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watchinglikeafangirl · 3 years

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Kamila Valieva - a victim of Russia's economical downfall

Since there's a storm coming and I have to stay put in my apartment, I figured it's the right time to write this. I've planned this for some time but waited for the competition to end, so I'll have the whole picture.

Kamila Valieva has been a hot topic this past week with the scandal rising above her head and nobody really protecting her but saying she's a protected athlete.

Whom people are complaining about is thankfully not Kamila but her coach Eteri Tutberize. I've posted about her before and voices are getting louder and louder, uncovering her controversial training methods. She teaches her trainees something other than ambition. They are not ambitious, they feel like they need to win to stay alive. The training will be even harder if they fail and they will be in more pain, so they need to win or at least do their very best in order for Tutberize to not terrorize them afterwards.

But as much as it looks like it, Tutberize is not the cause of this whole toxic system. The judges are always rewarding her with high scores and medals but that's another topic. I want to talk about why this russian system in figure skating could even rise to this extend. Because Kamila is a victim of Tutberize but Tutberize is not the cause, the russian politics are.

The russian economy is the 11th biggest worldwide so they can't really complain but it weakens a bit. The state gains depts and the economy of Russia was on its high 2013 but since then the economic power is going backwards - the pendamic did the rest part these past 2 years. More people lose their jobs because their companies are broke. The russian politics never tried to really help those people in need. They send them all to unpayed vacation due to the lockdown and afterwards, people were send home. So there's a lot of resentment amongst the citizens. Social inequality is also a big thing in Russia and not just since a few years. As long as I watch the news, there has always been the saying of Russians protesting against certain shortcuts and unfair treatment.

What do dictatorships do when the citizens are dissatisfied? They raise national pride and patriotism. It's an easy way to glorify the faults of a government. History is told in a different and more positive way. Some things are not spoken about and all that stuff. Patriotism can be easily connected to sports. Many countries have a national sport. Here in Germany, it's soccer. In China, it's table tennis. And Russia decided to chose figure skating. It's why there's always the next generation waiting to turn the right age to skate at grand competitions.

Everyone who accomplishes something, has to go to a lot of TV shows and interviews afterwards until every kid, every adult knows the name of that athlete. It's the same that happened in DDR and Katharina Witt. She was a german figure skater and won two olympic gold medals. Literally everybody knew her and she got a lot of public attention. She was raised on a throne, so people could be proud of their nation, saying "look what we've accomplished". It's a "take that" move and prove to the nation that the system was right all along. There's less resentment amongst the citizens because of the euphoria.

This is exactly what the Russians do. They materialize the winners in figure skating to calm the people down. It's a diversion. And it works.

So, the government pushes the national sport to high attention. They let the citizens know the talents they raised, so everybody knows them even before winning anything. The athletes are under a lot of public pressure because the whole nation wants them to win. Because if they don't, the resentment rises again. So the politics push it further. And that's how the system Eteri Tutberize is a great part of can even work and gain so much attention and encouragement.

Since figure skating is a national sport, there are many children who want to be like their idols, so the pool of new, young talents is huge. Eteri Tutberize coaches a lot of athletes, all underaged, because there are always new ones. This in general is not bad at all. Supporting talents is the right thing. The problem is that they support them when they shine and let them fall when they're done.

Here lies the whole problem. Russia needs the athletes to be outstanding in order for the citizens to be quiet out of astonishment. It's why Kamila Valieva and all the other athletes of her team, are pushed to their limits the way they are. With eating less and less and jumping higher and higher. It doesn't matter if their bodies are done after two seasons. There's always someone else and the nation doesn't care who's on the podium. They change the athletes so often, they lose track of time, until they just know, the Russian team will always win, no matter who skates. It's this anonymity that's being encouraged and wanted by the government. The person behind the athlete is not important and in Kamila's case just collateral damage.

Of course, it's child abuse and the fact that the first thing she heard after going off the ice was "why didn't you push harder". But Eteri Tutberize is just the exact kind of coach the russian government wants her to be. Cold, calculating and ambitious. There are no limits.

And I know, when Kamila goes home, the nation will ask "what happened" and say she's a "disappointment". Just because this sport is pushed in such an aggressive manner that it harms the athletes and leads them to stand alone on the ice without any help nearby because no one cares.

So yes, Kamila Valieva is a victim of Russia's economical downfall because Russia has many social problems and the government wants the public to turn their eyes away and focus on the olympic competition. It's gross and they use under-aged kids for their egoistic actions without caring. Eteri Tutberize isn't the cause but the consequence and even if she's gone, there will be another abusive russian coach because at this high level, they all are.

#figure skating #kamila valieva #eteri tutberidze #russian figure skating #russian coach #child abuse #olympia 2022 #sad that those are my tags

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calacuspr · 3 years

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Calacus Weekly Hit & Miss – Tom Daley & Kentaro Kobayashi

Every Monday we look at the best and worst communicators in the sports world from the previous week.

HIT – TOM DALEY

Tom Daley is finally an Olympic champion.

After 13 years of trying, Daley, alongside diving partner Matty Lee, won Team GB’s second gold medal of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with victory in the men’s synchronised 10 metres platform.

"I still can't honestly believe what is happening.” Daley said. “That moment, being about to be announced as Olympic champions, I was gone. I was blubbering. To finally have this around my neck, I've been diving over 20 years.

"Lots of people would have counted me out but I'm in the best shape and with the support with Matty, we've had that unstoppable mentality this year and that's the first time I've ever been able to think like that.”

After winning Olympic gold medal at the fourth attempt, Daley must feel like an enormous weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

Ever since he burst onto the international stage at the Beijing Games in 2008, aged just 14, he has been in ever-present in the British media, not least as a result of the huge expectations he has faced from such a young age, but also because of his private life.

From the media attention about moving schools after being bullied in the wake of his initial diving success, to losing his dad Robert, who died following a battle with brain cancer, Daley has faced so many challenges on his long journey to Olympic glory.

The public eye has also constantly scrutinised his sexuality. Speaking on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in 2018, Daley admitted that he often felt inferior to everyone because of his uncertainty regarding his sexuality.

But since coming out as gay in 2013, Daley has been a real inspiration and role model for so many young, gay people.

After winning gold, he said: “I came out in 2013 and when I was younger I always felt like the one that was alone and different and didn’t fit. There was something about me that was never going to be as good as what society wanted me to be.

“I feel incredible proud to say that I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion.”

He added: "I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion. And I feel very empowered by that because when I was younger I felt I was never going to achieve anything because of who I was."

Olympic gold arrives in Daley’s first Games since become a father to son Robbie - who is named after his late father.

“Being a father was a massive turning point in my career as an athlete,” Daley admitted. “I realised whether I did really well or terribly I can go home to a husband and son who love me regardless.

“Feeling that and knowing that love is unconditional, I can take that pressure off myself, enjoy it and say I'm doing it because I love to do it.”

Speaking about his husband and his child in front of the world media, next to athletes from China, a country where neither would be permitted for a gay man, Daley continues to act as a key spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ community and for LGBTQ+ rights.

His words have been widely praised by sporting stars, with Gary Lineker tweeting: “Absolute inspiration to so many. Well said and well played @TomDaley1994”.

Two-time Olympic champion rower James Cracknell also praised Daley on Twitter, saying: “So pleased for @tomdaley pioneered for his sport, was overwhelminghly supportive when other divers won GB’s first diving gold in 2016. But backed himself to perform in @tokyo2020 enjoy it and well done @mattydiver”.

Daley has overcome so many obstacles in his journey to achieving Olympic success, which highlight just how mentally strong and how much of role model he is.

Still just 27, he has played a vital role in transforming the sport of diving in the UK over the years and continues to inspire the next generation of athletes.

Tom Daley has captured the hearts of a nation and is a deserved Olympic hero.

MISS – KENTARO KOBAYASHI

The Olympic Games may be somewhat different this year, given the delays and lack of crowds and visitors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the Games have always stood for inclusion, friendship and respect for others.

So it was no surprise that the show director of the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony was dismissed a day before the event was held after offensive comments were discovered from the 1990s.

Footage emerged of Kentaro Kobayashi, a former member of a popular comedy duo Rahmens , in which he appeared to make jokes about the Holocaust and was quoted saying “Let’s play massacre the Jews.”

Given the terrible loss of life to military and civilians, including a quarter of a million people killed by the nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Kobayashi’s comments could not have been less appropriate.

Kobayashi at least issued a statement responding to his dismissal and said: “It should never be the job of an entertainer to make people feel uncomfortable.

“I understand that my choice of words at the time was wrong, and I regret it. I would like to apologise for making people feel uncomfortable. I am very sorry.”

The Simon Wiesenthal Center condemned the anti-Semitic ‘jokes’ with Global Social Action Director, Rabbi Abraham Cooper saying: “Any person, no matter how creative, does not have the right to mock the victims of the Nazi genocide.

“The Nazi regime also gassed Germans with disabilities. Any association of this person to the Tokyo Olympics would insult the memory of six million Jews and make a cruel mockery of the Paralympics.”

Kobayashi’s departure is the fourth senior Tokyo 2020 executive to depart ahead of the Games.

Earlier last week, one of the event’s composers, Keigo Oyamada, resigned after old magazine interviews resurfaced in which he joked about bullying other children at school, including classmates with intellectual disabilities.

In March, creative chief Hiroshi Sasaki quit after suggesting that plus-size comedian Naomi Watanabe could appear as an ‘Olympig’ while in February, Yoshiro Mori was forced to resign as the head of the organising committee after he made remarks that women talked too much and that meetings with female board directors would “take a lot of time.”

Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee President Seiko Hashimoto said of Kobayashi’s dismissal: “We found out that Mr. Kobayashi, in his own performance, has used a phrase ridiculing a historical tragedy.

“We deeply apologise for causing such a development the day before the opening ceremony and for causing troubles and concerns to many involved parties as well as the people in Tokyo and the rest of the country.”

Another embarrassing scandal in Japan revolving around the Olympic Games can be an opportunity, according to Sayuri Shirai, a professor of economics at Japan's Keio University.

“Discrimination was never a major issue, so many people are careless. A lot of foreign media pay so much attention (to the Olympic Games), so every negative issue is under the spotlight...

“People are starting to be more sensitive about discriminatory expression," she said, adding that the scandals was a “good opportunity for Japan” to think more about discrimination and diversity.

#sportsmanship #EHF #Tokyo Olympic Games #Tokyo 2020 #Anti-Semitism #Kentaro Kobayashi #Yoshiro Mori #Simon Wiesenthal Center #racism #tom daley #diving #olympics #LGBTQ+

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timeless-hollywood-classics · 4 years

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Irene Dunne DHS (born Irene Marie Dunn; December 20, 1898 – September 4, 1990) was an American actress and singer who appeared in films during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She is best known for her comedic roles, despite being in films of varied genres.

After her father died when she was fourteen, Dunne's family relocated from Kentucky to Indiana and she became determined to become an opera singer, but when she was rejected by The Met, she performed in musicals on Broadway until she was scouted by RKO and made her Hollywood film debut in the 1930 musical Leathernecking. She starred in 42 movies and made guest appearances on radio and in popular anthology television until 1962; she was nominated five times for the Academy Award for Best Actress – for her performances in Cimarron (1931), Theodora Goes Wild (1936), The Awful Truth (1937), Love Affair (1939), and I Remember Mama (1948) – and was one of the top 25 highest-paid actors of her time.

In the present, Dunne is considered one of the greatest actresses who never won an Academy Award. Some critics theorize that her performances have been underappreciated and largely forgotten, overshadowed by movie remakes and her better-known co-stars. Dunne once fled across the Atlantic Ocean to avoid starring in a comedy, but she has been praised by many during her career, and after her death, as one of the best comedic actresses in the screwball genre. She was nicknamed "The First Lady of Hollywood" for her regal manner despite being proud of her Irish-American, country girl roots.

Dunne devoted her retirement to philanthropy and was chosen by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as a delegate for the United States to the United Nations, in which she advocated for world peace and highlighted refugee-relief programs. She also used the time to be with her family – her husband, dentist Dr. Francis Griffin, and their daughter Mary Frances, whom they adopted in 1938. She received numerous awards for her philanthropy, including honorary doctorates, a Laetare Medal and a Sepulchre damehood, and was given a Kennedy Center Honor for her services to the arts.

Irene Marie Dunn was born on December 20, 1898, at 507 East Gray Street in Louisville, Kentucky,

Following her father's death, Dunne's family moved to her mother's hometown of Madison, Indiana, living at 916 W. Second St., in the same neighborhood as Dunne's grandparents' home. Dunne's mother taught her to play the piano as a very small girl — according to Dunne, "Music was as natural as breathing in our house," — but unfortunately for her, music lessons frequently prevented her from playing with the neighborhood kids. Her first school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream began her interest in drama, so she took singing lessons as well, and sang in local churches and high school plays before her graduation in 1916. Her first ambition was to become a music teacher and studied at the Indianapolis Conservatory of Music and Webster College, earning a diploma in 1918, but saw an audition advertizement for the Chicago Musical College when she visited friends during a journey to Gary, and won the College scholarship, officially graduating in 1926. She hoped to become a soprano opera singer, relocating to New York after finishing her second year in 1920, but did not pass the audition with the Metropolitan Opera Company due to her inexperience and her "slight" voice.

Dunne took more singing lessons and then dancing lessons to prepare for a possible career in musical theater. On a New York vacation to visit family friends, she was recommended to audition for a stage musical, eventually starring as the leading role in the popular play Irene, which toured major cities as a roadshow throughout 1921. "Back in New York," Dunne reflected, "I thought that with my experience on the road and musical education it would be easy to win a role. It wasn't." Her Broadway debut was December 25, the following year as Tessie in Zelda Sears's The Clinging Vine, and she took leading role when the original actress took a leave of absence in 1924. Supporting roles in musical theater productions followed in the shows The City Chap (1925), Yours Truly (1927) and She's My Baby (1928). Her first top-billing, leading role Luckee Girl (1928) was not as successful as her previous projects. She would later call her career beginnings "not great furor." At this time, Dunne added the extra "e" to her surname, which had ironically been misspelled as "Dunne" at times throughout her life until this point; until her death, "Dunne" would then occasionally be misspelled as "Dunn." Starring as Magnolia Hawks in a road company adaptation of Show Boat was the result of a chance meeting with its director Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. in an elevator the day she returned from her honeymoon, when he mistook her for his next potential client, eventually sending his secretary to chase after her. A talent scout for RKO Pictures attended a performance, and Dunne signed the studio's contract, appearing in her first movie, Leathernecking (1930), a film version of the musical Present Arms. Already in her 30s when she made her first film, she would be in competition with younger actresses for roles, and found it advantageous to evade questions that would reveal her age, so publicists encouraged the belief that she was born in 1901 or 1904; the former is the date engraved on her tombstone.

The "Hollywood musical" era had fizzled out so Dunne moved to dramatic roles during the Pre-Code era, leading a successful campaign for the role of Sabra in Cimarron (1931) with her soon-to-be co-star Richard Dix, receiving her first Best Actress nomination. Her role as the determined but ladylike mother figure of Sabra reflected her later persona and the films she starred in afterwards, such as the melodramas Back Street (1932) and Magnificent Obsession (1935). The latter had the best critical acclaim and the melodrama she reportedly did the most preparation for, studying Braille and working on posture with blind consultant Ruby Fruth. This was after she and Dix reunited for Stingaree (1934), where overall consensus was that Dunne had usurped Dix's star power. The 1934 Sweet Adeline remake and Roberta (1935) were Dunne's first two musicals since Leathernecking; Roberta also starred dancing partners Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and she sang the musical's breakaway pop hit "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." In 1936, she starred as Magnolia Hawks in Show Boat (1936), directed by James Whale. Dunne had concerns about Whale's directing decisions, but she later admitted that her favorite scene to film was "Make Believe" with Allan Jones because it reminded her of Romeo and Juliet. It was during this year that Dunne's RKO contract had expired and she had decided to become a freelance actor, with the power to choose studios and directors. Dunne was apprehensive about attempting her first comedy role as the title character in Theodora Goes Wild (1936), but discovered that she enjoyed it, and received her second Best Actress Oscar nomination for the performance.

Later years of Dunne's film career became diverse. She starred in three films each with Charles Boyer and Cary Grant in screwball comedies (The Awful Truth (1937), My Favorite Wife (1940)), romantic dramas (Love Affair (1939), When Tomorrow Comes (1939)), drama (Penny Serenade (1941)) and comedy (Together Again (1944)). She starred in fictionalized dramas Anna and the King of Siam (1946) and later The Mudlark (1950) as Anna Leonowens and Queen Victoria, respectively, was in the comedies Unfinished Business (1941), Lady in a Jam (1942) and Over 21 (1945), and the war movies A Guy Named Joe (1943) and The White Cliffs of Dover (1944). She also starred as mothers Lavinia Day in Life with Father (1947), and Marta Hanson in I Remember Mama (1948). Marta required her to wear aging makeup and body padding, and she wore prosthetics to portray Queen Victoria.

Dunne's last three films were box-office failures. The Mudlark was a success in the UK, despite initial critical concern over the only foreigner in a British film starring as a well-known British monarch, but her American fans disapproved of the prosthetic decisions. The comedy It Grows on Trees (1952) became Dunne's last movie performance, although she remained on the lookout for suitable film scripts for years afterwards. On the radio, she and Fred MacMurray respectively played a feuding editor and reporter of a struggling newspaper in the 52-episode comedy-drama Bright Star, which aired in syndication between 1952 and 1953 by the Ziv Company. She also starred in and hosted episodes of television anthologies, such as Ford Theatre, General Electric Theater, and the Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. Faye Emerson wrote in 1954 that "I hope we see much more of Miss Dunne on TV," and Nick Adams called Dunne's performance in Saints and Sinners worthy of an Emmy nomination. Dunne's last acting credit was in 1962, but she was once rumored to star in a movie named Heaven Train, and rejected an offer to cameo in Airport '77.

Dunne appeared at 1953's March of Dimes showcase in New York City to introduce two little girls nicknamed the Poster Children, who performed a dramatization about polio research. She was later present at Disneyland's "Dedication Day" in 1955 to christen the Mark Twain Riverboat with a bottle containing water from several major rivers across the United States. Years before, Dunne had also christened the SS Carole Lombard.

In her retirement, she devoted herself primarily to humanitarianism. Some of the organizations she worked with include the American Cancer Society, the Los Angeles Orphanage, and the American Red Cross. She was also president of St. John's Hospital Clinic and became a board member of Technicolor in 1965, the first woman ever elected to the board of directors. She established an African American school for Los Angeles, negotiated donations to St. John's through box office results, and served as chairwoman in 1949 for the American Heart Association's women's committee, and Hebrew University Rebuilding Fun's sponsors committee. She appeared in 1955's celebrity-rostered television special Benefit Show for Retarded Children with Jack Benny as host. Dunne also donated to refurbishments in Madison, Indiana, funding the manufacture of Camp Louis Ernst Boy Scout's gate in 1939 and the Broadway Fountain's 1976 restoration.

Dunne reflected: "If I began living in Hollywood today I would certainly one thing that I did when I arrived, and that is to be active in charity. If one is going to take something out of a community — any community — one must put something in, too." She also hoped that charity would encourage submissive women to find independence: "I wish women would be more direct. ...I was amazed when some quiet little mouse of a woman was given a job which seemed to be out of all proportion to her capabilities. Then I saw the drive with which she undertook that job and put it through to a great finish. It was both inspiring and surprising. I want women to be individuals. They should not lean on their husbands' opinions and be merely echoes of the men of the family.

In 1957, President Eisenhower appointed Dunne one of five alternative U.S. delegates to the United Nations in recognition of her interest in international affairs and Roman Catholic and Republican causes. Dunne admired the U.N.'s dedication to creating world peace, and was inspired by colleagues' beliefs that Hollywood influenced the world. She held delegacy for two years and addressed the General Assembly twice. She gave her delegacy its own anthem: "Getting to Know You" because "it's so simple, and yet so fundamental in international relations today." Dunne later described her Assembly request for $21 million to help Palestinian refugees as her "biggest thrill," and called her delegacy career the "highlight of my life." She also concluded, "I came away greatly impressed with the work the U.N. does in its limited field — and it does have certain limits. I think we averted a serious situation in Syria, which might have been much more worse without a forum to hear it... And I'm much impressed with the work the U.N. agencies do. I'm especially interested in UNICEF's work with children[,] and the health organization[.]"

Dunne was a lifelong Republican and participated in 1948's Republican convention. She accepted the U.N. delegacy offer because she viewed the U.N. as apolitical. She later explained: "I'm a Nixon Republican, not a Goldwater one. I don't like extremism in any case. The extreme rights do as much harm as the extreme lefts." Her large input in politics created an assumption that she was a member of the "Hollywood right-wing fringe," which Dunne denied, calling herself "foolish" for being involved years before other celebrities did.

Dunne's father frequently told Dunne about his memories of traveling on bayous and lazy rivers. Dunne's favorite family vacations were riverboat rides and parades, later recalling a voyage from St. Louis to New Orleans, and watching boats on the Ohio River from the hillside. She admitted, "No triumph of either my stage or screen career has ever rivaled the excitement of trips down the Mississippi on the riverboats with my father."

Dunne was an avid golf player and had played since high school graduation; she and her husband often played against each other and she made a hole in one in two different games. She was good friends with Loretta Young, Jimmy Stewart, Bob Hope, Ronald Reagan, Carole Lombard, and George Stevens Jr., and became godmother to Young's son, Peter. Dunne also bonded with Leo McCarey over numerous similar interests, such as their Irish ancestry, music, religious backgrounds, and humor. School friends nicknamed her "Dunnie" and she was referred to as this in Madison High School's 1916 yearbook, along with the description "divinely tall and most divinely fair."

One of Dunne's later public appearances was in April 1985, when she attended the dedication of a bronze bust in her honor at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, for which her foundation, The Irene Dunne Guild, had raised more than $20 million. The Irene Dunne Guild remains "instrumental in raising funds to support programs and services at St. John's" hospital in Santa Monica. The artwork, commissioned by the hospital from artist Artis Lane, has a plaque reading "IRENE DUNNE First Lady Of Saint John's Hospital and Health Center Foundation."

Between 1919 and 1922, Dunne was close to Fritz Ernst, a businessman based in Chicago who was 20 years older than her and a member of one of the richest families in Madison, Indiana. They frequently corresponded over letters while Dunne was training for musical theater but when Fritz proposed, Dunne rejected, due to pressure from her mother and wanting to focus on acting. They remained friends and continued writing letters until Ernst died in 1959.

At a New York, Biltmore Hotel supper party in 1924, Dunne met Northampton-born dentist Francis Griffin. According to Dunne, he preferred being a bachelor, yet tried everything he could to meet her. To her frustration, he did not telephone her until over a month later, but the relationship had strengthened and they married in Manhattan on July 13, 1927. They had constantly argued about the state of their careers if they ever got married, with Dunne agreeing to consider theater retirement sometime in the future and Griffin agreeing to support Dunne's acting. Griffin later explained: "I didn't like the moral tone of show business. [...] Then Ziegfeld signed her for 'Show Boat' and it looked like she was due for big things. Next came Hollywood and [she] was catapulted to the top. Then I didn't feel I could ask her to drop her career. [I] really didn't think marriage and the stage were compatible but we loved each other and we were both determined to make our marriage work."

When Dunne decided to star in Leathernecking, it was meant to be her only Hollywood project, but when it was a box-office bomb, she took an interest in Cimarron. Soon after, she and her mother moved to Hollywood and maintained a long-distance relationship with her husband and brother in New York until they joined her in California in 1936. They remained married until Griffin's death on October 14, 1965, and lived in the Holmby Hills in a "kind of French Chateau" they designed. They had one daughter, Mary Frances (née Anna Mary Bush; born 1932), who was adopted by the couple in 1936 (finalized in 1938) from the New York Foundling Hospital, run by the Sisters of Charity of New York. Due to Dunne's privacy, Hollywood columnists struggled to find scandals to write about her — an eventual interview with Photoplay included the disclaimer, "I can guarantee no juicy bits of intimate gossip. Unless, perhaps she lies awake nights heartsick about the kitchen sink in her new home. She's afraid it's too near to the door. Or would you call that juicy? No? No, I thought not." When the magazines alleged that Dunne and Griffin would divorce, Griffin released a statement denying any marital issues. When Griffin was asked about how the marriage had lasted, he replied, "When she had to go on location for a film I arranged my schedule so I could go with her. When I had to go out of town she arranged her schedule so she could be with me. We co-operate in everything. [...] I think a man married to a career woman in show business has to be convinced that his wife's talent is too strong to be dimmed or put out. Then, he can be just as proud of her success as she is and, inside he can take a bow himself for whatever help he's been."

After retiring from dentistry, Griffin became Dunne's business manager, and helped negotiate her first contract. The couple became interested in real estate, later investing in the Beverly Wilshire and partnering with Griffin's family's businesses (Griffin Equipment Company and The Griffin Wellpoint Company.) Griffin sat as a board member of numerous banks, but his offices were relocated from Century City to their home after his death, when Dunne took over as president.

Dunne was a devout Roman Catholic, who became a daily communicant. She was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Catholic Motion Picture Guild in Beverly Hills, California. Both Dunne and her husband were members of the Knights of Malta.

Dunne died at the age of 91 in her Holmby Hills home on September 4, 1990, and is entombed in the Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles. She had been unwell for a year and became bedridden about a month before. Her personal papers are housed at the University of Southern California. She was survived by her daughter, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Dunne is considered one of the best actresses of The Golden Age of Hollywood never to win an Academy Award. Roger Fristoe pointed out that "a generation of filmgoers is mostly unfamiliar with her work" because some of her movies had been remade, including Love Affair (remade as An Affair to Remember), Show Boat (remade in 1951), My Favourite Wife (remade as Move Over, Darling), and Cimarron (remade in 1960). Dunne once noted that she had lacked the "terrifying ambition" of some other actresses, explaining in 1977, "I drifted into acting and drifted out. Acting is not everything. Living is." The Awful Truth was voted the 68th best comedy of American cinema.

Although known for her comedic roles, Dunne admitted that she never saw comedy as a worthy genre, even leaving the country to the London premiere of Show Boat with her husband and James Whale to get away from being confronted with a script for Theodora Goes Wild. "I never admired a comedienne," she said retrospectively, "yet it was very easy for me, very natural. It was no effort for me to do comedy at all. Maybe that's why I wasn't so appreciative of it." She ascribed her sense of humor to her late father, as well as her "Irish stubbornness." Her screwball comedy characters have been praised for their subversions to the traditional characterisation of female leads in the genre, particularly Susan (Katharine Hepburn) in Bringing Up Baby and Irene (Carole Lombard) in My Man Godfrey. "Unlike the genre's stereotypical leading lady, who exhibits bonkers behaviour continuously," writes Wes D. Gehring, "Dunne's screwball heroine [in Theodora Goes Wild] chooses when she goes wild." Biographers and critics argue that Dunne's groundedness made her screwball characters more attractive than her contemporaries; Maria DiBattista points out that Dunne is the "only comic actress working under the strictures of the Production Code" who ends both of her screwball movies alongside Cary Grant with a heavy implication of sharing a bed with him, "under the guise of keeping him at bay." Meanwhile, outside of comedy, Andrew Sarris theorized that Dunne's sex appeal is due to the common narrative in her movies about a good girl "going bad."

Dunne was popular with co-workers off-camera, earning a reputation as warm, approachable and having a "poised, gracious manner" like royalty, which spilled into her persona in movies. She earned the nickname "The First Lady of Hollywood" because "she was the first real lady Hollywood has ever seen," said Leo McCarey, with Gregory La Cava adding, "If Irene Dunne isn't the first lady of Hollywood, then she's the last one." Ironically, this title had been bestowed on her when she was a little girl when an aunt cooed "What a little lady!"[159] This ladylike attitude furthered Sarris' sex appeal claims, admitting that the scene when she shares a carriage with Preston Foster on the train in Unfinished Business was practically his "rite of passage" to a sex scene in a film, theorizing that the sex appeal of Dunne came from "a good girl deciding thoughtfully to be bad." On the blatant eroticism of the same train scene, Megan McGurk wrote, "The only thing that allowed this film to pass the censors was that good-girl Irene Dunne can have a one-night stand with a random because she loves him, rather than just a once-off fling. For most other women of her star magnitude, you could not imagine a heroine without a moral compass trained on true north. Irene Dunne elevates a tawdry encounter to something justifiably pure or blameless. She's just not the casual sex type, so she gets away with it." When approached about the nickname in 1936, Dunne admitted that it had grown tiresome but approved if it was meant as "the feminine counterpart of 'gentleman'"; a later interview she did have with the Los Angeles Times would ironically be titled "Irene Dunne, Gentlewoman." She would also be made a Dame (or Lady) of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. The Los Angeles Times referred to Dunne's publicity in their obituary as trailblazing, noting her as one of the first actors to become a freelancer in Hollywood during its rigid studio system through her "non-exclusive contract that gave her the right to make films at other studios and to decide who should direct them," and her involvement with the United Nations as a decision that allowed entertainers from movies and television to branch out into philanthropy and politics, such as Ronald Reagan and George Murphy.

Dunne later said, "Cary Grant always said that I had the best timing of anybody he ever worked with." Lucille Ball admitted at an American Film Institute seminar that she based her comedic skills on Dunne's performance in Joy of Living. When asked about life after retiring from baseball, Lou Gehrig stated that he would want Dunne as a screen partner if he ever became a movie actor. Charles Boyer described her as "a gracious house," adding, "the best room would be the music room [...] Great music, and the best of good swing, and things by Gershwin would sound there always. The acoustics would be perfect. Guests in this house would be relaxed and happy but they would have to mind their manners." A two-sided marker was erected in Dunne's childhood hometown of Madison in 2006.

Dunne received five Best Actress nominations during her career: for Cimarron (1931), Theodora Goes Wild (1936), The Awful Truth (1937), Love Affair (1939) and I Remember Mama (1948); she was the first actor to lose against the same actor in the same category twice, losing to Best Actress winner Luise Rainer in 1936 and 1937. When asked if she ever resented never winning, Dunne pointed out that the nominees she was up against had strong support, believing that she would never have had a chance, especially when Love Affair was against Gone with the Wind.

However, Dunne was honored numerous times for her philanthropy from Catholic organizations and schools, receiving the University of Notre Dame's Laetare Medal, and the Bellarmine Medal from Bellarmine College. She received numerous honorary doctorates, including from Chicago Musical College (for music), Loyola University and Mount St. Mary's College (both for Law). In 1953, she and her husband were made Lady and Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, respectively. For her film career, she was honored by the Kennedy Center, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6440 Hollywood Blvd, and displays in the Warner Bros. Museum and Center for Motion Picture Study.

#irene dunne #classic hollywood #classic movie stars #golden age of hollywood #old hollywood

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woodwind-sensei · 5 years

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The 2019-20 ISU Grand Prix: Men’s Singles

I’ve been stewing over the Grand Prix assignments for these few weeks, and after cementing my thoughts, I’d like to share some of my ponderings about the men’s singles lists. Ice Dance and Pairs will follow suit, and if you want to read what I said about the Ladies assignments, click here!

Nathan Chen (USA) will be looking for his third Grand Prix Final title in a row this season. After a rocky start in last season’s Japan Open, he bounced back to dominate the Grand Prix and successfully defend his world title. Nathan’s a very explosive jumper, so expect some great technical content from him at Skate America and Internationaux de France in the fall. His programs don’t really do it for me, as there are usually a few dead patches in the choreography, but I’d be interested to see how he’s packaged this season. France is a particularly stacked roster, as it will be a three-way race between Nathan, Shoma Uno (JPN), and Tomoki Hiwatashi (USA).

Two-time Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) will be at Skate Canada and NHK this year. After withdrawing from the Final last season due to injury, he’s probably hungry to return to the top of the podium. He’s revealed that he’s put the quad Lutz back into his jump rotation during Fantasy on Ice this summer, which shows me he really is trying to challenge Nathan, who is almost undisputedly the top jumper in the men’s field right now. He’s unfortunately chosen Phantom of the Opera (at least that’s what I’ve heard) for his free skate this year. He’s such a great skater, but some of his programs have really strayed from God’s light, especially this past year. I really want him to skate to something more...interesting, like Brahms, or even something like Stravinsky. As much as war horse music choices are unappreciated in the current era, I think that choosing music you know will work is a good move.

The surprise World bronze medalist Vincent Zhou (USA) is competing at back-to-back events this year, appearing at Cup of China and Rostelecom Cup. He’s ditched Tom Zakrajsek as a co-coach (his main coach being Tammy Gambill), but has recently added Mie Hamada (coach to Rika Kihira and Satoko Miyahara) to his coaching staff. He is Hamada’s first non-Japanese skater, and it shows a lot of guts from Vincent to pursue a coach as rigorous as she is known to be. He’s prone to under-rotating his jumps and doesn’t have the best skating skills. Hamada’s students are known for their supreme skating skills, so that beauty hopefully transfers into him. He has one glaring problem: he’s set to start university this fall at Brown University in Rhode Island. It’s quite far from both Tammy and Mie, so I’m not sure exactly what his coaching arrangements will be.

Shoma Uno (JPN) made figure skating headlines recently for leaving his long time coach Machiko Yamada. He’s currently participating in a summer camp with Eteri Tutberidze, and it’s highly rumored that if this goes well, he will become her full-time student. If this happens, it will be Eteri’s highest-profile addition to her coaching stable in a while, especially considering he’s not from a former Soviet Republic. Shoma will go head-to-head with Nathan Chen at Internationaux de France. He’s a powerful skater with beautiful jumps, but he’s extremely inconsistent, so he’s looking to rectify competition/mental problems with this possible move. If anyone knows how to instill a competitive fire in a skater, it’s Eteri.

Unlike the ladies event, not one country really dominates men’s figure skating. There’s a relatively diverse group of competitors from across the world. Russia has the most skaters with two assignments, with 6 men, Dmitri Aliev, Mikhail Kolyada, Alexander Samarin, Andrei Lazukin, Sergei Voronov, and Roman Savosin, on the circuit this year. Kolyada had the highest finish at the most recent World Championships (6th), but is not the most consistent of competitors. In fact, that’s the story for all the Russian men. Dmitri Aliev is known for his breathtaking skating skills and musicality, but dealt with injury and inconsistency last season. He didn’t make the Worlds squad last year, so this Grand Prix will serve as a little bit of a proving ground for the 2018 Olympian and European Medalist. Samarin had ups and downs last year, medaling at Europeans then crashing and burning at Worlds. The only Russian qualifier to last year’s Final was Voronov, who finished 6th. He then had to drop out from the rest of the season due to a knee injury. Only time will tell how the Russian men will compete.

The U.S. is also well-represented on the Grand Prix, as Jason Brown, Tomoki Hiwatashi, and Camden Pulkinen all have two assignments, besides Nathan and Vincent. Alexei Kraznoshon is currently set to compete at one event (Rostelecom), but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was given the host pick at Skate America, thus granting him two assignments. All eyes will be on World Junior Champion Tomoki. He will most likely challenge Jason for his spot on the Worlds team next year. Tomoki has some great skating qualities and a quad toe to boot. Jason, as beautiful of a skater as he is, doesn’t have the quad. His move to Toronto Cricket Club hasn’t paid full dividends in the jumping department, but I really hope Jason can really make the push for a consistent quad this year.

Japan’s other hopefuls include Keiji Tanaka and Kazuki Tomono. Keiji hasn’t really stepped up to the plate since his junior days, so I’m not expecting much. Kazuki had an inconsistent season last year, medaling at one of his Grand Prix assignments, but missed out on a World Championships on home soil. The empty slot at NHK could go one of two ways. Koshiro Shimada, a first-year senior and 2018 Junior GPF medalist, is currently slated to be at Skate America as his only assignment. The JSF could potentially grant him the host pick, thus giving him two. Then there’s Daisuke Takahashi, who’s recently come out of retirement and was in pretty good competitive form at his one competition, Japanese Nationals. The JSF could give him the spot so he could go for the minimum scores needed to be Worlds-eligible. It’s a tough decision to make, but it will make the final GP of the season more interesting.

Canada has four men with two assignments, Keegan Messing, Nam Nguyen, Roman Sadovsky, and Nicolas Nadeau. Keegan had a fantastic season last year, qualifying to the Grand Prix Final as an alternate and called to compete after Hanyu withdrew. Keegan is a skater that entertains a crowd, so expect some showmanship from him. Former child prodigy Nam Nguyen reclaimed his National Title for the first time in 4 years, and though his season wasn’t filled with medals, expect for him to be on the upswing. Both Nadeau and Sadovsky have had relative success as juniors in previous years, but have yet to break the senior ranks. I don’t know their skating as well as Keegan or Nam, so I’ll look forward to discovering their style on the ice.

Cha Jun-Hwan (KOR), Jin Boyang (CHN), Matteo Rizzo (ITA), Denis Vasiljevs (LAT), Romain Posnart (FRA), Kevin Aymoz (FRA), and Morisi Kvitelashvili (GEO) round out the list of skaters with two assignments this year. Jun-Hwan won the bronze at the last Grand Prix Final, so expect him to challenge for another GPF spot this year. After a disastrous Grand Prix, Jin Boyang came back in the latter half of the season to win a medal at 4CC and finished 5th at Worlds. One of the most powerful jumpers in the world, expect him to really challenge both Jun and Nathan at Skate America. Matteo Rizzo has been slowly climbing the ranks, winning the Universiade and medaling at Europeans. He’s a beautiful skater, so I hope he does well. He’s got a good shot to medal at Skate Canada (Hanyu will be untouchable, but the silver looks pretty open).

Being more open than the ladies field, I can’t wait to see how the Grand Prix unfolds for the men! The momentum towards the next Olympics is starting to build, and this year will sort of show us who might be showing up in Beijing!

*edit: I’ve been informed that Hanyu hasn’t chosen his music yet. That Phantom thing was for Fantasy on Ice only. Thank the LORDT!!!

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virtchandmoir · 5 years

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BREAKING BARRIERS WITH BARBIES – TESSA VIRTUE

April 18, 2019

Olympic ice dancer, Tessa Virtue, was one of the women recognized by Barbie this year with a one-of-a-kind Barbie made in her likeness as part of the Shero Role Model series | Photo by Katherine Kwan

With the release of the 2019 Shero Role Model series, young girls will now get to see the possibilities ahead of them, thanks to a group of empowered women, including Canada’s own Tessa Virtue.

This year marked a momentous occasion — the 60th anniversary of Barbie. Having been around for six decades, Barbie has had to adapt and evolve with society. One recent shift that has taken place is the movement toward the empowerment and education of young women and girls.

One way that Barbie has made an effort to raise awareness is through the Dream Gap. Research has shown that around five years of age, girls often begin to develop limiting self-beliefs, based on stereotypes and gender roles presented in society, while young boys don’t experience this. This phenomenon, dubbed the “Dream Gap,” results in a lack of confidence and a limited outlook as to their own abilities.

To help counteract this and show girls the endless array of possibilities available to them, Barbie released its 2019 Shero Role Model series on International Women’s Day. Displaying a selection of original dolls representing 20 women from 18 countries across the world, including professional tennis player Naomi Osaka and actress, model and activist Yara Shahidi, young girls can imagine themselves through the eyes of these empowering role models, with diverse careers ranging from athletes to journalists to scientists.

One of the women included in this series is Tessa Virtue, the Canadian ice dancer who won two gold medals at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics with her skating partner, Scott Moir. Working together for more than 20 years, they have taken the ice dancing world by storm, winning five Olympic medals and illustrating to young girls, and boys, that with hard work, you can accomplish your dreams.

“I keep thinking about how I felt at five years old and what I was playing with, what I was thinking, what I was dreaming of. And it’s so sad to me that any young girl wouldn’t be aware of the potential and the possibilities that await her. And I think my part in this as a role model is just to share my story,” she says.

Looking back at her own childhood, though Virtue did spend much of her time on the ice, she still spent time playing with her own Barbies, creating intricate lives for them. “My Barbies could do and be anything,” Virtue says. “I was quite imaginative as a young girl, and the layers and the nuances in these storylines that I would come up with relating to my dolls were just so extensive. And I know now just how that play affected the way that I approached and saw the world.”

Although not all young girls are able to have such an expansive view of the world, with initiatives like this, soon young girls all across the globe will begin to understand that their options in life are endless. Virtue’s been able to see this first-hand in her own life in many ways, but an interaction with her four-and-a-half-year-old niece stands out.

“She was recently playing table hockey and said pretty innocently to my brother, ‘Is the goalie’s hair just in a bun under her helmet?’ not thinking that that game was made for males and young boys,” she recalls. “I just thought that was so beautiful and so pure, and the longer she can hold on to that sense of limitlessness, the better. I think there is a bit of a shift [happening]. There’s more fluidity to those typical gender roles, and I think that’s key.”

“WHATEVER YOUR PASSION MAY BE, WHEREVER YOUR DREAMS MAY LIE, I JUST WANT YOUNG GIRLS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHASE THOSE DREAMS — FEARLESSLY”

When undergoing the surreal process of designing her doll, there wasn’t much contention when it came to the design. “We wanted it to be that iconic red Moulin Rouge Free Dance dress from the PyeongChang Olympics, [with] matching hair and makeup. Finding just the right balance of likeness was a collaborative process, but one that was very open and honest and exciting. And I think it couldn’t have turned out any better. I think the likeness is uncanny,” she says with a laugh.

Throughout her life and her career, Virtue has had a dedicated group of people surrounding her who have helped her recognize that her dreams are possible with hard work and dedication. Now, working with Barbie, she will be able to act as a role model for young girls, letting them know their dreams are possible, too.

“Whether you’re an athlete or you’re pursuing sciences or whatever your passion may be, wherever your dreams may lie, I just want young girls to have the opportunity to chase those dreams — fearlessly,” she says. “If I could have just some tiny, little iota of impact on some young girl, then mission accomplished.”

—City Life

#tessa #off ice #honor #collaboration #barbie #interview: city life #then share it

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dbapm1-blog · 5 years

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Israel tours by Israel experts

Israel is a small country and it offers many diverse touring and recreation destinations, from the snow-capped Mount Hermon and the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel to Jerusalem's wailing wall and the cave of wonders to the Negev desert, Bedouin villages and to Eilat in the south. Here you will find a collection of tours, hikes, sporting events and outdoor group activities that will introduce you to the land of milk and honey.

Northern Israel tour destinations

Mid Israel touring

Jerusalem & The area tours

Southern Israel tours

Across Israel

Southern Israel tours:

Dashing through the Sand

Glide down the Dunes in the Negev Desert

For some they are the paradigm of barren terrain, last remnants of an unspoiled landscape. For others, they are yet another challenge to conquer. “Ski” down giant sand dunes, with either skis or a board, without heavy gear and without adverse weather conditions. This exhilarating experience suits kids over the age of two as well as adults.

A Geological Wonder

A breathtaking Experience for Desert Lovers

The Ramon Crater in the Negev desert is Israel’s largest national park and one of its most breathtaking natural phenomena. Stand with a view of the crater, whose beauty and massive size inspires us to think about the vastness around us. At night you can gaze at a rain of stars under the clear desert sky. This is an amazing place for meditation, hiking or jeeping.

Dolphin's in Eilat

Meet the Eilat Dolphins in Their Natural Habitat

The Dolphin Reef in Eilat is a relaxing experience it holds no performances. Instead, a calm and relaxing atmosphere surrounds you while watching the dolphins swim and play in their natural habitat. You can stay for hours and enjoy dolphin watching from special rafts or even swim near the beach, where the dolphins live, and view them up close. If they choose to, the dolphins can interact with the people in the water and may even join you for a playful swim. This is an outstanding experience for kids, interaction with the Dolphins will engrave a memory for a life time.

Birding in the Desert

Watch Raptors at Ramat HaNegev Birding Center

Israel is known as being one of the unique places in the world to witness and experience bird migration, with the southern Ramat HaNegev Birding Center specializing in desert birds and wildlife. We invite you to visit the center, which monitors local keystone species populations and offers birding education and tours throughout the year. An interesting fact is that the proceeds of the birding tours go to bird conservation!

Gardening in the Desert

Walk the shoes of a Community Gardener for a Day in the Negev Desert

Community gardens are a fun and satisfying way to connect to people and the environment in an urban setting, which explains why they became such a trendy pastime in many cities in Israel and around the world. Israel Experts invite you to volunteer in a community garden in Be'er Sheva, The Negev Capital that serves underprivileged minority groups. You'll be amazed at how much can grow in a small space at extreme conditions.

Ultimate Desert Survivor

Have you got navigation skills? Stamina and Leadership Abilities in the Negev Desert

Travel to the Negev Desert in southern Israel for an exciting Survivor experience in the Desert. The day will challenge your troubleshooting skills, problem solving technics and train you to think in new and creative ways. You will be able to accomplish things that you never thought possible in the most magnificent setting imaginable, Be an ultimate Israeli version Bear Grylls for a day (without the drinking capabilities)!

Meet the Bedouin

Experience a Bedouin Village and Meet Its People

The Bedouin village of Hura runs several community projects, empowering its residents in various fields. Israel Tours invite you to visit the village, in the Negev desert in Southern Israel, and meet its mayor. While there, you will join the students who work on a building project in the community, break bread with them and discuss local issues and the unique problem solving while absorbing local mind set.

Hebrew Gospel

Introduction to the Community of the “African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem”

Meet the Hebrews of Dimona, a small community of African-American descent, who believe they are descendants of the ancient Israelites. Visit the city of Dimona in southern Israel to hear about the community’s unique journey to the Promised Land and enjoy a remarkable Gospel concert.

Starting Anew

Visit a Town That Is All about New Beginnings

The town of Yeruham, in the Negev Desert, is home to people from diverse communities and backgrounds. We invite you to meet its people and hear their stories in a special panel. The elderly residents will tell stories of immigrating in the 1950s and how they were forced to settle in that area by Zionist settlement groups, while the young will talk about their decision to return and raise their life as families in their hometown with that enjoy a delightful local Jewish-Arab spicy food .

Mid:

The Man Who Put Israel on the Map

Meet One of Israel's Greatest Athletes Turned Statesman and Philanthropist

Tal Brody changed the way basketball was played in Israel and turned Maccabi Tel Aviv into a world-class team. Tal Engraved the phrase: "We are on the map! And we are staying on the map – not only in sports, but in everything.", Today Tal is Israel's International Goodwill Ambassador, traveling around the globe introducing various audiences to Israel’s culture, sports and everyday life. Join Tal for a visit to one of the projects he founded to help at-risk youth become involved in basketball.

Israel Tours to Israeli Olympic Gold

Meet Members of Israel's Renowned Paralympic Team

Over the years Israel became a Paralympic powerhouse, winning a total of 123 gold medals in the Paralympic Games over the years, Zipora Rubin-Rosenbaum with 15 gold medals and Uri Bergman with 12. Have a talk with Inbal Pezaro, a paraplegic Israeli swimmer who won 4 silver medals at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, and other outstanding Israeli athletes whose goal is to triumph over their physical disabilities and represent Israel in competitions around the globe.

Sailing against the Wind

Join Israel Experts to an Inspirational Cruise with a Group of Extraordinary Sailors

Set sailing with people with physical disabilities. Whether disabled from birth or as a result of accidents or military service, members of this group do not know the meaning of “giving up” and are committed to living their lives to the fullest. During this adventurous encounter they will teach you how to make the best of your abilities and inspire you to do the (seemingly) impossible.

Water Sports in the Mediterranean shores

Israel Is a Water Sports Nation, Come and Join the Fun!

Israelis love water sports, especially beach-matka play which only makes sense considering we have beach areas on both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Our windsurfers and kitesurfers regularly win Olympic and World championships. Israel Experts invite you to try Stand-up Paddle Surfing (SUP), which is a Hawaiian style surfing method that became very popular in Israel in recent years.

Surf Power

Helping Disadvantaged Teens Catch a Wave to a Better Life

In surfing, falling off your board means it’s time to get back on and give it another try. HaGal Sheli, which means “My Wave” in Hebrew is a social enterprise that uses surfing to teach life skills to youth at-risk and boost their self-esteem. Making the Mediterranean Sea as a classroom, the youth experience personal empowerment and learn to never give up on themselves but instead, how to fall and get back up again.

Home Away from Home

Meet Refugees and Immigrants Living in Israel

The neighborhoods of Southern Tel Aviv are home to large numbers of refugees both legal and illegal migrant workers. Tour to the neighborhoods and learn about the lives and dreams of non-Jewish people who come to Israel in attempt to improve their lives creating a better lasting life for their children.

Shalom Gay Tel Aviv

Attend a Panel of LGBT Activists

Tel Aviv is recognized globally as one of the world's cultural open-minded cities. The city is home to a world renowned annual Gay Pride celebration as well as to numerous gay and queer establishments and community centers. Israel Experts invites you to Tour Tel-Aviv with them and attend a panel with representatives of the Israeli LGBT community and hear about their experiences as gays living in the harsh hot Middle East.

Diversity and the City

Tour the City of Ramla Where Jews and Arabs Live Side by Side

Ramla, which means god is great above is a city in central Israel, where religious, secular Arabs and Jews from various ethnic origins live together. Israel Experts tours invite you to travel and learn about Ramla's incredible history, take a walking tour in its famous market, eat a mouthwatering "Fricassee" which is a Tunisian Fry Bread Sandwich filled with Tuna fish and salads and hear about the amazing community initiatives that are changing the face of the city.

On the Waterfront

Tour to a Beachfront Arab-Israeli Town and Meet Its Residents

The Arab-Israeli town of Jisr az-Zarqa has a long history of coexistence with the neighboring Jewish cities. Today the town, located north of Caesarea at the northern coast of the Mediterranean, is engaged in improving its residents standard of living and promoting environmental tourism. Tour Jisr az-Zarqa, meet its people, learn about their development plans. Tour to the beautiful Caesarea National Park and the beachfront Apollonia National Park

Free Access to Play

Creating a Playground That Welcomes All Children

Touring Israel with Israel Experts will unveil parks and playgrounds that are fully accessible to all children, regardless of their specific abilities and disabilities. Travel to one such park, in Ra'anana, a city in the center of the Sharon Plain, and learn about the specially designed equipment, while seeing first-hand how it changes the lives of the children who benefit from it.

Jerusalem area

Faith and Heritage tour to The Christian Quarter of Jerusalem

Explore the Middle Eastern Impact on Christianity

Between the religious landmarks and narrow alleys of the Christian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem lies a history of bilateral influences between local traditions and Christianity. Join Israel Experts for a walking tour of the quarter and learn about the religious and cultural interface of the Middle East with Western Christianity.

Let the Sunshine In

Take an Israel Tours to a City Where Radically Different Jewish Movements Struggle to Coexist

The city of Beit Shemesh, “House of the Sun” in Hebrew has recently become known for the many clashes between its secular, Modern-Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox communities. Meet its residents and hear about their difficulties and about the initiatives taken by the community to bridge their differences.

Cave of Wonders

Travel to a Magnificent Wonderland of Stalactites and Stalagmites

Tread carefully between the Stalactites and Stalagmites in the Soreq Cave in the Judean Hills. Witness the beautiful formations formed by rainwater penetrating through the cave roof and dripping from its ceiling and meet the shady characters who make the cave their home. Some of the stalactites here are 300,000 years old!

Cultural Harmonies

Arab and Jewish Musicians Jam Together in Jerusalem

Nationality and religion should not matter when it comes to music. That is the shared belief of Arab-Israeli singer, Lubna Salame, and the Jewish Yemen Blues band. United by their passion for music, they created a group performance combining traditional Arab music and ancient Jewish-Yemenite melodies with modern funk influences. Travel with us to Jerusalem to meet the musicians and see them perform. Remember to bring your dancing shoes!

Beyond Belief

A Unique Bible Class Aimed at Christians Touring Israel

Participate in a seminar held by the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation in Efrat. Study the Bible together with Orthodox-Jewish leaders, who will broaden your understanding of Judaism and share your own interpretation of the Old Testament.

The Light of Youth

A Craft Workshop Promoting Collaboration between Young Jews and Arabs

Travel to Jerusalem to join a candle making workshop with Arab and Israeli teens. Learn to make candles while acquainting yourself with the teamwork involved, relating teens from different religions and background to one another.

North

Mother Nature’s Waterpark

A Natural Park of Spring Water Pools Surrounded by Green Lawns

Visit the beautiful Sachne Springs in Lower Galilee. This series of pools is fed by hot springs and includes waterfalls and even a natural Jacuzzi! You would be surprised to at how refreshing the hot spring water will feel even on hot day. Bring a lunch basket and enjoy a picnic on the sumptuous lawns.

Israeli heaven for Birds and People

A Beautiful Lake Visited by 500 Million Migrating Birds Each Year

The Hula Valley is a must for anyone interested in birding and even for those who didn’t know they were. The valley was once a malaria infested swampland, before being drained by Zionist pioneers in the early 20th century. These days, it is an opulent wildlife refuge with a lake that is home to a one of a kind ecosystem with wild boars, swamp cats and softshell turtles. Each year, half a billion migrating birds visit the lake on their way from Europe to Africa and back, turning the valley into a magnificent attraction for bird watchers from around the globe.

Cultivating Coexistence

Visit an Ecological and Sociological Greenhouse

The Ein Shemer Ecological Greenhouse is a unique educational facility, combining ecological and social activism. Located in Kibbutz Ein-Shemer in northern Israel, the greenhouse is a meeting place for teens from various populations that seldom come in touch in everyday life. Working cooperatively on agricultural and ecological projects brings together Jews and Arabs, religious and secular, immigrants and native Israelis, gifted students and children with special needs. Join us for a tour of the greenhouse. Meet the staff and learn how they cultivate coexistence.

Home and Away

Tour to an Educational Youth Village with a Unique Empowerment Program

Atop Mount Carmel in northern Israel lies a small village that is home and school to hundreds of at-risk and immigrant youth from around the world. Israel Experts invites you to spend time at the Yemin Orde village, meet its students and the teens who volunteer there and Participate in a volunteer project for the benefit of the students.

Palestinian-Arabic Walk and Talk

Learn Palestinian-Arabic on the Go

If you enjoy learning on your feet you will love our “Walk and Talk” tour of Wadi Nisnas. Join us in exploring this multi-cultural neighborhood, on the lower part of Haifa in northern Israel, and learn some Palestinian-Arabic while touring its streets and famous market. Interacting with the locals is the best way to get acquainted with their language and their culture!

Across Israel:

An Epic Trail

Hike the World Renowned Israel National Trail with Israel Experts

The Israel National Trail "Shvil Yisra'el" in Hebrew is included on National Geographic’s “World's Best Hikes: Epic Trails” list. Crossing Israel from North to South, the trail leads hikers through both ancient and contemporary landscapes, desolated and inhabited areas. The trails are clearly marked, with some sections accessible to all good walkers and others requiring significant hiking practice and skill. Along the way you might meet some of the “Trail Angels”, who help hikers with food, water and a resting place free of charge.

Jewish Sustainability

Participate in a Seminar Connecting Jewish Texts to Universal Values of Sustainability

Engage with the classical texts of Judaism in a magnificent natural setting to better understand Judaism’s traditional values of environmentalism and sustainability. Explore ethical and legal underpinnings for environmental protection, humane treatment of animals and responsible preparation and consumption of food and discuss how to apply these lessons to your life after returning from Israel.

Frisbee Peace Chance

There Is No Better Way to Connect People than through Game

Youth from throughout the Middle East learn the ways of peace via Frisbee! Join the “Ultimate Peace” organization for an afternoon of bridge building (and Frisbee playing) between Israeli Arabs, Israeli Jews and Palestinians. See what happens when teens meet “the other” for the first time and interact in a playful setting.

World Gym

Calling All Workout Buffs for Some Outdoor Activity

Are you up for a challenge? Outdoor training (or ODT in short) is an excellent way to bring groups of people together and turn them into a team collaborating towards a common goal. Our outdoor training activities include running, relay-races, myriad types of games and lots more and are great fun for both teenagers and adult fitness fanatics.

This is a collection of experiences that revolve around the topic of diversity in Israeli society. Here you will find tours, workshops, performances and other interactive experiences that explore coexistence, pluralism, minorities, multi-faith relations and shared citizenship in Israel’s daily life.

Learning to Live Together

A Center for Jewish-Arab Education Promoting Peaceful Coexistence

Visit with Israel Experts one of the Yad b’yad, “Hand in Hand” in Hebrew, schools, where Arab and Jewish children learn together. Hear about the organization’s model of education, which promotes cooperation and coexistence between the religions from an early age.

Judaism and "The Other"

Meet Religious Minorities Living in Israel

The Jewish state is home to people of various ethnicities and religions. We invite you to get acquainted with the religious minorities in Israel by attending a panel of Christians, Muslims, Circassians and Druze activists. Hear about their lives and their struggles, striving to coexist with the Jewish majority.

The (Stained) Glass Ceiling

Attend a Panel of Israeli and Palestinian Feminists

Despite significant improvements in recent years, the journey to gender equality in the Middle East remains long and arduous. We invite you to attend a panel of Arab-Israeli, Palestinian and Jewish-Israeli women and learn about the differences between gender roles in the three societies.

Military Mechina

Meet Israeli Youth Who Are Preparing for Military Service

Explore the world of pre-army “Mechina” (educational program preparing young adults for their military service) focusing on social justice, Jewish identity and leadership among Israel’s young adults. Meet the Mechina instructors and join the students for a text study.

To conclude, Israel Experts offers Israel tours across the country, with over 20 years of expertise and knowledge we are capable of showing you the real Israel and experience the local culture and cuisine through a variery of tours.

We offer group tours like Acadmeic Programs, Jewish Federations & Organizations, Youth & Teens and Synagogues. And from the exclusive side we offer Private Israel tour for Family private tours, Art Tours, Food and Wine Tours, Luxury, spa and leisure tours and Agriculture tours.

Our tours are carefully planned by our educators. It is important for us to learn about your needs and goals. Once we know what you want to achieve, our EXPERTS will design a series of encounters and experiences that will immerse you into the heart of the wonderful, magical, yet complex, mosaic of Israel.

Israel’s heritage is our passion.

We know every stone, every road, every corner, every market and the great stories behind each one

We invite you to join us for a journey into the heart and soul of Israel – as well as your own.

We love and know Israel. We want to show you and teach you.

We see this as a wonderful opportunity to share our knowledge and enhance yours as you travel, hiking or just resting through the beautiful Israel.

#israel #israel tour #visit israel #israel experts #heritage israel #faith and heritage tours #tours of israel #israel north #israel south #israel for families

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tlbodine · 6 years

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Writing Disabled Characters

Okay. So. I am unwisely wading into this because I’ve seen way too much about this on my dash this week, and I feel like there are some really good points being made but also a lot of people getting angry and talking past each other.

In case you’ve missed the debate up to this point, it goes something like this:

Person A: I wish there were more representation of disability in fiction.

Person B: It just isn’t realistic, though. How is a disabled person going to do all of the cool stuff a story character is supposed to do?

Person A: Actually it isn’t that hard. You can do this and this and this. Also what about This Piece of Popular Media Already Featuring a Disabled Protagonist?

Person B: But that media doesn’t count because that person Isn’t Really Disabled and also wtf why do I have to write disabled characters into everything? Why does every story suddenly have to have all this representation shoe-horned in there?! WHY CAN’T I JUST TELL A STORY?!?!?!

Person A: *now visibly angry* Just admit you’re being ableist.

Person B: You’re not even answering my question so obviously you’re just being a jerk right now and hiding behind labels

*cat-fight snarling and cartoon dust cloud ensues*

Okay y’all. We’re done. We’re finished. All of you go to your corners and calm the fuck down.

Let’s take a deep goddamn breath and talk about disability* in fiction. Buckle in, because this is a long one.

*(Note: I think all of this also probably applies, in one way or another, to any other type of representation, be it racial or sexual or whatever, but right this second I’m gonna be focusing on disability because I want a can of worms not a dumptruck of worms)

Nobody is saying that your story has to have a disabled character in it (and if someone actually is saying that, they’re being kind of a dick).

There is no Representation Police that will show up at your doorstep and pound on your door and confiscate your laptop if you are not hitting the appropriate quota of disabled characters in your fiction. If you don’t want to tell a story with a disabled character in it, that is your prerogative, and literally no one is going to hold a gun to your head and force you to do it.

However, you gotta accept some responsibility that you are choosing not to write a disabled character. Because there is nothing stopping you from including one, aside from your own decision not to do so.

And maybe you should take a step back and ask yourself why you are making the decision not to write a disabled character.

Do you think it would just be physically impossible for a person with a disability to do all of the things you need your character to do? You might be right! On the other hand, someone with no legs reached the summit of Mt. Everest, an athlete with a wooden leg won 6 Olympic medals in 1904, and a man with cerebral palsy traveled across 20 European countries in a motorized wheelchair.

Just for starters.

No, not all disabled people are going to be capable of amazing feats of whatever, and no, disabled people don’t exist to provide inspiration porn etc. etc., there’s stuff to unpack here, but my point is that physical disability does not immediately preclude a character from being able to do cool and heroic shit. So if that’s your justification for not writing a disabled character into your story, maybe you just need to do a bit more research because you don’t realize what’s actually possible.

Have you never seen a disabled character in media and you’re afraid it would be too fucking weird or niche or only appeal to the SJW-type subset and not have mass commercial appeal?

You know what? I actually sympathize. I totally get that concern. You don’t want to look like you’re pandering. You’re just here to tell a good story, you don’t want to have to shoe-horn in a character just because somebody told you that not putting them in was ableist.

But like. There are already highly successful, commercial, mainstream pieces of media with disabled characters in them.

Professor X. Bucky Barnes. Edward Elric. Matt Murdock. Bran Stark. Gregory House. Toothless (and Hiccup by the end). Just to name a couple off the top of my head.

And you know, their representation isn’t always perfect and ideal (it always bothered me that Daredevil’s blindness is often conveniently ignored for example) but it’s already there. In wildly successful pieces of media. The presence of a disabled character does not automatically make your story less commercially viable.

Would making your character disabled mess up the story you’re trying to tell in some way?

Be honest with yourself. Would it really? Why?

Maybe you’re absolutely right! Maybe you’re trying to tell a story about a very specific thing, and introducing extra variables into it would detract from that story. And you know what? That’s totally fine. It is absolutely fine to write your story however the fuck you want to write it.

But if you don’t want to write it because:

It seems unrealistic

It seems too logistically difficult

“People like that wouldn’t exist in this setting”

It literally never occurred to you and now you’re embarrassed and defensive about it

You are vaguely viscerally uncomfortable at the idea for a reason you can’t explain

Then, well. Maybe you have some internalized ableism and you need to tend to that. Or maybe you just haven’t thought past the surface, and you should take some time to figure out why you forgot that disabled people exist. Or maybe you’re being intellectually lazy. And maybe all of those reasons are why disabled people are angry at you, and maybe taking a second to (shudder) check your privilege and see where they’re coming from is more important than rushing to defend your own wounded ego.

Because, I feel like I need to reiterate: Nobody is forcing you to write stories in any particular way - which means that everything in your story is part of your own conscious or unconscious decision-making, and you need to own that and accept responsibility for it one way or another.

And you know what?

You in the back! You over there with your disabled characters! You, who is at this very moment inching your mouse cursor over the reblog button with the intention of smugly pointing out that your book is full of disabled characters, and you always care about representation. Good for you! Also, I do not care. Until you also tell me what the book is about, and why this character is interesting, and your writing is solid -- I do not give even the single tiniest of fucks.

Because writing diverse media isn’t enough to make it good.

Diversity is not a sole goddamn selling point for a story.

And if the only thing you can tell me about your story is how much representation is in it, I have no way of knowing whether or not it’s any good or whether I’ll enjoy it, so you don’t get to claim any kudos points.

You gotta ask yourself the same question as hypothetical Mr. “That’s Just Not Realistic” McGee over there:

Am I writing this just to get brownie points with someone?

Am I writing this to target a specific niche (ie, a disability-focused magazine)?

Am I writing this to feel morally superior?

Am I writing this because I’m disabled and I want to tell a story about someone like me?

Am I writing this because I want to understand disability better?

Am I writing this because I want to explore some or another topic or theme or trope and it seemed interesting?

Am I writing this because it would work with my setting so why the hell not?

I don’t care what the answer is, but you should. Art demands intellectual honesty. Know your motives and fucking own them. If you’re writing something in a particular way so that it will get reblogged by a particular person? Just admit that. If you’re writing something in a particular way because it’s your experience and you want to write a goddamn story about it? Say that!

But don’t let yourself get caught in the trap of believing you’re morally superior to somebody else because you’re Doing This One Thing Right, okay?

Do I have any advice on writing disabled characters?

Damn right I do. I mean. You know me. I’ve got advice about fuckin’ everything.

But that’ll have to wait for a future post, because this one’s gone on way too damn long already.

#writing advice #psa #disabled characters #disability #representation #rant #this is a behemoth #and I could keep going #but jfc #who would want me to

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resschools · 2 years

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Celebrate Independence Day in RES School

Any country that has been under the reign of a foreign government will surely know what life is like in that scenario and also the need for freedom. All those countries which have gained their independence from the rule of the foreign government would know for real how significant it is and hence commemorate the occasion. India is one such country that celebrates its day of independence on the 15th of August every year.

RES School celebrated Independence Day with great pomp and splendour as it was the 75th Independence Day. The entire school building was lightened up with the Tri colour lights for three days and the compound was representing the Indian flag colours.

The Independence Day function started at 8 o’ clock in the morning with Mr.Prasanna the chairman and Mr.Prashanth M.D of the School lighting the diyas and unfurling the national flag. Commencing the function, the chairman through his motivational speech shared the importance of Independence Day to students. He shared his thoughts that the foundation on which the Indian Freedom struggle was based i.e non- violence movement. This concept was taught to us by the great spiritual guru called Mahatma Gandhi or what we often address him as Bapu. The most significant aspect of our freedom is that it was won assertively and not through any aggressive practices. Today, we are still known as a nation which is an unruffled amalgamation of diverse values and cultures.

The event followed by the Dumble Drills and the Hoop Drills from the high school Students who presented themselves very beautifully. The choir group sang “Hindustanavu yendu Mareyada “showing their love and how pride they are of their nation.

The Pre Primary students had attired themselves as the freedom fighters and sang Vande mataram showing their love towards country.

This was followed by the speech from the Managing Director who advised the students to pledge and take part in nation building in our own unique ways. It is highly inevitable for all of us to uphold our rich traditions and cherish our culture. He said that our students are our Nation’s Ambassadors who can spread the richness of our values. To make this possible, they need to take extra efforts to understand our values and culture well. I am sure that your parents and teachers give you ample opportunities in this regard. Our dream is that each one of you growing up and developing as integrated personalities and becoming true global citizens who will return to your own country and contribute immensely towards its further development, and also for the world peace at large.

The event was continued with the cultural programmes from each of the classes and few speeches from students in different languages. The Programme was concluded by distribution of medals from the chairman and managing director to students who had participated in various events organised by school.

The celebration was planned for a week and the students had cooking without fire in tri colour, they decorated their notice board with the sketches of the freedom fighters and the Mid school children had their Essay writing on “Developing india”

The lower primary class students did art work putting forward their dreams about their country.

It was very surprising to see the students with such big thoughts for the country. We are proud that our students have great vision and will grow up to be good and proud citizens. Sweets and snacks were distributed for the parents, students and staff at the end of the programme

#best schools in bangalore #top play schools in bangalore

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nathanielfinau · 3 years

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Socio-cultural Mood Board

Society in the 1920s of France was very diverse, with many foreign workers coming in because of the immigration barriers being lowered to compensate for the manpower that was lost from the war. (“France - The interwar years”) During world war 1 women had found opportunities for work, after the war women had still wanted to work and were successful with 42% of women still employed. Though women were working they still didn’t have the right to vote. (Jacobson)

Josephine Baker, a black woman who was popular in Paris during the 1920s and onwards. She was an entertainer from the US, taking Paris by storm where she was someone who symbolised beauty and vitality of the black American culture. Moving from the US in 1925 she made quite an impression on the people of France because not only did they embrace diversity it was better than the way they treated people of color in America. Her Charleston dance showed how good of an entertainer she was as well as being an icon of Jazz. (“Josephine Baker in the 1920s”)

The French Grand Prix is a sporting event involving the racing of cars. The French Grand Prix is the oldest of the Grand Prix in the world. Robert Benoist is someone who won two time during the 1920s French Grand Prix (“French Grand Prix Facts for Kids”)

Popular sports in the 1920s from France include sports like the Tour de France. The Tour de France is a bike race that travels over 2,235 miles mainly in France and occasionally visiting nearby countries such as Germany, Italy and Belgium. These races have been going on since 1903 and happen annually. (Desgrange and Tikkanen) Another popular sport during 1920s France is fencing. Fencing has had a long history in France and during the 1290 Olympics France won a Gold medal thanks to Armand Massard.

Works Cited

Desgrange, Henri, and Amy Tikkanen. “Tour de France | cycling | Britannica.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/sports/Tour-de-France. Accessed 23 March 2022.

“France - The interwar years.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/place/France/The-interwar-years. Accessed 23 March 2022.

“French Grand Prix Facts for Kids.” Kids encyclopedia facts, https://kids.kiddle.co/French_Grand_Prix. Accessed 23 March 2022.

Jacobson, Jon. “France 1920s – The Past Changes a Little Every Time We Retell It.” IGB International School, https://igbis.edu.my/the-past-changes-a-little-every-time-we-retell-it/ibdp-history/interwar-years/france-britain/. Accessed 23 March 2022.

“Josephine Baker in the 1920s.” 1920s Fashion & Music, https://www.1920s-fashion-and-music.com/josephine-baker.html. Accessed 23 March 2022.

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blackkudos · 6 years

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Celia Cruz

Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso, also known by her stage name Celia Cruz (October 21, 1925 – July 16, 2003), was a Cuban singer of Latin music. The most popular Latin artist of the 20th century, she earned twenty-three gold albums and was a recipient of the National Medal of Arts. She was renowned internationally as the "Queen of Salsa", "La Guarachera de Cuba", as well as The Queen of Latin Music.

She spent much of her career working in the United States and several Latin American countries. Leila Cobo of Billboard Magazine once said "Cruz is indisputably the best known and most influential female figure in the history of Cuban and Latin music".

Early life

Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso was born on October 21, 1925 in the diverse, working-class neighborhood of Santos Suárez in Havana, Cuba, the second of four children. Her father, Simon Cruz, was a railroad stoker and her mother, Catalina Alfonso was a homemaker who took care of an extended family of fourteen.

While growing up in Cuba's diverse 1930s musical climate, Cruz listened to many musicians who influenced her adult career, including Fernando Collazo, Abelardo Barroso, Pablo Quevedo and Arsenio Rodríguez. Despite her mother's opposition and the fact that she was Catholic, as a child Cruz learned santería songs from her neighbor who practiced santería. Cruz also later studied the words to Yoruba songs with colleague Mercedita Valdés (an Akpwon santería singer) from Cuba and made various recordings of this religious genre, even singing backup for other female akpwons like Candita Batista.

As a teenager, her aunt took her and her cousin to cabarets to sing, but her father encouraged her to attend school in the hope she would become a teacher. However, one of her teachers told her that as an entertainer she could earn in one day what most Cuban teachers earned in a month. Cruz began singing at Havana's radio station Radio García Serra as a contestant on this station's popular "Hora del Té" daily broadcast, where she sang the tango "Nostalgias" and won a cake as first-place finisher. She often won cakes and also opportunities to participate in more contests. Her first recordings were made in 1948 in Venezuela.

Career

With Sonora Matancera, she appeared in cameos in some Mexican films such as Rincón Criollo (1950), Una gallega en La Habana(1955) and Amorcito Corazón (1961).

When Fidel Castro assumed control of Cuba in 1959, Cruz and her husband, Pedro Knight, were prohibited from returning to their homeland and became citizens of the United States. In 1966, Cruz and Tito Puente began an association that would lead to eight albums for Tico Records. The albums were not as successful as expected. However, Puente and Cruz later joined the Vaya Records label. There, she joined accomplished pianist Larry Harlow and was soon headlining a concert at New York's Carnegie Hall.

Cruz's 1974 album with Johnny Pacheco, Celia y Johnny, was very successful, and Cruz soon found herself in a group named the Fania All-Stars, which was an ensemble of salsa musicians from every orchestra signed by the Fania label (owner of Vaya Records). With the Fania All-Stars, Cruz had the opportunity to visit England, France, Zaire (today's DR Congo), and to return to tour Latin America; her performance in Zaire is included in the film Soul Power. In the late 1970s, she participated in an Eastern Air Lines commercial in Puerto Rico, singing the catchy phrase ¡Esto sí es volar! (This is to truly fly!).

In 1976, she participated in a documentary film Salsa about the Latin culture, along with figures like Dolores del Río and Willie Colón.

Celia Cruz used to sing the identifying spot for WQBA radio station in Miami, formerly known as "La Cubanísima": "I am the voice of Cuba, from this land, far away...I am liberty, I am WQBA, the most Cuban! (Yo soy de Cuba, la voz, desde esta tierra lejana...soy libertad, soy WQBA, Cubanísima!) During the 1980s, Cruz made many tours in Latin America and Europe, doing multiple concerts and television shows wherever she went, and singing both with younger stars and stars of her own era. She began a crossover of sorts, when she participated in the 1988 feature film Salsa alongside Robby Draco Rosa.

In 1990, Cruz won a Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Performance – Ray Barretto & Celia Cruz – Ritmo en el Corazón. She later recorded an anniversary album with Sonora Matancera. In 1992, she starred with Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas in the filmThe Mambo Kings. In 1994, President Bill Clinton awarded Cruz the National Medal of Arts. In the same year, she was inducted intoBillboards Latin Music Hall of Fame along with fellow Cuban musician Cachao López. In 1999, Cruz was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2001, she recorded a new album, on which Johnny Pacheco was one of the producers.

On July 16, 2002, Cruz performed to a full house at the free outdoor performing arts festival Central Park SummerStage in New York City. During the performance she sang "Bemba Colora'." A live recording of this song was subsequently made available in 2005 on a commemorative CD honoring the festival's then 20-year history entitled, "Central Park SummerStage: Live from the Heart of the City". Cruz appeared on the Dionne Warwick albums 1998 Dionne Sings Dionne & 2006 My Friends & Me with their Latin Duet version of (Do You Know The Way To) San Jose.

In March 2003, the Spanish-language television network Telemundo produced and aired a tribute special honoring Cruz, ¡Celia Cruz: Azúcar!. It was hosted by American singer Marc Anthony and Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan. It featured musical performances by various Latin music and Anglo performers including Victor Manuelle, Paulina Rubio, José Feliciano, Milly Quezada, Los Tri-O, Estefan, Patti Labelle, Arturo Sandoval, Ana Gabriel, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Tito Nieves, Albita, Johnny Pacheco, Alicia Villareal, Olga Tañón, Mikey Perfecto, José Alberto "El Canario", Rosario, Luis Enrique, Anthony and Gloria Gaynor.

Death

On July 16, 2003, Cruz died of brain cancer at her home in Fort Lee, New Jersey, at the age of 77. Her husband, Pedro Knight (died February 3, 2007), was there for her while she was going through cancer treatments. She had no children with him. After her death, her body was taken to lie in state in Miami's Freedom Tower, where more than 200,000 fans paid their final respects. Multiple vigils occurred worldwide in cities such as Havana, Miami, and Cali (the Cali vigil became notorious in Colombian history due to its three-day span) Knight had Cruz buried in a granite mausoleum that he had built in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City earlier in 2003, when she was dying. Knight chose the plot on which it stands, which is near the gravestones of Duke Ellington and Miles Davis because it was accessible to fans and had four windows built into it so that fans could see inside when paying their respects. Knight was known to share his time there with visiting fans. Knight himself was buried with Cruz in the same mausoleum following his death on February 3, 2007. An epilogue in her autobiography notes that, in accordance with her wishes, Cuban soil which she had saved from a visit to Guantánamo Bay was used in her entombment.

Legacy

In February 2004, her last album, Regalo del Alma, won a posthumous award at the Premios Lo Nuestro for best salsa release of the year. It was announced in December 2005 that a musical called Azucar! would open in Tenerife before touring the world. The name comes from Cruz's well-known catch phrase of "¡Azúcar!"

On June 4, 2004, the heavily Cuban-American community of Union City, New Jersey heralded its annual Cuban Day Parade by dedicating its new Celia Cruz Park (also known as Celia Cruz Plaza), which features a sidewalk star in her honor, at 31st Street and Bergenline Avenue, with Cruz's widower, Pedro Knight, present. There are four other similar dedications to Cruz around the world. Cruz's star has expanded into Union City's "Walk of Fame", as new marble stars are added each spring to honor Latin entertainment and media personalities, such as merengue singer Joseíto Mateo, salsa singer La India, Cuban musician Israel "Cachao" Lopez, Cuban tenor Beny Moré, Tito Puente, Spanish language television news anchor Rafael Pineda, salsa pioneer Johnny Pacheco, singer/bandleader Gilberto Santa Rosa and music promoter Ralph Mercado.

On May 18, 2005, the National Museum of American History, administered by the Smithsonian Institution and located in Washington, D.C., opened "¡Azúcar!", an exhibit celebrating the life and music of Celia Cruz. The exhibit highlights important moments in Cruz's life and career through photographs, personal documents, costumes, videos, and music.

On September 26, 2007, through May 25, 2008, Celia, a musical based on the life of Celia Cruz, played at the off-Broadway venue, New World Stages. Some performances were in Spanish and some in English. The show won four 2008 HOLA awards from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors.

On March 16, 2011, Celia Cruz was honored by the United States Postal Service with a commemorative postage stamp. The Cruz stamp was one of a group of five stamps honoring Latin music greats, also including Selena, Tito Puente, Carmen Miranda, and Carlos Gardel.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History collaborated with photographer Robert Weingarten to create an object-based portrait of Celia Cruz featuring artifacts in the museum. The portrait was unveiled October 3, 2012.

On October 21, 2013, Google honored her with a Google Doodle. At 41st American Music Awards, American singer Jennifer Lopez performed a medley of Cruz's songs.

Discography

Filmography

Salón México (Mexico, 1950)

Una gallega en La Habana (Mexico, 1952)

¡Olé... Cuba! (Mexico/Cuba, 1957)

Affair in Havana (USA/Cuba, 1957)

Amorcito Corazon (Mexico, 1960)

Salsa (Documentary, 1976)

Salsa (USA, 1988)

"Fires Within" (USA, 1991)

The Mambo Kings (USA, 1992)

Valentina (TV) (Mexico, 1993)

The Perez Family (USA, 1995) Luz Pat

El alma no tiene color (TV) (Mexico, 1997)

¡Celia Cruz: Azúcar! (TV) (Tribute, USA, 2003)

Soul Power (Documentary of Kinshasa, Zaire Music Festival 1974) (USA, 2008)

CELIA, Celia Cruz Bio-Drama (2015 on Telemundo)

Wikipedia

#Celia Cruz

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calacuspr · 3 years

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Calacus Weekly Hit & Miss – Maria Andrejczyk & Yorkshire CCC

Every Monday we look at the best and worst communicators in the sports world from the previous week.

HIT - MARIA ANDREJCZYK

Winning an Olympic medal is the pinnacle for most athletes, particularly those in track and field events for whom the Olympic Games is the ultimate prize.

Polish javelin thrower Maria Andrejczyk came close at Rio 2016 when she finished fourth with a best attempt of 64.78, missing a place on the podium by a margin of just 0.02cm.

In 2019, her career took a back seat when she underwent surgery after being diagnosed with an osteoma, a benign bone tumour.

Remarkably, she fought back and after surgery, she was able to restart training for the Olympic Games in 2019 and won the silver medal at Tokyo 2020 with a throw of 64.61 metres.

Maria later said that she wanted to put the medal to good use and so sought a worthy cause and told Polish television: “The true value of a medal always remains in the heart. A medal is only an object, but it can be of great value to others. This silver can save lives, instead of collecting dust in a closet. That is why I decided to auction it to help sick children.”

Via a Facebook fundraiser, she soon identified a young boy named Miloszek Malysa, who has a heart defect, who needs life-saving surgery.

"I didn't spend long thinking about this, it was the first fundraiser I came across and I knew it was the right one," she said.

"He already has a head start from Kubus – a boy who didn't make it in time but whose amazing parents decided to pass on the funds they collected…And in this way, I also want to help. It's for him that I am auctioning my Olympic silver medal.”

According to Małysa's mother, Monika, there were no longer any viable options to help the boy in their home country, Poland, with their last hope being an operation in Stanford, California.

After starting the auction off at 200,000 zloty ($51,000), Maria announced that Żabka, a Polish supermarket chain, won the auction with a bid of $125,000.

"It's with the greatest pleasure that I give to you, Żabka, my medal which for me is a symbol of struggle, faith and the pursuit of dreams despite the many challenges," she added.

"I hope for you it will be a symbol of the life of which we fought for together."

Zabka then announced that they would return the medal to Maria.

"We were moved by the beautiful and extremely noble gesture of our Olympian," it wrote on Facebook.

"Therefore, we decided to support the collection of funds for the sick Miłoszek. We also decided that the silver medal from Tokyo will remain with Mrs. Maria, who showed how great she is."

The money raised will allow Małysa to get the necessary surgery at Stanford University Medical Center and underlines yet again how the sport of sport can change lives and how sports stars can be role models, making a positive difference to society.

MISS – YORKSHIRE CCC

Yorkshire County cricket Club have not done themselves any favours following the conclusion of a year-long independent investigation after former player Azeem Rafiq accused them or racism.

Rafiq, a former captain both of England’s Under-19s and Yorkshire’s Twenty20 side, first spoke publicly about his experiences at the club last September and claimed that "institutional racism" left him close to taking his own life.

Last November, after he first gave evidence to the panel appointed by Yorkshire to investigate his allegations, and two members of the panel stood down to act instead as witnesses, Rafiq’s lawyer spoke of her “serious concerns about the initial handling of Azeem’s complaint and the people appointed to be involved in that process”.

The 100-page report upholds many of Rafiq’s allegations – but when it will be made public, and how much of it will be redacted, remains uncertain while the ECB wrote to the club last week to ask for a copy of the findings.

Yorkshire have offered him their "profound apologies" after "several of the allegations" were upheld but Rafiq was understandably frustrated.

He said: "A year of pain, a year of trying to get people to listen, a year of giving people an opportunity to do the right thing and we end up with a statement that turns racism into inappropriate behaviour."

“We’ve waited a year for this report and they are still trying to bury it,” Rafiq told ESPNcricinfo.

“The ECB’s own anti-discrimination code states that any alleged breach must be investigated and dealt with in a ‘timely’ fashion. Well, it’s been more than a year and no one has been held accountable and nothing has changed.”

Given the gravity of the investigation, Yorkshire should have been complete transparent about the findings and done everything to address Rafiq’s concerns once the report was finalised.

The club said in a statement that the scope of the investigation went beyond solely examining Rafiq's allegations, also considering whether they were institutionally racist.

"The investigation has been in depth and far from easy. Sadly, historically, Azeem was the victim of inappropriate behaviour."

Rafiq responded: "To try and say that these are historical things, yes there are things that are 10 years ago but predominantly most of my allegations relate to people that are still there in leadership positions.

"It's like saying 'we're going to punch you, knock you down and then pick you back up'. To be honest I'm absolutely sick and tired.

"I'm sick and tired of giving these people, the game, Yorkshire Cricket Club, the ECB, everyone, an opportunity to the detriment of myself. The damage that this last 12 months has caused me… I don't know when I will actually know that."

The speed at which Yorkshire have dealt with the complaints and their approach to dealing with them does not suggest that they understand the seriousness of the allegations or the damage that the situation has done to their reputation.

The ECB Chairman, Ian Watmore, then demanded that Yorkshire deliver a copy of the report to the governing body. “We respect the independent process behind the review, and the club’s legal responsibilities to all parties. We also understand the frustration at the length of time this investigation has taken.

“Now that the club has a full copy of the report, we have today written to Yorkshire to formally request a copy, together with a timeline for publication.

“It has taken considerable courage for Azeem Rafiq to speak out, and it is right that his experiences should have been thoroughly investigated. We now look forward to receiving a copy of the report promptly to enable us to fulfil our role as the ultimate regulator of the game.”

Clearly there is still work to do, especially as some of those who Rafiq complained about remain at the club.

He added: “To try and tone racism down to inappropriate behaviour ... straight away for me, I find it really difficult to understand what they think they are doing. At the end of it [the statement] there is some sort of apology, but it is spoilt by the words that are used to try and minimise what my allegations were.

“I want to know which of my allegations have not been upheld. I am very comfortable, I have a lot of proof to back up the things that I am saying. I wouldn’t think twice about making sure people see that proof because I am not having, for any second of the day, a statement that turns my sufferings of over a decade into ‘inappropriate behaviour’.

“Most of my allegations are about people who are currently at the club in leadership positions so to try and say these are historic allegations from a long time ago — yes there are some things on there that go back to the start of my career, but the majority of them are about people who are still there and from during my second spell at the club.

“I have got a message for them: it isn’t going away, I am not going away. If they really want to deal with this properly, the start of it is accountability. I think the chief executive, the director of cricket, everyone who was in that room when I said it, and the inclusion and diversity manager whose front room I sat in and cried my eyes out, I think they need to go. It’s as simple as that.

“The patience is gone, it’s completely gone. I am not going to put myself through any more mental turmoil. It is time for this to be dealt with properly.”

#Tokyo Olympic Games #Tokyo 2020 #IOC #ECB #racism in sport #Yorkshire CCC #Yorkshire cricket #Azeem Rafiq #Maria Andrejczyk #Olympic javelin #Zabka

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ralphlayton · 3 years

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5 Olympic Lessons for Marketing Project Managers

Shattered world records. Nail-biting competition. Limitless sportsmanship. The Olympic Games are a sight to behold.

via GIPHY While we had to wait a little longer for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, they’re still captivating audiences with competition that pushes the limits of athletes and of humans. As a long-time spectator of the games, however, I’ve found that some of the most memorable Olympic moments hold real-life lessons and even happen outside of the competition floor. Already at these Olympic Games, I’ve taken note of several moments that are unforgettable in life and in work. Especially as a marketing project manager, where we often have to coach our team members, I’ve learned several lessons from the first week of competition. To learn what those lessons are and how they can impact your marketing projects, read on.

Lesson #1 — It’s okay to say, “no.”

Simone Biles, the GOAT ?, shocked the world when she pulled out of the women’s artistic gymnastics team final. And shocked us again when she pulled out of the women’s individual all around.

via GIPHY But when you learn the reason why, wanting to avoid personal injury due to the “twisties” and to focus on her mental health, it’s easy to see why she withdrew. In fact, it makes complete sense. There are times where saying, “no” is the best, most brave thing you can do. In marketing, business, and even in life, it’s really hard to say, “no.” When clients or execs come to you with requests, it’s only natural to want to say yes. We want to please and delight those that we work with. But there are times where saying, “yes” could lead your team to become stretched too thin, stressed, and overworked. “No” can be a powerful term in those situations and can help safeguard your team against unnecessary crunch. I would also advise that “but” can be a very useful word here as well. “Yes, we can service your request, but it means your other deliverables may be delayed.” With a small “but,” you’re able to make room for the new request while still safeguarding your team.

Lesson #2 - Celebrate the victories, big and small.

When Australia’s Ariarne Titmus won the gold in the women’s 400 meter freestyle, I don’t think anyone was more excited than her coach, Dean Boxall:

via GIPHY It was an epic celebration that went viral shortly after. It’s hard to watch that and not feel the excitement, the hype. Energy like that is infectious. As a marketing project manager, you want that energy among your team. You want morale to be high so team members are engaged in the work and motivated to achieve success. And this Olympic moment is a good reminder to celebrate your project’s success, both big and small. Those wins can do wonders for your team morale and energy.

Lesson #3 - Persevere.

This Olympics, Hidilyn Diaz won the first ever gold medal for the Philippines. And it came in women’s weightlifting.

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But what I find so inspiring about Hidilyn’s story is when you look at her history in this sport. In 2008 in Beijing at the age of 17, she finished second to last. In London in 2012, she missed all of her clean and jerk attempts, resulting in a DNF (did not finish). But she shook it off and persevered. In Rio in 2016, she took home the silver medal becoming the first Filipino woman to win an Olympic medal. And even then she wasn’t satisfied, competing and training for another five years to compete in Tokyo, where she took home the gold and made history yet again. That’s amazing dedication, determination, and perseverance. Perseverance is a great quality to have as a marketing project manager, and Hidilyn’s story is a great reminder of that. It’s not uncommon for marketing projects — or any projects or work for that matter — to experience setbacks. But it’s important that when setbacks happen, we forge ahead. We pivot. We adapt. And who knows, if we persevere long enough, we may break records and barriers not unlike Hidilyn.

Lesson #4 - Experience isn’t everything.

Watching the women’s skateboarding street finals was a trip! I could not believe the ages of these young athletes. The gold and silver medalists were both just 13 years old and the bronze medalist wasn’t much older at the age of 16.

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And in watching them perform, I couldn’t help but be reminded that age is just a number. In work environments, it can be easy to judge someone based on their age or level of experience. After all, reviewing one’s experience is how we determine one’s role on the team and the work they can make the greatest impact on. These skateboarders just go to show that excellence can come from anywhere and anyone. All we need to do as project managers is give individuals the tools and resources to get there. Experience isn’t the end-all be-all we sometimes think it is.

Lesson #5 - Diversity breeds success.

206 countries. Over 11,000 athletes. 309 medals up for grabs in 33 sports. It’s the most diverse gathering of athletes in terms of sport, race, and nationality. I also think it’s the perfect case study for why diversity drives excellence and innovation. Just take a look at the current medal count and imagine if only certain countries could compete. While those countries would go home with more medals, it might be a hollow victory. An athlete that might not have been on the podium or even in the final heat, is suddenly a medal winner. Current Olympic and world records might stand when they would have been shattered otherwise. It’s the wide range of international competition that continues to push athletes to their limits. When it comes to forming the teams for your marketing projects, make sure they are diverse ones. The more perspectives you have, the better your project will be in the long run and the more success you’ll find.

Take Your Team to Olympic Heights

Project management and people management are one in the same. For our projects to be successful, we have to effectively manage people in the process. Watching the Olympics, it’s clear to me that there are a lot of people management lessons we can learn from Olympians, their coaches, and their actions. For your own marketing projects, use the advice above to keep the people on your teams motivated, happy, and successful. In need of more marketing project management advice? Learn about the common barriers to marketing project management and how to overcome them.

The post 5 Olympic Lessons for Marketing Project Managers appeared first on B2B Marketing Blog - TopRank®.

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bmxbikebrands · 4 years

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Most Famous BMX Riders in the History

Riding BMX bikes is definitely not a piece of cake. It requires months of practice and hard work to become a prominent BMX rider provided the opportunities. A professional BMX bike rider needs to ride for long hours, performing stunts and moves along with showing skills. Sometimes, you need to ride on the top of the mountain or deadly terrains. There are many BMX riders who have shown their metal and strength in the BMX world. They have caught the word’s eye owing to their BMX skills and dedication with this sport.

Here are some of the most famous BMX riders in the history of BMX…

1. Mat Hoffman

Mat Hoffman is considered as the best vamp rider in the history of this sport. Even the people with very limited BMX knowledge recognize his name. He has been credited for inventing over 100 BMX tricks. He is the first rider to land a 900, and then a no handed 900. Mat Hoffman is a 10-time World Vert Champion and 6-time X-Games medalist. He hold the world record of highest air achieved on a BMX bike over a 24-feet quarter pipe. He even has some video games named after him. Mat has also been awarded the ESPN Action Sports Lifetime Achievement Award.

2. Ryan Nyquist

Ryan Nyquist is an American professional BMX rider and is considered as one of the greatest and diversely skilled BMX riders ever. He has won 16 X-Games medals to his name in Dirt Jumping and Bike Park events. He was 2nd last year in the competition of FISE World Montpellier having adopted the MTB Slopestyle recently. He has also shown interest in Freeride Mountain biking Tand training for it as well. He is the first person to ride with pegs on a Mountain Bike.

3. Tinker Juarez

Tinker Juarez is a legendary BMX rider. He is a former professional BMX and cross-country mountain bike racer. He is an old school legend and considered as one of the earliest adapters of Freestyle BMX. Tinker Juarez is entertaining people in the world of BMX since 1984. He has been a marathon mountain bike racer since 2005. The “Bicycle Motocross Action” magazine has named him the first king of skateparks, no wonder he is one of the most famous BMX riders in history. He has won many competitions over the years. In 2006, he finished third in “Race across America” endurance bicycle race.

4. Dakota Roche

Dakota Roche is a famous BMX rider that loves BMX riding in its truest form. His approach towards BMX riding always cover the most technical aspects of BMX flatland. He now prefers filming the BMX contests and responsible for some of the best BMX films out there. He was nominated for “Transworld Ride BMX’s Number One Street Rider” every year from 2009 to 2013. He is an incredibly consistent BMX rider and is still causing waves in the scene.

5. Dennis McCoy

Dennis McCoy is a professional BMX rider who was also featured in the video game “Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX 2001”. He is the only rider in the BMX history to claim titles in Vert, Park, and Flatland riding in the same year. He had been a member of “American Freestyle Association” along with giants like Mat Hoffman and Dave Mirra. He has been amongst the pioneers of freestyle BMX riding and featured in several Road Fools episodes. He is the longest active competitor in the ESPN X-Games from 1995 to the 2018 event in Minneapolis.

6. John Tomac

John Tomac is an ex professional BMX rider who is considered as one of the most famous BMX riders in history. He had been inducted to the “Mountain Bike Hall of Fame” in 1991 with a career spanned over 2 decades. He started his BMX career in 1975 and competed with champions like Tony Carnes, Mike Chapman, and Tim Root. He won the “National Cruiser Class” title in 1984 at the age of sixteen. He has been an all-rounder having won titles in 4 disciplines. He also entered the corporate world and formed his own company by name “Tomac Bicycles”.

7. Mark Webb

Mark Webb has been one of the most influential and progressive BMX riders over the last decade. He is a British professional BMX rider that has been FISE favorite for many years. He is always willing to push the boundaries of this great sport to new levels. He has faced numerous career threatening injuries in his career like a broken neck, broken arm and shinbone, dislocated shoulder, and many concussions but still come out strong.

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afrimericanone · 6 years

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PANTHER!!!

From the moment the I saw the 'Black Panther' movie early this year, I knew I would write this blog. This movie which has made over $1.3 billion worldwide ($1,324,656,634 to be exact) has been described as a cultural phenomenon and we could not agree more. But why? My research into the Black Panther and its relevance in African American history shows that there is a TRUE connection and a NEED that is being served by the 'Black Panther'.

When the term 'Black Panther' is heard it often conjures up images 'angry black men' in iconic black leather jackets, afros and black berets marching angrily. Rarely does it mention the 10-point manifesto of the Black Panther Party founded in 1967 in Berkeley, California by Bobby Seale and Huey Newton which called for better housing and education and yes...an end to police brutality. It also does not conjure up the core of the Black Panther Party which was community service. They organized school breakfast programs, health clinics and even voter registration drives but none of this is celebrated.

The guns and defiance are more remembered. One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter and I am afraid this is the case here as well. The image of LEGALLY armed black men marching into government establishments was simply too much for America to handle. A tape with President Nixon suggesting the use of the FBI was released proving how the 'Black Party Movement' was targeted. It is amazing to me that despite all the hardships faced by the African American and amid their civil rights heroes being gunned down that there wouldn’t be an effort to understand but rather the movements were targeted for destruction.

Even today another movement also formed in Berkeley, California is demonized, the ‘Black Lives Matter' movement along with millionaire law abiding NFL players (Colin Kaepernick) are examples of groups that are still fighting against police brutality over 50 years after the 'Black Panther Party' started the struggle. While this is so unfair, it is not nearly as unfair as what happened to the people in the birth place of the 'Black Panther’, Lowndes County, Alabama.

In 1965, Lowndes County Alabama was 80% black who had NO representation on the county level. So after the voting rights act passed, it was time... for the first time, to exercise African American voting power. A new party was formed called the Lowndes County Freedom Organization (LCFO). While there we literacy tests to hinder voting rights of the majority black population, it was still problematic for them to vote, so a simple symbol... like the donkey for democrats and Elephant for republicans was born...the Black Panther. It was because of this symbol that they started being known as the Black Panther party.

Despite all the effort to elect black leadership and the overwhelming majority population being black, none of the Black Panther party candidates won. This was because of voter intimidation on another level was going on. American citizens lost their homes and jobs if they participated in community meetings, marched or supported the LCFO and especially there was trouble if you actually 'pulled the lever for the black panther". The displaced and intimidated 'Black Panther Party' members were forced to live along highway 80 in what is now known as the 'TENT CITY'. Yes ... American citizens were living like refugees because they voted for themselves. This 'Tent City' was very dangerous as you might imagine because of the racists that surround them. Reports were that even 11-year-old boys were training with shotguns in case the imaginable happened during the night. Stokely Carmichael a leader in this movement in Alabama later took the symbol to California and joined Bobby Seale and Huey Newton in formation of the ‘infamous’ "Black Panther Party' we spoke of earlier.

Ironically, at the same time all this drama was going on an all-white comic company named Marvel introduced the 'Black Panther'. First appearing in a Fantastic Four comic #52 in July 1966, the black panther was the first mainstream superhero of African descent in an American comic book. I read the first reference and Ben Simmons aka the 'THING" for you, comic buffs, asked ‘how some backwards African king could provide them with the superior technological space age fighter jet they were flying in at the time’. They were very few black comic book heroes previously and none before the black panther had superpowers.

If we look at the time frames, while the comic book is published before the founding of the Black panther party formed in Berkeley, California, the comic book Black Panther comes after the Lowndes Country Freedom Organization adopted the symbol in 1965. Stan Lee, co-creator of the comic, denied that the comic was named after any of the political uses of the term "black panther", including the LCFO, citing "a strange coincidence". 'Strange coincidence or not' King T'Challa 'decided' to call himself the 'Black Leopard ‘to avoid appearing to support the 'radical' Black Panther Party, this new name obviously did not have the same ring to it, luckily in proper American fashion cash rules and the king decided to go back to be the 'Black Panther'. King T'Challa explained in the comic Avengers #105, ‘'T'Challa explained that renaming himself made as much sense as altering the Scarlet Witch's name, and he is not a stereotype.'

The comic also did not pre-date the 761st Tank Battalion which was primarily black independent tank battalion during World War II. They were known as the 'Black Panthers' after their unit’s distinctive insignia and their motto was 'Come out Fighting'. The law was that the military would be segregated at least until after World War II. General Patton gave the ‘Black Panthers’ praise, they received a presidential unit citation for its actions as well as 1 medal of honor, 11 silver stars and about 300 purple hearts. They were one of the more effective tank battalions in world war II'. A little-known fact that the first African American to play in Major League Baseball, First Lieutenant Jackie Robinson was a member of the 'Black Panthers'. He desegregated baseball but not before he had all charges cleared for insubordination because he refused to sit at the back of the bus. True ‘Black Panther’ bravery!

So, is this 'coincidence ' as Stan Lee stated? Or is it fate? Or a mix of both? Regardless of where you fall on this issue, there is a connection between the African American and the 'Black Panther'. A strong and resilient connection to what the 'Black Panther' represents which is hope, pride and dignity, that is well deserved and earned by the African diaspora, but often not given by our fellow countrymen. There is a section of our society that believes that 'Wakanda' truly is a 'shithole' country and they also use their power of definition to demonize African and African diaspora efforts at justice and equality.

King T'Challa seems to be our hero that fights in various forms over the decades as the "Black Panther' against all that deny us justice and equality. This movie embodies that sentiment which is evident in the record breaking success the movie has had. This movie shed light on the cultural void experience (the negative space left from the forceful removal of culture from the African American). This cultural void needs to be filled and the 'Black Panther' fills it with pride, dignity and strength. Strength to fight wars while being segregated, strength to desegregate baseball, strength to vote for yourself when the consequences are painful, strength to feed and support you community while standing up and defending yourself.

The Black panther movie success proved that there is a longing to see ourselves a s part of the majority, with the power and all the technological advances and not simply as a token added for diversity sake. African Americans wore African clothing to the movies which touched the hearts of Africans who also felt pride and validation. This movie fills our void. This movie provides us with pride and empowerment. This movie endorsed unity between Africa and the African diaspora. This movie through the eyes of Kill monger sparked debate over the relationship between Africa and the African diaspora. This movie highlighted that a lack of belonging to home, makes you lost and lacking in enough culture. This movie shows that Africans have a long way to go before they can understand the plight of the African American. This movie shows how Africans isolate themselves from the problems faced by the African diaspora. This movie makes us realize that we must welcome our distant cousins home and feel their pain.

WAKANDA FOREVER!!!

CREDITS

ORIGINAL 'PANTHER' COVER ARTWORK/PAINTING BY NATHAN JALANI TAYLOR. PLEASE SUPPORT HIS AMAZING WORK

@ IG: @nathanjtaylor or www.nathanjalanitaylor.com/shop-1/

BLOG INFO SOURCED FROM WIKIPEDIA YOUTUBE AND OTHER WEBSITES

#black panther #panther #education #freedom #african #african american #afrimerican #panafrican #pan africanism #civil rights #culture #cultural #racial equality #technology

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