Obama's Hawaii ;) --- Also this was Tim Russert's funneral memorial song ;(

[Tx4obama]

Run time: 03:48 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I   Posted on YouTube: April 12, 2010 By YouTube Member: mountainapplecompany Views on YouTube: 4629559   Posted on DU: August 24, 2010 By DU Member: Tx4obama Views on DU: 677

 
Some might say that this is not a political video and that I should not have posted it here,
BUT it is, in my opinion.

The video I posted up above shows part of the culture that OUR President Obama grew up in.
Note: Obama scattered the ashes of his Grandmother into the ocean in the December before taking office of the presidency. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20248969,00.html

And to me the feeling of the song is how I imagine the depth of Obama's heart and soul.

Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole is the singer of the song and the ukulele player.
IZ WAS very famous in Hawaii.
He passed away in 1997 and in the up above in the OP video IZ's ashes are scattered at the 2:40 minute mark.
Many people of Hawaii came out for the event/memorial service.
Here's an extra link regarding IZ: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Kamakawiwo%27ole

Fast forward several years... When MSNBC's host of Meet the Press Tim Russert passed away there was a memorial service for him in Washington D.C.
The last song that was played after the Tim's memorial service was IZ's 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' song.
When the attendees of the service exited the building there was a DOUBLE RAINBOW in the sky across D.C. (most of the photos don't show it being 'double' but it WAS.
You can see the Russert Rainbow at this link at the 2:10 minute mark (the audio has been discontinued): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsy8Gnl3b2g

Excerpt from a HuffPo article:
.... After the service ended, the audience filed out to the strains of a simple ukele version of "Over the Rainbow," straight from Tim Russert's own iPod.
And when they got out on the street, the first thing they saw was...a rainbow.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/19/show-a-little-faith-there_n_108026.html

To me this is video is VERY much connected to the politics of our day even though others might not see it as such - it shows the good and the hope and the faith of what will and can be on our path to the future ;)

I hope that everyone will take time to listen to the music of IZ and read about who he was.
And also I hope that the folks that didn't know about Tim Russert's rainbow will read more about it.

R.I.P. Tim and IZ we still love ya ;)
--------------------------------------


Russert's Rainbow

After the Tim Russert Funeral and then Memorial Services were over, the mourners began filing outside. There to greet them was a beautiful, phenomenal double rainbow looming gloriously over the capital. It was as if the Lord was smiling on and reassuring the mourners that Tim approved the celebration of his life. Even stranger was the fact that they had just heard "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" before leaving the church. I have waited until everything was done before I recorded a remembrance of Tim on this page. I believe this speaks for itself. Not only was he loved by man, but obviously found favor and blessing from above as well. What a send off. What a wonderful world. So, God Bless you Mr. Russert and Godspeed always...
http://tags.publicpost.com/Tim%20Russert.htm

http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2008/6/20/russert_funeral

http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2008/06/tim-russerts-rainbow.html

Another article excerpt:

By now most people know about Tim's rainbow. When we were exiting the memorial service the music being played was from Tim's iPod. The final song was, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." As we went up to the terrace of the Kennedy Center for the reception, there appeared the most spectacular double rainbow I've ever seen. It stretched from the floor of the terrace of the Kennedy Center to the Washington Monument. It was astonishing. Even the atheists were blown away. Certainly everyone was uplifted. And that is exactly what Tim would have hoped for.

On the tiny printed cards that were handed out at the Mass that morning, there was a picture of Tim with his inscription underneath:

"No exercise is better for the human heart than reaching down to lift up another person."

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/sally_quinn/2008/06/tim_russert.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, more of Obama's beautiful Hawaii - with IZ
OFFICIAL Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole - "What A Wonderful World" Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0xoMhCT-7A

[Tx4obama]

1. AND totally off topic....

Another very beautiful song and beautiful video tribute

9-11 World Trade Center Memorial - Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tznSfXplNRU

[Tx4obama]

2. AND for those that need a little reminder to remember.....

Yes We Can - Barack Obama Music Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY

[hlthe2b]

3. Seeing the title of your thread, I was ready to "light" into you...

thinking you had ignored the incredibly important and iconic singer of the song, the late Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole.... Ok, you are appropriately "off the hook..." Many should know this song well before any association with these latter day events. Nonetheless, anything that introduces new audiences to that legendary Hawaiian is ok, in my book.