American Morning
An instrument of change for one Harmonica player
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/09/harrison.harmonica.art.jpg caption="Bradley Harrison risked everything to make his dream of owning a harmonica factory come true."]
By Katherine Wojtecki, CNN
ROCKFORD, IL (CNN) – “It's the coolest instrument in the world. You can put it in your pocket you can carry it around... it’s a real musical instrument.”
For Bradley Harrison, that musical instrument – the harmonica – became an instrument of change in his own life.
After picking one up at a house party 14 years ago, Harrison decided to leave his job as a restaurant manager to pursue his new passion. With no formal business training and only a high school education he risked everything to make his dream a reality.
“I think they thought I was a pipe dreamer. And that can either destroy you or make you even more determined and it made me more determined to prove everyone wrong.”
Risking it all for a perfect harmonica 
With that determination, Harrison commuted 90 miles each way, maxed out five credit cards and even slept on the floor in his office.
“I'd work until 2 a.m. and I went to the local store and I bought a sleeping bag and I'd sleep here. I know it sounds sad its not but at the time I was living the high life, so it's all how you look at it.”
Then the economy took a turn for the worse.
Divided over Confederate history
(CNN) – It started when Virginia's Governor, Bob McDonnell, reinstated April as Confederate History Month in his state. But during his announcement, the governor failed to make any mention of the word "slavery."
He has apologized, calling slavery "evil and inhumane," but that hasn't stopped the controversy. Matthew Whitworth, a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, supports observing Confederate History Month. He joined us on Friday's American Morning, along with Iman Shabazz, vice chairman for the Richmond Peace Education Center, who's against it.
Read more: Gov. McDonnell apologizes for omitting slavery in Confederacy proclamation
Teen turns escape from pain into charity
By Allie Brown, CNN
Alpharetta, Georgia (CNN) - A disease that Mackenzie Bearup compares to a bomb going off in her knee prompted the 16-year-old to seek escape in the comfort of reading. Now she's helping thousands of troubled children soothe their own pain - within the pages of donated books.
"When I read, it's a real escape," Bearup says. "I try to take myself into the book instead of in the real world where I'm in so much pain."
Her personal discovery that books could be used to ease discomfort was an idea that Bearup ultimately chose to share with homeless and abused children throughout the country.
Bearup's journey began six years ago when she was jumping on a bed and dancing to TV's "American Idol." Suddenly her knee started "hurting unexplainably, extremely bad," she recalls. The next day, the fifth grader's knee swelled to the size of a grapefruit. After a week on crutches, it was even worse. Her knee collapsed when she tried to walk. FULL STORY
Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2010 CNN Heroes
Avlon: Ugliness & absurdities in American politics continue
Editor’s note: John P. Avlon is a senior political columnist for The Daily Beast and author of the new book "Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America." Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/07/13/john.avlon.art.jpg caption="CNN Independent analyst John Avlon says Virginia's governor resuscitated more than a century’s worth of bad feeling and distrust by not mentioning slavery."]
By John Avlon, Special to CNN
This week’s wingnuts include Virginia’s governor issuing a Confederate History proclamation that ignored slavery and a Georgia congressman confessing his fears that Guam might tip over.
The ugliness and absurdities in American politics continue, but they were belied this week by a moment of grace from a conservative senator who stood up to his audience’s expectations by complimenting Speaker Nancy Pelosi and standing up for civility. He gets our Profile in Courage Award for the week.
Virginia’s newly elected Gov. Bob McDonnell managed to resuscitate more than a century’s worth of bad feeling and distrust by deciding to issue a Confederate History Month proclamation – without mentioning slavery. It was a doubly odd decision, apparently made with an eye toward scoring subtle political points with “heritage, not hate” home state conservatives. The proclamation had been suspended by the two previous Democratic governors, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. But the previous GOP Gov. Jim Gilmore had inserted language excoriating the evils of slavery into the proclamation.
McDonnell and/or someone on his staff apparently thought it would be a good idea to not only re-open that wound, but also made the proactive decision to remove any mention of slavery – not that slavery had anything to do with the Civil War in the first place. This neo-Confederate hat-tip did not go unnoticed and by Wednesday night McDonnell was offering voluminous apologies, but little by way of explanation.
LIVE Blog: Chat with us during the show
Editor's Note: Welcome to American Morning's LIVE Blog where you can discuss the "most news in the morning" with us each and every day. Join the live chat during the program by adding your comments below. It's your chance to share your thoughts on the day's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules: 1) Keep it brief 2) No writing in ALL CAPS 3) Use your real name (first name only is fine) 4) No links 5) Watch your language (that includes $#&*).
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/09/tiger.art.jpg caption="Tiger Woods during the first round of the 2010 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club."]
Tiger Woods: Why do we care?
(CNN) – Tiger Woods came roaring back yesterday after five straight months of scandal.
After his best first-round at the Masters ever, Tiger's two shots off the lead and his seemingly adoring fans are following his every move at Augusta National.
But is it his golf game we care about so much? Our Carol Costello will join us live with some insight. She's asking the question, "Tiger Woods: Why do we care?" Read more
Should Virginia observe Confederate History Month?
It started when Virginia's Governor, Bob McDonnell, reinstated April as Confederate History Month in his state. But during his announcement, the governor failed to make any mention of the word "slavery."
He's apologized, calling slavery "evil and inhumane," but that hasn't stopped the controversy. Matthew Whitworth, a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, supports observing Confederate History Month. He'll join us this morning along with Iman Shabazz, vice chairman for the Richmond Peace Education Center, who's against it. Read more
Sound off: We want to hear from you this morning. Add your comments to the LIVE blog below and we'll read some of them on the show.
Excerpt: 'A Captain's Duty' by Capt. Richard Phillips
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/08/phillips.art.jpg caption=""A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea" by Capt. Richard Phillps."]
From "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea”
By Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty
Published by Hyperion
Ten days before, I’d been enjoying my last meal stateside with my wife, Andrea, in one of the most beautiful towns in Vermont.
All you see from the front door of my converted farmhouse are rolling green hills, munching cows, and more rolling hills. Underhill is the kind of Vermont town where young farmers propose to their local sweethearts by spray-painting rachel, will you marry me? on bales of hay.
It’s a place where you can walk for three minutes and be lost in a forest so deep and thick and silent you’d think you’re going to trip over Daniel Boone. We have two general stores and one Catholic church, St. Thomas, and the occasional tourist up from Manhattan.
It’s as different from the ocean as the other side of the moon is, and I love that. It’s like I get to live two completely different lives. Read more
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