal Evangelism earning from them the respect and affection of all. As a result of a seed that God allowed it to be aware to give growth in Christ Jesus , I placed my life on the altar of sacrifice shedding all personal interest , egoism and prejudices to serve the Lord very gratefully for the spiritual bread that gave growth and maturity to persevere in the ways of the Lord. But his total dedication he had to pay the price of fatigue and pain to gather the sheaves along the way but always enjoying the grace and blessings of the Lord.

She Never had a quiet life because she had to be ready at all times and exercise great compassion for souls going through some difficulty.

IRVING SERRANO AND CARMEN RIVAS WIN THE GALA AWARDS FOR 2013

FLASH- The Gala Foundation announced the Gala Award winners for 2013 today as preparations were underway to showcase each of the recipients on their recognition during the month of January. It is a tradition to announce and present the Awards before the year is out. A Gala Award is presented to Irving Serrano Sr for his Outstanding Service and Devotion to the cause of the Gala Foundation. Irving has been a faithful contributor to the Foundation since its infancy. He has written numerous columns on the Gala publications. His brother Noel asked him to join the Administrative board in 2010 and serves as an Associate Administrator

for the Foundation. A Special Gala Award will be presented to Hna Carmen Rivas for Lifetime Achievement and an outstanding Service and Devotion to the ideals and vision that is so inherent in our Organization. Carmen is a Godly Woman who has tirelessly served the Lord and is an example of perseverance ad fortitude in the midst of great challenges. we honor these two during the next coming weeks with Feature articles and Biographies that will serve to inspire us all to live a noble and Selfless life and to be an example to others.

JUST CALL ME RUDOLPH!

Well here we are. Christmas, just a few weeks away. The inspiration of this message comes from the song; Rudolf, the red nosed reindeer. This song speaks about a Deer, who apparently was different from the others around him. I am quite certain that anyone reading this, will agree. It is difficult when your in a situation where others around you bully, make fun and criticize you. Simply because you are different. All through out our lives, we face this. Since our Childhood years in school, right up to the present as growned up adults. Even more so, if you were raised up, as a Christian. Even as Kids, we tend to imitate our Parents. We speak differently, we conduct ourselves with patience. We are in most cases tolerant, or forgiving of unfairness, or injustices sent in our direction. Of course if you are still imitating your christian Parents? The Apostle Paul, once said "be imitators of me". (1st Corinthians 11:1) This he said because he made it a practice to follow and teach Gods, word to the people all around Him. He was a good imitator of Jesus Christ. And we all know they laughed at Him, just like they laughed at Jesus Christ. Where ever He found himself, he would always be an example of the teachings of Christ. We as Christians, appear to be different to non-believers, as well as those who know about God`s love. Yet still remain on the fence, as to committing to a one on one relation with Christ. They may know the story of Jesus. From His birth, right up to His crucifixion. Yet, they still have not asked Christ, to be their Lord and Savior. For some it may be simply because they have not been approached correctly. But there are others that look at the behavior of so-called believers, and their turned away because of language or behaviors they witness. This hits home to me. Though I was raised with sound Christian Parents. I strayed off the path of Christianity. I knew of certain people in the church, that spoke one way and acted another. At the time, my attitude was; " If I'm going to do wrong or be different, well I won`t do it flying a Christian flag". Ultimately I learned that this was just another trick of the Enemy (satan). He`ll put it in your head that Christ will not listen, or answer your prayer. But Satan is a lire. If he can get you to think like that. He can get you to stop praying! All through the History of the Bible, and in this world. Everyone who has ever called out, on the name of Jesus, has been heard. And has been answered. But tit for tat, you must be different. ( Proverbs 4: 14) Say`s; Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Several of the modern English versions, say; Oh, the joy of those who do not follow the advise of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. Other translated versions use the words scornful, or scoffers. A cross reference to this subject is found in (Psalms 5:9) " not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies". A very heartfelt thing is when a true born again believer, is treated as a non- believer. In the end, only God can, and will be the judge of all man. I remember once being called an ' halle-lu-ya'. I laughed right along with the person who said it. What tickled me the most, at the time was the love God, placed in me to be forgiving of the other persons ignorance. The old-Me,,, would have knocked him out. God`s word tells us; " Be not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power unto salvation, for the Jew, and the gentile. So you don`t want to be like Rudolf ? Getting picked on? People laughing, or making jokes. Remember the facts! In the song, Santa say`s;" Rudolf, with your nose so bright, wont you guide my slay tonight". Remember the facts! In this life, God say`s, He picks you! He wants to do for you. (2 Corinthians 6:2) For He say`s; " In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God`s favor, now is the time of salvation". This is the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas a few days away. But a New beginning with Christ can start, RIGHT NOW! (2 Corinthians 6:3) We put no stumbling block in any one's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather as servants of God, we commend ourselves in every way; in great endurance, in troubles, hardships and distress, in beatings, imprisonments and riots, in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger, in purity, understanding, patience and kindness in the Holy Spirit, and in sincere love. In truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet unknown,dyeing, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything". In short, this is the life of a Christian. I hope to erg you to take a closer walk with Jesus. I know He can change your life. Look if you step outside thinking your gonna trip and fall. That is exactly what will happen. Many say, Oh God, help me out of this mess, but refuse to go in the direction He has chosen for you. I'm going to close with a passage from 2 Corinthians , ' Blessed be the God of OUR Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of MERCIES, and God of ALL COMFORT, who comforts US, in ALL our TRIBULATIONS, that WE may be able to comfort THOSE in ANY TROUBLE, with the comfort with which we OURSELVES, are comforted BY GOD". I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and I pray you make Christ, center in your life. God bless, love always, Irving Serrano Sr.

LIVING A LIFE OF THANKSGIVING TO THE LORD

By Evelyn Melendez

 

 For God's people, Thanksgiving is far more than a special day on the calendar. The Bible urges us to live a life of thanksgiving each day. Being thankful to God for all of His blessings is truly a mark of the Christian. ...

The Bible says, "Make a joyful shout to the LORD" (Ps. 100:1). In the Bible, shouting is associated with great achievement or joy. Joshua told Israel to march around Jericho for six days and on the seventh day to lift a great shout. When they did, the walls fell down (Josh. 6).

When you are thanking and praising God, don't be afraid to be a little loud. God loves to hear our praises, and it will also make you biblical!

We should be grateful every day for what God has done for us. Let's make it our determination to praise and worship God this holiday season!

A SON'S BEST FRIEND

There once was a service in a Church, where a prominent Pastor was speaking. Suddenly the Pastor changes the subject, as His eyes focus on someone in the crowded church. He goes on to say how he recognized an old friend. He also felt so compelled to cut his own message short. And he went on to introduce his friend, as he invited him to come up to the alter, and share some words with the church. An elderly man comes up, and very eloquently starts to introduce himself. He thanks the Pastor for the moment, as He says; I want to share with you a Testimony. You may be looking up at an old run down man. "Old" yes, but not run down. I have been around for a lot of years, and I was blessed because I got to know the Lord Jesus Christ, since I was a small boy. Many years ago, when I was much younger I went on a fishing boat. I only had one Son, and He came with me , along with a friend of his. My Son, would always be close to me. It did not matter if we were going to Church, or if we were playing ball, or going fishing. My Son and I, were always together. You see, my Son Loved the Lord also. This was supposed to be a day trip. Our schedule was to have us back to the dock, before nightfall. But the unexpected happened. A tropical storm hit us by surprise. Everyone had to real in their lines, and hold on. As the sky grew darker, and the waves started pounding the sides of the boat. It was not a small boat,on someone in the crowded church. He goes on to say how he recognized an old friend. He also felt so compelled to cut his own message short. And he went on to introduce his friend, as he invited him to come up to the alter, and share some words with the church. An elderly man comes up, and very eloquently starts to introduce himself. He thanks the Pastor for the moment, as He says; I want to share with you a Testimony. You may be looking up at an old run down man. "Old" yes, but not run down. I have been around for a lot of years, and I was blessed because I got to know the Lord Jesus Christ, since I was a small boy. Many years ago, when I was much younger I went on a fishing boat. I only had one Son, and He came with me , along with a friend of his. My Son, would always be close to me. It did not matter if we were going to Church, or if we were playing ball, or going fishing. My Son and I, were always together. You see, my Son Loved the Lord also. This was supposed to be a day trip. Our schedule was to have us back to the dock, before nightfall. But the unexpected happened. A tropical storm hit us by surprise. Everyone had to real in their lines, and hold on. As the sky grew darker, and the waves started pounding the sides of the boat. It was not a small boat, but it felt small in comparison to the size of the waves swelling up. The boat would be facing down, the next second. , it would be facing up. Suddenly a huge splash comes crashing over the front of the vessel taking with it several people. The sky`s are dark, the rain is falling. The wind is hitting us with all it`s got. And the ocean is violently trying to consume us. There is yelling and screaming all around me. When I was able to clear my vision. I realize that both my Son, and His friend were also taken over board. I ran to get a life preserver, as I yelled for help. The currents were strong. I was only able to get one small life ring, attached to a rope. There was no time to spare, for you would see them one second, then they would appear to go under the next. I knew my Son cold swim, but this angry ocean could not be dealt with, by just a good swimmer. His friend on the other hand could not swim to good. I only had a few seconds to decide; To Who, do i throw this life preserver first. Was I going to sacrifice one person over the other? I knew my Son, was a saved Christian. And I also knew that His friend, still had not committed to accepting Christ. Was I going to deny him an opportunity? If he perishes today? The currents was pulling us farther apart. It was just a matter of seconds to react. I cried out, Oh God! As I threw the life preserver to my Son`s friend. We pulled and hung on, as hard as we could. We finally get this young man on board. And I immediately run to the edge of the boat, to see which way do I throw out again, to recover my Son. It was a sad moment, it had groaned darker, the ocean was not letting up. The rain was stinging my flesh as it pounded me. I looked, and I looked. Yelling out as loud as I could. But my Son would never be found. I was held back by other men, who would not let me enter the water. When these things happen, it feels like seconds. When actually minutes go by. Then when everything slows down to where you think it took a few minutes. It really all went down in the matter of seconds. The elderly man went on to say, though we may walk with Christ, we still have no guarantee when it`s time to leave this earth. Only God knows. Parents sometimes rebel against God, because they think He does not care. With out remembering, that it was God, who sacrificed His only Son, for all of us. It was God, who was with me on that terrible day. And it is God, who comforted me, and has been with me since that day. As the elderly man turns toward the Pastor. They embrace each other. They are both in tears. The Pastor tells the Church;....You better decide today! Oh, you better decide today. Today is the day of Salvation. This man, my dearest friend. He rapped it all up in a nut shell for you. No one knows what will happen to them tomorrow. There is never a day that goes by, that I don`t think about that day. Do you want to know why? I was His Son`s, best friend. I was the one pulled out of the ocean. God, saved me for a purpose. And I know He has a purpose for you my friend, After this an alter call was made, and many came forth to accept Christ, as their Lord and Savior. I hope this short story encourages you to take a closer walk with Christ. And be thankful for all He has done for you. May God Bless you. Love always, Irving Serrano Sr.

LIVING A LIFE OF THANKSGIVING TO THE LORD

By Evelyn Melendez

 For God's people, Thanksgiving is far more than a special day on the calendar. The Bible urges us to live a life of thanksgiving each day. Being thankful to God for all of His blessings is truly a mark of the Christian. ...

The Bible says, "Make a joyful shout to the LORD" (Ps. 100:1). In the Bible, shouting is associated with great achievement or joy. Joshua told Israel to march around Jericho for six days and on the seventh day to lift a great shout. When they did, the walls fell down (Josh. 6).

When you are thanking and praising God, don't be afraid to be a little loud. God loves to hear our praises, and it will also make you biblical!

We should be grateful every day for what God has done for us. Let's make it our determination to praise and worship God this holiday season!

REMEMBERING THAT SAD DAY IN NOVEMBER IN 1963

By Noel Serrano

This November 22 marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It was a traumatic experience for people in the U.S. and around the globe. Those old enough to remember can tell you the exact spot they were standing when they heard the news. Kennedy seemed to represent a new, vigorous leadership, after the gray Eisenhower years, committed to reforming American society and making a better  and peaceful world.

Many liberal Democrats also believe there was a deeper tragedy in Kennedy's death--that it literally altered the course of U.S. history. As they see it, the so-called "turmoil" of the 1960s--the ghetto uprisings, the war in Vietnam .--all would have been avoided if Kennedy had lived.

It was the fall of 1960. I was 4 years old, I used to spend a lot of time looking out the window of my mother’s bedroom and see the New York skyline. I loved watching the fabulous structure of the Tri-Borough Bridge and loved to watch the helicopters land on Randall’s Island. It was on a cloudy day like this that I gazed down the  wide New York streets and saw crowds of people flocking around a group of cars. It looked like a parade. There was much excitement for one of the long cars. They were waving and trying their best to reach out and shake the hand of a tall man with light brown hair. There was a roar of excitement as throngs would run and surround the car.  I did not know  what was the commotion and I did not know that  I was viewing the 1960 Presidential Campaign. This was the first time that I saw  the young man who would, weeks later, become the 35^th President of the United States. I can still recall the sound of the roaring throngs of friendly crowds and the long motorcade winding down from 7^th Ave and entering Spanish Harlem  the and enormous crowds of people surrounding the Limosine and running towards  the man that stood erect, shaking hands and waving to the adoring crowd. At that moment, I did not understand what I was looking at and I was too young to realize that I was watching history and yet, this view captivated my attention and it was seared to my memory. On November of 1963, I was 6 years old. It was a normal autumn day with memories of brown and orange leaves on the ground. I walked to the nearby grade school of P.S.123 in Queens, NY.  All the children at my first grade class were excited because we had a substitute teacher on that Friday morning of November 22, 1963. I glanced around the room and there was a lot of kids acting up and I remember feeling a little sorry for the Sub teacher trying to get the students attention to start the lesson for the day.  It seemed like a normal Friday and I was excited because Fridays meant that it would be the start of another weekend to play with my brothers. I recall great commotion in the early afternoon in that small classroom. The teachers seemed distressed as they asked all the children to form a line on the right hand side of the classroom , facing the doorway. The teachers frantically placed us all , row by row on the hallway, just outside of the classroom. I thought that maybe it was a special Fire Drill or even Assembly which was common on Fridays. I waited patiently as I leaned on the massive yellow brick wall  in the hallway  and gazed up at the dimly lit beige lighting fixtures  that hung from the ceiling. The children were fidgeting and occasionally a teacher would come and quietly nudge them to be silent. It seemed as an eternity, standing in that hallway.  I started getting a deep feeling that something terrible had happened but I did not know what t was. It was just a feeling. I remember the light at the end of the school hallway reflecting off the floor as word went round and the weight in the air the days after. Finally  we were allowed to leave to go home. My cousin Pecio came running to me and hugged me as was his custom. We quietly walked home  a couple of blocks away and went  to the kitchen where my father and his brother were talking about what had happened on that terrible November day.  Heard my Uncle say; “Did you hear that someone shot at the President today?” My heart sank and  at that moment in time I became  keenly aware  that someone had killed the Leader of our Country. For kids my age, it was like losing a father It was stunning and so awful. And so unreal. To have just seen the young, vibrant, charismatic president a few months before and now he was dead. A true pivot point in my life. Nothing was ever the same and the 60s were downhill from there. I always tried to imagine how the world would have been different had he lived. I don't believe he would escalated Vietnam, as his manhood was not open to debate with him being a war hero. I do wonder if he could have passed the Civil Rights legislation as effectively as President Johnson, but do think he would have tried. A huge, irredeemable loss from which many of us have never fully recovered. I was 6 years old on 11/22/63. Long after remembering the tears that were all around me shed on that day, I still feel haunted that somehow it could have been prevented. This event has followed me throughout my life. I'm a man that has stood by and often quoted from the Presidents most well written speech that will stand true for all of time. "Ask not what my country can do for me but rather ask what I can do for my country." We are so accustomed at doing just the opposite that we have completely stepped away from what once made America a great Nation. Can you only Imagine if every person that lives in the boundary of the United States of America would only adopt what President Kennedy echoed so long ago, how the lives of every American would literally take on a new meaning. America would return to the way America once was so very long ago. we have lost sight of what is really important, not only for us but more important, for our neighbors. He is perhaps one of the  leading visionaries from the standpoint of American presidents. His presidency presented international and national challenges that were up to that time, unlike never before. America I'm sure cannot help to wonder what could have come had this assassination never occurred. A certain second term of leadership and progress.  The 50th anniversary of J.F.K.’s assassination is both too much and not enough. The inexplicable loss, the unanswerable questions, the sense of history suspended—they’re all still being fed by the powerful charisma of the man who was America’s first Pop president. "He's frozen in people's minds at age 46," said Kennedy biographer Robert Dallek. "Kennedy still gives people a sense - to this day - of hope for the future."His appearance changed with his mood, strikingly so, and this made him always more interesting than what he was saying. He would seem at one moment older than his age, forty-eight or fifty, a tall, slim, sunburned professor with a pleasant weathered face. Five minutes later, talking to a press conference on his lawn, three microphones before him, a television camera turning, his appearance would have gone through a metamorphosis, he would look again like a movie star, his coloring vivid, his manner rich, his gestures strong and quick, alive with that concentration of vitality a successful actor always seems to radiate. Much of what people know about Kennedy comes from his inauguration speech, with its rhetorical flourishes that seem to inspire liberal activism.

They are largely misinterpreted. It is a conservative, Cold War, anti-Communist speech. When Kennedy declared: "Ask not what you country can do for you but what you can do for your country," he wasn't asking people to go out and fight poverty, he was saying don't expect the federal government to hugely expand social welfare programs.

When Kennedy said, "Let every nation know...that we shall pay any price, bear any burden...in order to insure the survival and success of liberty," he was not talking about the U.S. defending the right of nations to self-determination but that the U.S. would intervene against any threats to its power, like in Cuba, that just had a revolution against a U.S.-backed dictatorship.

"We will not prematurely...risk the cost of worldwide nuclear war in which even the fruits of victory would be ashes in our mouths--but neither will we shrink from that risk at any time it must be faced," Kennedy declared in his address to the nation on October 22, 1962. The Russians didn't run the blockade and withdrew their missiles. And this is how the world came the closest ever to nuclear holocaust--under John F. Kennedy. When the truth is discovered, it becomes clear that far from being a progressive liberal, JFK was a moderate-centrist with viewpoints that were considerably to the right of the Democratic party's liberal wing. And if JFK was not truly "progressive" before or during his presidency, then the idea that he was murdered by reactionaries opposed to "progressive reform" loses all credibility. And who was JFK the Man, ultimately? A gifted speaker and eloquent communicator. A man who understood the pulse of the nation enough in 1946 when he positioned himself apart from the natural heirs to the liberal New Deal tradition. A man who recognized early the need for an assertive stance in the developing days of the Cold War, and who positioned himself perfectly within the framework of what Louis Hartz has called the "Age of Consensus." Part of the consensus on America's place in the world, and on the moral correctness of the Cold War struggle that would endure until the late 1960s. A man who understood the moral correctness of integration but who was reluctant to press too far in the struggle for racial justice. A man who as President, never forgot his roots and was an active Cold Warrior in the tradition of Truman and Eisenhower, and who in domestic policy kept himself positioned to the right of the Democratic party's liberal wing. Kennedy and his image of youth and vigor have not lost a hold on the American imagination. The five decades since Kennedy's murder have also seen a decline in respect for government in general and presidents in particular. Dallek noted that, since Kennedy's death, only President Reagan has been able to hold a large measure of affection from a mass of Americans.

"So many of the other presidents have fared so poorly," he said. "Kennedy and Reagan gave the country optimism and hope. They gave the sense of the country's best values."

 

WELL DONE

By  Rev Joseph S. Semoi Kenema, Sierra Leone West Africa

 

  First and foremost I give thanks to the Almighty Father for deeming me fit to be a member of this honorable organization know as Gala Foundation under the leadership of my spiritual  father,  Noel Serrano. I also give thanks to  him for giving me this golden opportunity by asking me to file in my message to the desk of the Gala Foundation. I pray that the God will continue with you in this Noble Organization till the coming of our lord and Savior Jesus Christ. More so, I pray that His grace will always be sufficient for you In every endeavor in life.my desire also is that the entire membership of Gala Foundation round the glob will see their expected end.in the mighty name of Jesus Amen. By His grace , I want to share the word of God with you in the gospel of Jesus Christ according to {Mathew chapter twenty five verse twenty three {Matt. 25 :23} Topic: WELL DONE His Lord said unto Him, well done good and faithful servants, thou hast been faithful over few things {small things} I will make you ruler over many things {Big things}: enter thou in to the joy of thy Lord Mathew 25:23 INTRODUCTION :Never you despise the days of small beginning. In our lives, small days will makes us faithful in small things, so that we can be trusted with big things tomorrow . my spirit man has urged me to say some things about this honorable organization how it came in to existence, its all started very small and today it has been globally interested. This small days is all so where we learn to find our satisfaction not in prophecy or promise but in God. He {God} must be sole source of our identity. Each of us start in Bethlehem, finding our identity in God and become faithful in small things. Every great man or woman in the Bible calendar today went through his or her Bethlehem. Before Jesus became great he past through his Bethlehem, Joseph and many others etc..it would be dangerous, to skip Bethlehem and go straight to Zion. Let us not for get our topic WELL DONE  . The journey to our highest destiny starts with small responsibilities. It may be neglected, pushed aside, and ignored. But this significant season lays the foundation for success later on. It is vital, an inescapable part of our journey, from which no body is exempted, not even the messiah. Both David and Jesus had their small beginnings unto their Bethlehem, yet they where destined to ruled with Gods authority. The Gala Foundation is as great and noble Project, its all started very small many years ago with our Dear  Elders  Felicita Serrano, Francisco Serrano, Nieves Bosch, who met at the home of Noel Serrano to begin the planning and deliberation of this  Gala Concept. It was back in 1986 and it started very small. As you can see , The Foundation is growing.The Lord is saying to  the Director of Gala Foundation , WELL DONE!!! for keeping the fire burning. So many of us hate to start small in anything we do. The bible says though our beginning was very small, but our latter end will  greatly increase {Job 8:7} some people bury their talents because they comparing themselves with those who stay focused to start small and succeed in their endeavors. Conclusion… we all have different gifts that God gave to us, and He will ask us how well we used those gift given to us. To them that started small and the  latter multiplies, He would {God} say WELL DONE, good and faithful servant . My God and my maker is saying to the Leadership of the Gala Foundation whose dreams have been materialized  {WELL DONE }especially our late grand mother .Felicita Serrano, may her soul rest in perfect peace of God. And my wish also is that the Almighty Father in Heaven will continue to lead and direct Noel Serrano and the entire membership of the Gala Foundation. God's richest blessing to you all as you continue to embark in this journey.Faithfully yours in the service of the Lord

Pastor Joseph S. Semoi Kenema, Sierra Leone West Africa

GOD IS NEVER WRONG!

By Evelyn Melendez

 

A king who did not believe in the goodness of God, had a slave who, in all circumstances would always say “my king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect. He makes no mistakes!” ...

One day they went hunting and along the way a wild animal attacked the king. His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not prevent his majesty from losing a finger.

Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman asked "Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost my finger."

The slave replied: "My king, despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good, and he knows why these things happened. What God does is perfect. He is never wrong!"

Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave.

Later, the King left for another hunt, this time alone. He was captured by savages who engaged in human sacrifices.

On the altar and ready to sacrifice the nobleman, the savages discovered that their victim did not have one of his fingers. According to them, only a whole person with all his/her parts intact could be offered to the gods.

The King without a finger was deemed an abominable sacrifice for their gods. So they released the King.

Upon his return to the palace, the King authorized the release of his slave. He received the slave affectionately.

He asked his slave, "my dear, God was really good to me! I was almost killed by the wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I was let go! But I have a question: if God is so good, why did he allow me to put you in jail?"

The slave answered, "my King, if I had gone with you on this hunt, I would have been sacrificed instead because I have no missing finger. Remember everything God does is perfect. He is never wrong. He made you keep me in jail so I would not be with you on the hunt."

Often we complain about life, and negative things that happen to us, forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose.

Every morning, offer your day to God, don't be in a rush.

Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, and ease your feelings. And do not be afraid. God is never wrong!

 

FAITH , LOVE AND HOPE!

By Evelyn Melendez

"Faith, Hope, Love; and the Greatest of These is Love"

1 Corinthians 13

Stay close to Him and your love will grow with permanence. Without love, life is empty and void of meaning. Love includes God's love for you, your love for others, and love in family. Let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves, is a child of God and knows God. does not love, does not know God.... God showed his love for us by sending his only son into the world, so that we might have life through him. This is what love is: It is not that we have loved God but, that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven. If this is how God loves us, then we should love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect for us.

There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.

We love because God first loved us. The command that Christ has given us is: whoever loves God must love his brother also. 1 John 4.7-21

Love and self-knowledge

"Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and the will apply to you the same rules you apply to others. First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Matthew 7.1-5

Love in the home

Our brothers and sisters, you learned from us how you should live in order to please God. This is, of course the way you have been living. And now we beg and urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to do even more. God wants you to be holy and completely free from sexual immorality. Each of you men should know how to live with his wife in a holy and honorable way, not with a lustful desire, like the heathen who do not know God. In this matter, no man should do wrong to his fellow Christian or take advantage of him. The Lord can punish those who do such thing. So whoever rejects this teaching is not rejecting man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. You yourselves have been taught by God how you should love one another. And you have, behaved like this toward all the brothers, to do even more. Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before. In this way, you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need. 1 Thessalonians 4.1-12

Love's strength

Build your strength in union with the Lord and by his mighty power. Put on the armor that God give to us, so that you will be able to stand strong against the Devil's evil tricks. If we maintain ourselves on the armor, we will be able to resist the enemy's attack. We must fight until the end and still hold your ground. As all times, carry the faith as a shield. Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For the reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people. AMEN!

REMEMBERING RAYMOND GONZALEZ JR

By Noel Serrano

 

Raymond Gonzalez Jr, The  beloved son, brother and uncle of the Gonzalez and Figueroa Families quietly passed away this past weekend. The news of his passing was unbelievably  surreal and hit   a devastating blow to the chests of all who knew and loved him. Raymond was a quiet and stoic soul with a smile that lighted a  room. He was not a man of many words and his silence increased his power to communicate by way of his music. Raymond was a superb and accomplished  trumpet player who learned to master those high notes in his early years with his Uncle Raul  Gonzalez and his Father, Raymond Sr. Raymond JR ,who was known as Cuco  or Ququito  by his close friends, was brought up in an environment of music and his deep passion was demonstrated in every note  as he mastered that glaring and  glowing trumpet with clarity and precision.

 

My memory went back  to the halcyon years of the early 1960s as I grew to admire this tall Trumpet player who lifted that trumpet to the sky and  the clarion call resounded throughout  the Great Sanctuary of the beloved home church "La Sinagoga"  As a young man , Raymond was close friends of Frank Serrano and Ariel Bosch. He would often come to our home in Queens to hang out with my brother Frank and jam and talk about music. Their badinage was inspiring and alluring. Raymond was the type of young man that everyone wanted to hand with him. He had a magnetic personality and a gentleman's charm that was attributed in part to his impeccable manners and his love and mastery of music. It is said that : 

“The trumpet does no more stun you by its loudness, than a whisper teases you by its provoking inaudibility”

 

Raymond Gonzalez Jr played  his trumpet with grace and  audible agility. He was able to achieve great success when he later joined  Tito Puente and his Band in the  early 1980s, I last saw Raymond in a visit that I made to La Sinagoga in  December of 1986. He had decided to return  to his roots and to seek the Lord. we recalled his friendship with my Brother and Cousins and he always declare" You remind me of your brother Frank" In the later years he joined with us in the Gala Effort, becoming a member since 2009. We would stay in contact through text and e-mails. His Sister, Raquel always kept me posted on her beloved brother. We want to take this opportunity to send our deepest condolences  to the Gonzalez and Figueroa Families on behalf of the many Families of the Gala Foundation. We are with you! We share in your grief at the passing of  a beloved soul and we pray that god will grant you  the comfort in the realization that Raymond has gone to his reward. He has won the race! and He is now in the Loving Arms of our Great Redeemer, and we have the hope that the world does not share...we will all be with Him, one day.

 

WAKE UP!

By Irving Serrano Sr.

 

Have you ever heard the phrase "wake up the sleeping church ?" To speak of the church, is to speak of Christian folks. The people who at one point in their lives accepted Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior. We (Christians) however live in a society where not everyone lives by the same standards. Not everyone speaks with a civil tongue. Gods word teaches us to refrain from certain behavior, refrain from malice. To be different. Some Christians go to work, and their co-workers are not aware that they are standing next to a "Christian". Might it be because in today's society, we have let the entertainment industry rule over our thinking? A lot of people just want to be entertained, they want to make appearances. Some people just want to visit a church where they just get their ears tickled. The pastor, or the administration of such church decided, they`ll just hit them with the good stuff; "Oh, God is love", Oh," no weapon formed against you will prosper", Oh, He will make a way for all your needs". In reality, All of Gods word is good. Even the things that hit home. You know the old adage; " If the shoe fits". But some churches prefer to have all the seats filled, even at the risk of not clearly preaching Gods word. They are worried they might offend someone. Could this be why some people have lost the hunger for the things of God ? Some have lost the passion, for living for Jesus ? Some have lost the essence of Biblical Christianity ? Let me ask you, How many times have you heard, or witnessed by someone around you; In that Church the principals of scriptural Holiness are either old fashioned or out of date ? Have you heard people say, how they want to have an incredible worship experience, but show up with no enthusiasm ? How many people have you heard say they love Jesus, and then go out and live for Satan, the rest of the week ? How can one say that the church is important in their lives, but rarely go ? What today`s Christian (church) needs is to rediscover a passionate love for Christ. We desperately need to discover a hunger for God. " Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters, and you who have no money- come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk with out money and with out cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy ? Listen,,, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. (Isaiah 55:1-2 ) This scripture shows that God offers a personal invitation of renewal. To know God, and to accept Jesus Christ, is not just a one time encounter. God is inviting us to have a close relationship with Him, and join Him for a journey. The word come, means to walk or live in a specific manor. God is giving the invitation to come live for Him. In today`s world, we all hear the news. The tragic lost of lives in our schools, and in public places. These terrible things are happening in our Nation. We can also see how bad times are getting in our worldly news. Country's are at war. And our nation is right in the middle of it. If we listen and look at our world with our spiritual eyes. Our Bible tells us that, these things will come to pass. The book of Revelations, tells us all about the things we`ll see in the last days. The very same things we see and hear on the news everyday. "And that knowing the time, that now is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer then when we first believed " (Romans 13:11 ). The Lord Jesus Christ, who was and is 100% God, left heaven and was born of a virgin, manifest in human flesh, and shed His blood and died our death. And suffered our punishment, so we could be reconciled to Him. And not only this, but He was buried and arose from the dead. The Apostle Paul, says the Lord Jesus, was "delivered for our offenses and raised for our justification" and we have a hope that is sure and steadfast, when He returns for us and just like He was raised from the dead with a new glorified eternal body, so shall we be given a body "fashioned unto like His glorious body". What an amazing, merciful, gracious, loving God we serve. May we constantly think of all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us, and give Him thanks and praise His holy name forever! If there is anyone reading this who has not trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ ? I beg you, do not delay. No one has a guarantee they will be here tomorrow. Now is the accepted time, Now is the day of salvation! Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved! 

Love always, Irving Serrano Sr.

THE ENEMY LURKING AROUND US!

By Irving Serrano Sr

 

It is always a privilege for me to share my thoughts and stories. In many ways it also gives me the opportunity to share my testimony. Although I was raised in a Christian home, I know what it is to try to live your life without Christ. There are people that start reading something, and once they get the idea as to what its about. They stop reading. Others are just simply not interested. If you have read to this point? Allow me to ask you to please continue reading. If this message is not for you. I am sure you will be able to pass it on to someone else. There was once a young man. We will refer to him as Dabanger. A young man that consequences led him into a life of drug use. A typical day for Dabanger was to wake up out of a restless sleep, thinking about some money he would be needing to take care of his illness. He tries to get up and walk, he feels horrible and cant remember who fathered him. With the eyes like a hawk he looks for a victim, discreetly whispering an excuse we all are familiar with: " Can you spare some change, I need to eat ?" and he`s off to the hot spot. Dabanger focuses on what he thinks, is his best friend. Simply because there were times where he was fronted the product. He opens his trembling hand to see the amount of what he got. And with a sigh of relief, he's on his way. Dabanger is in his secret place, and as he puts that poison in his vain. He once again proclaims to stop the next day. But time goes by and he continues to condemn his sole. He once again forgot that many had been praying for him. And there was a place where they always awaited for him, with a celebration. It was Gods house. where God would have forgiven him of his sins, and healed him of his addiction. But he never showed. Dabanger would go on to do him, and he never thought of God. But one day fate was not on his side. The dope was bad......dabanger was later found dead. In an old abandon building. It was there Dabanger lost his life (end). Some people might say, I'm hitting below the belt. By all means, my intentions is not to judge you, or accuse you. I think you will agree that this story has been a reality in a lot of families. This is very real not just in the inner cities, but everywhere. Some people resort to prescription drugs. We need to take a serious account of what we take for pain, and even sleeping aids. In today's society any person you meet while on the subway, or people you see while driving on the highway, can be a user of one thing or another. You can be a hard worker, or have a professional career and do a wonderful job taking care of your home and family. But if your doing it with out Christ. You are making yourself and your family a prime target for the enemy (Satan) to turn your life upside down. God wants you to have a good life a prosperous life. He gave man the authority over all living plants, creatures on land and in the sea. There is no reason why anyone being a child of God, would have to suffer with alcoholism, or addictions of any kind. Dabanger promised himself that he would quit the drugs. But in the end, it was the drugs that put an end to him. Some people often say; I'm going to church on Sunday, but the year goes by and they have yet to go. It is s important to acknowledge Jesus Christ as your lord and savior. Communicate with Him daily, and He will direct your path. He will allow you to see the devils approach, and He will give you the authority to rebuke the devil, and make him leave your midst. When any one is subject to any sort of dependency, everyone suffers. Mothers, children and wives. I urge you you take a closer walk with Christ. May God bless you.

 Love always, Irving Serrano Sr. .

 

STANDING OUT AS A CHRISTIAN

By Timeyin.Arueyingho

 

 

 

 

 

 I looked outside the window, gluing my nose to the glass as rain washed down the dirt on the other side of the car. Mud had splashed all over the car again and the figures that hovered around the car, where also baptised with mud. Children! yeah, they were children just like me... walking under the rain, begging...doing meagre jobs as their parents looked on...i was disturbed, daddy did nothing about it. Today, I'm more or less an 'old' teenager, and more exposed to the harsh realities of life. I am sincerely bothered about how nonchalant ,'christians' could be in this country. We say we are Christians yet there are poor children on the streets! We say we are Christians but there's nothing to show for it, except the daily sunday routine! Money is spent on getting the best dresses for a church service, yet the offering given isn't even enough for ordinary indomie noodles.... Money is spent on extravagant buildings, yet the 'church' is filthy.... Money is spent on everything except spreading the gospel and helping the poor..... Thank the lord for the few ministries who stand out in all their endeavours... But this has to change, its high time we stopped being complacent about things that matter...and stand out as Gods representatives on earth. We are blessed to bless ourselves, so the love should be spread around. Quit the hypocrisy....for on the last day, we shall know who is who.... Years ago, i thought i was just more fortunate than the children i saw through the window....but now i know, i am where i am to cause a change.... let's all keep up the positive attitude of love and care regardless of our flaws.... Timeyin.Arueyingho.

THE GALA FOUNDATION PLANS TO BROADEN ITS PREMIER JOURNAL

FLASH-The Gala Foundation announced today, its intention to broaden the writ of its communication journal, The Family Times International. The beloved Journal was created  and established in 1987  by the Organization as a goodwill tool of communication to its readers. Since those early days , The Family Times International has joined the on-line ranks and continue to serve as the Foundation's Official Publication. Gala Director, Noel Serrano recently conferred with Gala Officials of the intent to broaden the scope of the Publication by creating a separate and independent platform Site on Facebook. Noel revealed his hesitation at a recent video memorandum to Gala Officials because he did not want to spread the Foundation's operations to thin. He was waiting for several years so  that the Main Gala Sites would be fully grown in content and viewership. The Family Times International is  unit of the Gala Foundation. Presently, The Family times International is beamed directly to the Gala Sites and is available in English and Spanish. The new plans are to establish its own platform n Facebook to increase its base around the globe. This will be one  of an ongoing series of initiatives that are being proposed. This comes at a time when the Foundation is revamping and upgrading the new technologies of the day to further enhance the  mission and legacy of its institution.  

1963 - THE SUMMER OF CIVIL RIGHTS

"We are confronted primarily with a moral issue. It is as old as the scripture and as clear as the American Constitution."

 President John F. Kennedy, 11 June 1963

 

1963 is the first full year of my life that I retain a relatively clear memory of; a bit less dreamlike and faded than the previous years. I turned five on August 16th - in Dayton, Ohio of all places. I spent that entire summer there, living with my uncle and aunt, Bill and Sheila Clements. Uncle Bill taught me how to hit a baseball on that day. Bill Clements would become a respected investigative reporter for the Chicago Daily News and, later, the Sun Times. It was his reporting that sent Illinois governor Otto Kerner to prison. He died unexpectedly in August of 1983 at age fifty. I miss him more than I can even express. To say that he had an influence on my life would be an understatement.

In 1963 I was still too young to understand what a monumental year I was living through. The only two news events I can clearly remember are the death of Pope John XXIII in June - and of course - the awful events of November 22. And although I have a vague recollection of all the people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in August, the civil rights saga pretty much went over my head. About the only thing of any cultural significance I was thinking about in the summer of that year was Peter, Paul and Mary's recording of Puff the Magic Dragon, which I loved. Ignorance is bliss as they say. I was pretty blissful in 1963.

2013 is a year that is filled to the rafters with half-century milestones. There is no getting away from the fact that 1963 was a year that changed this country forever, in ways good and bad. 

 

 

On June the 11th Jack Kennedy went before the American people to confront the moral issue of equal rights for all Americans. On that day, two "negro" kids, Vivian Malone and James Hood, were escorted onto the campus of the University of Alabama by the National Guard. To score a few cheap political points, Governor George Wallace had earlier stood in the doorway of the school, threatening to block their entrance. That was all Deputy Attorney General, Nicholas Katzenbach, needed to hear. In an exasperated but calm voice, he read Wallace the riot act. The District Court - of Alabama, Buster! - had ordered that these two students be admitted. That order was going to be obeyed - over or under Wallace's dead body, ya heah?.

George Wallace blinked. 

On that very night, shortly after JFK addressed the nation, Medgar Evers, the Field Representative for the NAACP in Mississippi, was shot and killed in an ambush outside of his home. It was that kind of time in America, with events rushing by at the speed of light, or at least that's how it seems in hindsight. Before the summer was over (and less than three weeks after the March on Washington) a black church in Birmingham was bombed by a group of racist bastards who actually believed they were performing a heroic act. Four little girls were blown to smithereens. Sadly, their names have been forgotten over the course of fifty years. Their martyrdom was more responsible than anything for the passage the following June of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Let's now bow our heads, tip our hats and raise our glasses for these four little gals. It may be a bit of a stretch to do all three at once but let's at least give it the old college try, ay?

Addie Mae Collins (age 14)
Denise McNair (age 11)
Carole Robertson (age 14)
Cynthia Wesley (age 14) 

At the time, only one of the four people responsible for this atrocity was brought to justice. He was fined $100 and received a six month sentence for the possession of dynamite - I'm not kidding. In 1977 he would be retried and sent to prison where he died. Two others  were eventually put on trial in 2000 and convicted of murder. Only one of the four escaped justice by conveniently dying. C'est la vie. None of their names are worthy of mention. 

Oh, I wish I was in Dixie
Oy vey! Oy vey!

 

It was easy to believe as the twenty-first century dawned that the mindset that produced this type of horror was behind us. True, we did elected our first African American president in 2008 - but the reaction of a whole lot of people who did not vote for him - particularly in the South and the Midwest - has been "instructive" (to say the least). The other important piece of historic legislation that came out of the nineteen-sixties was the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which guaranteed that no one would be denied the right to cast his or her precious ballot simply because of the color of their skin. The election of the first black guy to the presidency has so freaked out the racists in Dear ol' Dixie, many of them are seeking the repeal of that law. "We'll be good this time", they're saying, "Trust us".

It would seem to me that Jim Crow is hellbent on taking his weird act on a national comeback tour. That is precisely what those proposed "Voter ID Laws" were all about. The GOP has been taken over by the ideological heirs of the racist Dixiecrats of yore - and has been corrupted beyond redemption. The "party of Abraham Lincoln" has devolved into the party of Uncle Fester. They know goddamned well that it has become politically impossible for them to win office on the national level. They need to deny the ballot to as many people as possible - starting with black people. Nowadays the success of the Republicans depends upon the suppression of votes. Think about that.

PREDICTION:
Unless those voter ID laws are successfully implemented between now and then, a Democratic administration will succeed another Democratic administration on Inauguration Day 2017. Do you know when the last time that happened? When Franklin Pierce handed over the reigns of power to James Buchanan in 1857. It hasn't happened since - check the history books. And it might very well be that the first black president bequeaths the office to the first woman president. The juiciest irony is that had the Democrats of 1857 known this - many of whom were Southern racists and (it goes without saying) sexist - they would have disbanded the party then and there. Life is funny that way, you know?
"Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood."

Martin Luther King, 28 August 1963

1963 still resonates across the decades in every respect - politically and culturally. By Thanksgiving Jack Kennedy was dead, replaced by Lyndon Baines Johnson, a Texan who would do more for the cause of Civil Rights than any president since Lincoln. Freedom was on the march and there would be no stopping it, baby! The racists might as well have tried to stop the sun from rising in the eastern sky. On New Year's Eve a previously obscure rock 'n' roll band from England called the Beatles would be the biggest thing on the American charts. So much had changed since New Year's Day. 

George Wallace, Nick Katzenbach, Vivian Malone and James Hood are all gone now. Five months and eleven days after he reached out to touch the conscience of a nation, Jack Kennedy went to Dallas. Fifty years on, 1963 clings to the American soul. It lights the darkest American night. It won't let go. I hope it never does. Wasn't that a time?