The song, "Christmas Is Love," was inspired, written & recorded in the days following the Dec. 2, 2015, terrorist attack in San Bernardino, CA.
While dozens sipped holiday punch & listened to Christmas tunes at an office celebration, religious terrorists entered, raised assault rifles & began firing. Some attendees managed to escape. But 14 were killed & more than 20 were injured.The San Bernardino attack occurred just two weeks after the attacks in Paris on Nov 13, 2015.
"Christmas Is Love" was composed and recorded,
and this simple tribute site was created, in direct response to these and other terror-based events.
The song and site are offered out of respect for victims and survivors; in recognition of everyone touched by terrorism in all its forms; and in the hope that by hearing the song, and remembering the events,
some will find peace, and some will spread it.
Following is a partial summary of domestic & international terrorist events that have taken place in recent years.
This list is far from complete. And yet it is far too long.
. . . Honor by Remembering . . .
Colombo, Sri Lanka: April 21, 2019 (Easter Sunday)
- 259 killed, more than 500 injured when three churches and three luxury hotels in the city's business center were targeted by Islamic terrorist suicide bombings.
Strasbourg, FR: Dec 11, 2018
- 3 killed, 12 injured when a gun-wielding religious terrorist shouted "Allahu akbar" ("Allah is the greatest") just before shooting innocent Christmas shoppers at a popular market in an historic section of this Medieval city. The shooter reportedly became radicalized in prison.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Nov 07, 2018
- 12 killed (including 11 patrons and a police officer), 25 injured at a country-western dance club frequented by college students. The attacker, who also ended his own life on the scene, was a military veteran who is believed to have been suffering from #PTSD.
Pittsburgh, PA: Oct 27, 2018
- 11 killed, 6 wounded when an American anti-Semite armed with a semi-automatic weapon stormed the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood & shot worshippers during Shabbat services. It was the deadliest domestic attack on Jewish people in United States history.
Ontario, Canada: Apr 24, 2018
- 10 killed, 15 seriously injured when a religious terrorist drove his van down more than a mile of city streets and sidewalks, targeting pedestrians of all ages. In the aftermath, fundraising efforts for victims and their families were spearheaded by Muslim Charities of Canada.
Parkland, FL: Feb 14 2018
- 17 students and staff killed and 17 injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when a former student gained access and opened fire. This marked the deadliest high school shooting in United States history, surpassing the Columbine High School massacre of April 20, 1999.
Sutherland Springs, TX: Nov 05, 2017
- 26 killed, 20 injured at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs (30 miles east of San Antonio), by a gunman who fired indiscriminately on adults and children alike. It marked the deadliest mass civilian shooting in Texas history and the fifth-deadliest shooting in the United States. It also became the deadliest shooting in an American place of worship in modern history, surpassing the 06/17/15 tragedy in Charleston, SC.
New York City, NY: Oct 31, 2017
- 8 killed, 11 injured when a religious terrorist drove his truck down a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center, striking, injuring and killing both local and international visitors to the bike trail.
Las Vegas, NV: Oct 01, 2017
- 58 killed, 800-plus injured when an American terrorist shattered windows in his 32nd-floor hotel suite and fired some 1,100 semi-automatic rounds into a nearby crowd of thousands attending a country music festival. ISIS later claimed him to be a recent, radicalized convert.
London, England: June 03, 2017
- 7 killed, dozens injured when religious terrorists ran their vehicle into pedestrians on London Bridge and used knives to attack shoppers in nearby Borough Market.
Manchester, England: May 22, 2017
- 22 killed, more than 50 injured when a religious terrorist bombed children, parents, employees & others during an Ariana Grande concert.
London, England: March 22, 2017
- 5 killed, 50 injured when a religious terrorist drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before stabbing and killing a police officer.
Ft Lauderdale, FL: Jan 6, 2017
- 5 killed, 8 injured by a religious terrorrist who opened fire on travelers at Ft Lauderdale International Airport.
Istanbul, Turkey: Jan 1, 2017
- 39 killed, 70 injured when a religious terrorist began firing on defenseless citizens who were celebrating the New Year.
Berlin, Germany: Dec 19, 2016
- 12 killed, some 50 injured when a religious terrorist drove his truck into holiday crowds at a Berlin Christmas market.
Nice, France: July 14, 2016
- 86 killed, 434 injured when a religious terrorist drove a cargo truck into families celebrating Bastille Day on the Promenade des Anglais.
Orlando, FL: June 12, 2016
- 49 killed, 53 injured when an alleged religious terrorist attacked teenagers and other patrons & employees at a neighborhood dance club.
Brussels, Belgium: March 22, 2016
- 32 killed, more than 300 injured when religious terrorists attacked unsuspecting travelers at the airport and at metro train-station terminals.
San Bernardino, CA: Dec 2, 2015
- 14 killed, 22 injured when religious terrorists attacked guests attending a Christmas celebration at a regional social services agency.
Paris, France: Nov 13, 2015
- 130 killed, 368 injured when religious terrorists launched multiple attacks on innocents in & around the City of Light.
Chattanooga, TN: July 16, 2015
- 5 killed, 2 injured when a religious terrorist opened fire at a mall-based Marine recruiting station and later at a US Naval Reserve.
Charleston, SC: June 17, 2015
- 9 killed, 1 injured when a racial terrorist gunned down members of the congregation during prayer services at Mother Emanuel AME Church.
Garissa, Kenya: April 2, 2015
- 148 killed, 180 injured when religious terrorists stormed Garissa University College, kidnapping 700 students and then selectively executing all those who self-identified themselves as Christians.
Paris, France: Jan 7, 2015
- 12 killed, 11 injured when religious terrorists attacked innocent staffers and freedom of speech at Charlie Hebdo newspaper.
Boston, MA: April 15, 2013
- 3 killed, 264 injured when religious terrorists (in the form of 2 misguided brothers who were recruited into terrorist ranks) bombed runners, spectators, law enforcement officers and others during the Boston Marathon.
London, England: July 07, 2005
- 52 killed, 700+ injured when religious terrorists bombed trains & a bus station just 1 day after London won its bid to host the 2012 Olympics.
Madrid, Spain: March 11, 2004
191 killed, more than 2,000 injured when religious terrorists bombed commuter trains 3 days prior to Spain's General Elections.
N.Y.C.
Washington, D.C.
And a field near Shanksville, PA: Sept 11, 2001
- 2,996 killed, 6,000+ injured when religious terrorists attacked the Twin Towers and the Pentagon shortly before passengers aboard
Flight 93 ("Let's Roll!") sacrificed themselves to prevent their aircraft from crashing into a third potential target.
Honoring all those listed above...
...as well as all those before... all those since... and, sadly, all those yet to come ...
#Pray4Peace
...
Many thanks to the following:
Longtime rocker, prolific songwriter, renowned producer and 3-time #Grammy nominee #MarkRadice , formerly of #Aerosmith , for lending his legendary vocals, instrumental expertise and invaluable creative direction to this project;
Sound engineer and consulting whiz Tim High of SoKnox.comStudios for his technical mastery,
his cool problem-solving abilities and his endless patience;
All-around musical genius, singer, songwriter, playwright & actor Jt Oaks of JohnThomasOaks.com,
whose many skills helped give the project wings;
and a special thanks to
Michel Nolan of the San Bernardino Sun, whose conscientious reporting helped a City to Heal.
...
Christmas Is Love (Copyright ©RHG December 2015) is contributed anonymously
and made available for broadcast and public use free of charge.
Commercial & recording rights reserved.
Mp3 and .wav files available on request.
Comments & Inquiries to: ChristmasIsLove@yahoo.com
...
Catch the Spirit ... All Year Long
Hear the Song … and #PassItOn
*Christmas Is Love*
Christmas Is Love.... Love Conquers Hate.... On 12/25... And Every Date...
Remembering #SanBernardino 12/02/15... #Paris 11/13/15... #Boston 04/15/13... NYC 9/11/01... and so many more (see below)
Christmas Is Love (Copyright ©RHG December 2015) is contributed anonymously and made available for broadcast and public use free of charge.
Commercial & recording rights reserved. Dedicated to all those who Prefer Peace.
Read more at: http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20151218/san-bernardino-songwriters-express-grief-through-music
Comments & Inquiries to: ChristmasIsLove@yahoo.com