I love Whitney Houston and I am saddened by such a loss of a great human being. I'd be remiss if I didn't say something about a few comments that The Holy Spirit has jarred within me that were made at Whitney Houston's funeral.
First, Kevin Costner's words to the younger generation of girls who desire to follow in Whitney's footsteps.
"The only ones who sing your songs are young girls like you who are dreaming of being you some day, and so to you Bobbi Kristina and to all those young girls who are dreaming that dream are maybe thinking they aren't good enough I think Whitney would tell you guard your bodies and guard the precious miracle of your own life and then sing your hearts out knowing that there's a lady in heaven making God wonder how he created something so perfect.”
Second, Clive Davis' eulogy spoke numerously about his infamous bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel.
"Whitney came to his bungalow alone without bodyguards. He spoke of how Whitney ordered a hamburger and fries from room service as they listened to new music in their pajamas. He spoke of how she was no longer shy and introvertive. He spoke of how she now carried herself with assurance and articulation of her words."
It was the fact that he stated the bungalow at all during her funeral, no less that has not sat well with me at all. And, I wonder who else caught this and WHO called him out on it? Maybe with her new found assurance, she was tired and through with being forced to be on the receiving end of his advances? Maybe she just wanted to sing? Maybe she new that by rebelling against his advances, death was inevitable? TMZ reported that she was quoting scripture before her death. His referrals to that bungalow did not sit well with me and, I see, I wasn't alone. There were others on Twitter and Google who also felt the same. Some described his comments as creepy to say the least. What is also alarming is what isn't being reported in the media versus what is. Forbes magazine has two stories that are rather interesting about events the night before Whitney's death and people around her which have yet to be heard on TMZ. It would be very easy to believe mainstream media's version that she was drugged out which I hope that you aren't falling for on this one. I believe in The Holy Spirit and its jarring won't let me rest.
Both of their comments were similar yet profoundly different. They were almost like polar opposites with one being a form of advice and the other a slight admission. Both of their comments made me wonder what do female artists, all artists really, have to do in order to sing? There are many who just want to sing but have their talent exploited as well as their bodies in a disposable industry. Is a touch enough? Does a fondle suffice? Is being full blown raped the dealmaker? Yes, Clive's history goes way back. It includes one of my favorite singers, Phyllis Hyman. When TV One featured her story on their "Unsung" Program, I realized that Clive' s hand of working with divas goes way back. In fact, he states it in this clip with Piers Morgan. If you saw Phyllis' Unsung program, you too might agree that there is some reaping and sowing present here. Why be so bold to mention the bungalow so many times at her funeral? Why have the party go on when your protege is dead floors above you in the same hotel? Were his actions in good taste or respectful of the Houston family? Is Clive Davis The sociopath Next Door?
When CNN's Piers Morgan interviewed Clive and Jennifer Hudson, I didn't see the full interview but I did read the transcript. I've watched Jennifer Hudson's last three live TV performances and I've noticed a change and I don't mean her weight loss. Have you noticed something different, too? Now, that she's under his thumb, I will continue to observe the movements of her career trajectory and her relationship to him very closely.
I understand now the connection of music, celebrity, spiritual leaders and a bit more about the plot to create a new world made up of the elite. The elite are to be superhuman. They are required to keep a secret and perform among other things, live a dual life. At times, that dual life becomes more than a dual life. It's a full blast pandora's box. When an artist is being raped, is forbidden to say. even to family, and has to be "on", where can they release all of that? Perhaps, onstage or in their performance. What happens though in daily living? Perhaps now we can guess the reason for her drug usage. Put yourself in that position and consider the mental and spiritual warfare going on inside of a person. Accounts from those who spoke to Whitney on that sad day stated she seemed fine. We are all very well connected. This covers everyone from the pastor in the pulpit,producer on the hunt to the wives of those same pastors who keep the secret, too for the money, the fame, the worldwide acclaim. It's a drug and a lifestyle choice.
There has to come a change. We, The People, have to do something. If we don't do something, who will we read about next? It will take us as CONSUMERS along with the ARTISTS who are in bondage backed byJESUS CHRIST to make the change. Here's an idea: who's in for shutting down the music industry for 24 hours to start? No downloading or buying anything off of iTunes, no purchasing a CD or an app to get our point across. The point needs to be made that we won't tolerate this any more. The point that there are artists who simply want to sing, who long to do the right thing but are not allowed to because music in entertainment, in the church, in our lives and our world is big business. We have to do something. This affects all of us. Did Whitney Houston die because she no longer wanted to be exploited by a sociopath's advances? The kind of sociopath who could easily dispose of her and substitute (or prostitute) her brand for a newer, younger version?
Think about all of the self-help books that are spun off of some topic. In many ways, it's a subtle seduction, a massage, if you will. The book is seen everywhere. It's funneled through all of the proper channels to get us to buy in to the seduction. One example, remember the Chicken Soup for The Soul series? That cow was milked, burped and fed again. Then, a new cow created. Or the networks who bring back newer versions of old TV shows. Shows we grew up on like 90210, Hawaii 50, etc. Remember, this is a disposable industry. It's the same way with these artists only with a heavier price: their lives. And, it leads right back to the telling of what happened to me, to Angela Whitterson and the countless others who have no voice yet experienced the same.
As we all wait for the results of the toxicology report, there are many headlines in the news surrounding the death of Whitney Houston. Conspiracy theories and the like but there are two things stand out for me. First, she gave Brandy a note during an interview and second, she had a brief encounter with El DeBarge. Other artists have given us clues, imagery in their interviews, books, cd covers, song lyrics, videos and music. Kevin Costner stated it in his remarks as well. If an entity this large is capable of doing this to Whitney Houston and an American president, what will they do to you? Where is the outrage? Where are the spiritual leaders now who need to be courageous enough to lead? When do we start boycotting iTunes? Amazon? Perhaps the outrage will come later. Perhaps, we as citizens of the world will lead the revolution. It is certainly needed now.
Citizens of the world.
We've got to do something about our world.
WAKEUP: It's Time To Get Right with God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit.
Kirk Whalum's Romance Language CD is out now
From the book, The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout, Ph.d.
"By far most perpetrators of genocide and mass rape eventually take their own lives or are killed, often by enraged followers who have had enough."
If you oppress, rob, murder, and rape enough people, eventually some of them will gang up on you and take their revenge."
"Exceptional conscience involves the strong and steadying sensation of being part of something greater than oneself."
From the book, You Are Made for More! by Lisa Osteen Comes
"Victory doesn't always come overnight. You have to be consistent in doing the right thing and you will break through with God's help."
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