“Keeping secrets on our pillow”–Brandon Flowers lyrics, for those who grieve grief’s unquantifiable language in the dark night of the soul.
“As a family, we have been so fortunate to have a son and a brother who has so enriched our lives. To the young men of this country, Jack would want me to say this: Be your own man, do not be afraid to dream and pursue those dreams with quiet determination. Be sincere in your friendships, and keep those friendships in good repair. Stay true to your beliefs. Love your mother,”–the farewell words of Roger Howard on behalf of his family and friends, Anne Scott and daughters Charlotte and Isabella–as Roger laid his son, Private John Howard (Jack) to rest at Wellington’s Cathedral of St Paul in New Zealand’s capitol.
Private Howard was a Kiwi lad serving in the the 3rd Battalion in The Parachute Regiment of the British military, who was ‘killed by American soldiers piloting an American F-18 Hornet fighter, during a friendly fire incident in Helmand, Afghanistan,’ reports the UK Daily Telegraph.
Two Maori warriors carrying taiaha (traditional Maori wooden weapons of the art of Mau Rakau hand combat martial arts) ‘accompanied Private Howard’s coffin along with seven of his fellow British soldiers.’ In very poignant imagery, his coffin was draped in a Union Jack flag and with a traditional hand woven Maori cloak as he was carried into the cathedral, with his family following behind.’
His family are such big-hearted people to be able to forgive the futility of Private Howard’s loss of life in Afghanistan’s war effort. The cost of war to America and allies has been shared by many in common bonds of brotherhood in the hope of peace in the world.
New Zealand is a small nation. News like this rocks New Zealand culture to the heart, deeply. We don’t have all that many people to lose, our nation is small. One life lost is like 10,000 to us. It feels like as a Kiwi looking at New Zealand from afar in California that I’ve unexpectedly found myself crying about 29 lost miners gone too soon recently and now Private John gone too soon as well.
Such news makes any Kiwi cry. Blokes included. We’re just wired that way to fellow Kiwis in a deep and committed sense of place and Life’s purpose in the world. I’m tired of crying for New Zealand blokes lately in Hollywood, whose lives have been lost too early in the pursuit of the earth’s energy resources or a real sense of Peace too in the world transcending war. Accidents resulting in loss of lives in both cases, where unexpectedly men weren’t safe. Sorry, but I am. It’s just gut wrenching and we all share their loss and contributions to our culture.
RIP Private Howard. Sending kind healing thoughts and prayers for the Howard-Scott families this Christmas. A Kiwi brother of Commonwealth and Am-Kiwi community gone way too soon. What a beautiful send off for this Kiwi lad as these pictures show. John’s grandmother Elizabeth Scott looked very regal at the helm of her family.
Haere ra ou tatou teina–a symbol of a younger brother’s vital potential– to us all. Hollywood salutes your blood father’s spoken symbolic words of Peace in the Spirit of shared bronaaki culture (fellowship) that is Our Protector, stronger than war’s unquenchable grave and the proven Victor over death itself. Mauri ‘Ola Tatou. Ka Tu Te Whare Ka Ora o Te Ao i te taha o Te Awa Ora, Mo Ake Tonu.
In the spirit of global brotherhood that surpasses any difference of race, geographical borders, religious or cultural boundaries too in our shared humanity of melanin fused with spirit on this same shared earth we love, here’s the group Candella singing Brandon Flowers song Crossfire in honor of Private Howard’s life of service for the world. The song is offered from Hollywood today in the hope of Peace’s diverse rule and expressions in hearts and minds universally as an intelligent way forward of all leaders of future generations who wear Wisdom’s timeless glasses to see the best paths forward for children to walk in freely. Children who as global friends, consider each other equally and who build good friendships across all cultures of the world, as their open hearts so choose to as our guides, teachers and leaders without fear. [Thanks Candella & Brandon Flowers]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.22.10~
LIKE SKIES WRITTEN ABOVE CHABAD COMMUNITIES, SHARED HOLLYWOOD NEWSY FAVORITES – 3.1.11
As a resident of Little Russia in West Hollywood, I always see the strangest things. Like cloud whisps above Chabad Community Center candles, on a day where avante garde fashion designer, John Galliano has taken on Oscar winner Natalie Portman‘s people of Jerusalem opening up the anti-semitic debate. I’m just going to let the sky answer on that. No, it’s not saying 9-11 (this year, anyway!) instead, it has it’s own upturned Salvador Dali mustache today. :)
Hollywood blog shares we’re sharing via social media, that you like… here we go then.
1. Dark, weird & manipulative – Ryan Gosling & Kiki Dunst talk movies
2. George W. Bush is a wanted man
3. Whites gnashes just got bigger
4. 10 rugby football stars of New Zealand
5. Aunt Frieda of Syria was da illest in a Westwood kitchen.
6. Rabbi Topp runs a smart community in LA
7. Texas Landscapes & the Coen Brothers – a winning cinematic formula
8. As Good as it Gets poetry – Sam Cruickshank for Mauri ‘Ola poets collective
9. Klutz Confessions 12.27.10
10. All of the Lights lyrics – Kanye West feat Rihanna & friends
Thought for the day – The concessions of the weak, are the concessions of fear.–Forbes website.
[Hollywood photography - Herb Ritts on Dustin Hoffman, on Salvador Dali - 1996]
Bonus Post – Ko wai a Natalie Hershlag? Forbes Magazine related Quotes: “Mazel is the term used in Jewish mysticism to describe the root of the soul. The mystics say that only a ray of our soul actually inhabits our body. The main part of the soul, our mazel, remains above, shining down on us from a distance. “
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.1.11. Other bloggers and USA media outlets who might be covering anti-semitic news awareness Hollywood entertainment news today too, are: Ellen Goodman; David Kirkpatrick; Howard Kurtz; New York Times; NPR; Newsweek; People; Politico; ProPublica; Radar; Reuters; Rolling Stone; The Root; Salon; San Francisco Chronicle; Slate; TIME; Times Of London; TMZ; USA Today; Vanity Fair; Wall Street Journal; Washington Independent; Washington Times; Washington Post; ; Youth Radio; Altercation (Media Matters); Americablog; Andrew Sullivan; BAGnewsNotes; Bloggingheads; Boing Boing; Brave New Films; BuzzFeed; Peek (Alternet); Political Animal; Political Capital (CNBC); Political Wire; Raw Story; Redstate.org; Seeing The Forest; The Swamp (Chicago Tribune); Swampland (Time); TalkLeft; Talking Points Memo; Tapped (American Prospect); Taylor Marsh; That Minority Thing; Truthdig; Think Progress; This Modern World; Washington Whispers (US News & World Report); Wonkette; The Young Turks; Roger E. Hernández; Christopher Hitchens; Rich Lowry; Dick Meyer; John Nichols; Jack Shafer; Robert Scheer; Lynn Sweet; Brian Till; George Will; Michael Wolff; PBS NewsHour..link – http://billionaires.forbes.com/article/062y6S1aMddER?q=George+Lucas. Horiwood.Com is a 300,000 attained Hollywood website and growing. Be kind. Peace!~
Posted by horiwood on March 2, 2011 in 10 Hot Posts Right Now, A Different View, America, Art, artist, California, Chabad, Combating Racism, Combatting Racism, Community, Compassion, Dustin Hoffman, Entertainment Celebrity News, Entertainment Distribution, Entertainment News, Forgiveness, Herb Ritts, Hollywood Entertainment News, Hollywood Today, Human Rights, Iran, Israel, Little Russia, Middle East, Military, Photography, Pop Art, Pop Cultural Commentary, Salvador Dali, Social Media, Social Networking, Spain, World Peace, Wrestling