HRH Prince Phillip The Duke of Edinburgh- A Humble Tribute and A Huge Respect
Many have posted a tribute to HRH Prince Phillip The Duke of Edinburgh and many would not think much of my words, but I must say that he was truly an extraordinary human being.
Not sure what was the most touching detail for me, but there were many. That he founded the WWF – which I never knew. That he had a vision of saving the wildlife long before anyone else became awaye of it. That he remained the same Navy man till the end, despite of being Consort to The Queen. I’m amazed at how humble he was about his huge charity work, touching mostly young people. He refused a big state funeral – which he would have deserved. He has chosen – despite all his possibilities – to have a Land-Rover for a hearse, telling us all that he remembers the WW2 times and that he was British in his heart. I had a knot in my throat when I’ve seen how he thought of sugar lumps for his ponies and the Russian Kontakion of the Departed at the end of his funeral service, to remind us all that he was born a Christian Orthodox after all and he was truly Royalty himself in his own right (not losing his identity by marrying into the British royal family).
I know many people don’t belive in monarchy, but how could you not bow in respect in front of such dedication? Have you seen many politicians care as much or try to use their resources for good causes like this? What a legacy!
The world needs more people with a great sense of duty, strength and humble kindness. God rest his soul in peace, he has used his nearly 100 years wisely!❤️
Memyselfandela, Adela Clancy-Galasiu, April 2021
(more…)The Book of Eli
Most people don’t know that I used to be, many years ago, a movie devourer. And when I say this I mean it. My love for movies has started when my late father started to take me to the cinema. In a communist country one could not see much on TV, but what was extraordinary in those times was that people were getting tickets to the “Cinemateca”, a cinematographic phenomenon that has impregnated my memories from early childhood. I remember going with my parents and seeing many art movies, western movies and movies one could have never got to see on TV.
Many years later I have rediscovered the cinematography dream as the communism has died and the Romanians were able to get free access to any movie one could dream of. Throughout the years I must have watched hundreds of movies of all genres. Then life took it’s toll and I didn’t have the time for this passion till recently when I got back to my roots.
One of the movies I have seen not a long time ago (but long after being released) is “The Book of Eli”. And what I made of it is a very personal statement and very subjective thing.
It is a post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. “The Book of Eli” is not a commercial movie. It has griped my attention throughout the story and it has thrown at me some surprise moments that have made everything in the entire movie more surreal.
Eli, a lone wanderer, has been walking west across the devastated landscape of America for 30 years, on his way to the sea. 30 years is a lifetime. 30 years is a metaphor. 3 is a sacred number, a divine number and 30 is almost the age a man should have had in order to be considered an adult in the Old Testament. This speaks to me of the path of a man in a hard life, of the sacrifices one needs to make just to find his way.
How does Eli know he’s walking the right way? “Faith,” he says. This simple reply takes on added resonance later in the film. But also speaks volumes to those that think that life is more than just a physical existence. If life has a greater purpose and we all have a destiny, the difficult and dry part of it is to actually find that purpose and fight for it.
Eli is indeed a great fighter as he needs to be in order to survive after witnessing the catastrophe that has wiped out most of the Earth’s population and left behind ruin, desolation, victimized humans and roaming motorcycle gangs of hijackers and thieves. The Hughes brothers, Albert and Allen, film this story in sunburned browns and pale blues, creating a dry and dusty world under a merciless sky. Water is treasure. There’s no exuberance in this world, only survival. There’s no great joy in Eli’s life, maybe only the solemn joy of reading his book and hearing music long forgotten by most others. This wasteland Eli treks at an implacable pace. Set upon in an ambush, he kills all his attackers. He’s got one of those swords that makes a unique noise all by itself, so you can consider him a one-man army.
Washington and the Hughes brothers do a good job of establishing this man and his world, and at first, “The Book of Eli” seems destined to be solemn. But then Eli arrives at a Western town ruled by Carnegie , who, like all the local bosses in Westerns and gangster movies, sits behind a big desk flanked by a tall bald guy and, of course, a short scruffy one. In this town, desperate and starving people live in rusty cars and in the streets. We meet Carnegie’s abused wife Claudia and her daughter Solara, a prostitute in Carnegie’s bar. He controls everybody by fear and manipulation.
Carnegie needs Eli because he has maybe the last remaining copy of a book believed to allow the expansion and rule over many more towns. “RELIGION IS POWER” Carnegie says, and this phrase makes it even more clear that we talk about the last Bible on the face of Earth and about the thirst of domination rising in the human mind.
The third act seems to be taken out of many Westerns in which the hero and the girl hole up and are surrounded. That allows countless beams of sunlight to shine in the dusty atmosphere and work as a metaphor. It can be the hope in the darkness of soul and mind. It can be breaking the rules and going beyond Eli’s limits to make a dream and life mission come true. The image of Eli walking numb by the side of the street after being shot reminds of the incredible resistance of the human spirit in the worst conditions.
Populated by a vivid imagery , the movie has a magnificent ending , unpredictable and almost implausible, breaking apart from the movie and having a life of its own. The human mind and soul can be the carrier of a dream. The dream of transmitting a message to another generation, the dream of a better world born out of ashes. If there’s a message at the end of this movie that can only be that hope never dies and one should never give up his dream.
930 words, memyselfandela, January 2014
Silence
silence I am and I’ll be silence
till you’ll find your way back to me.
go fight your wars and break all your demons
my heart is here, quietly burning in the night.
go gaze in a million eyes and listen to million voices
among them all I am the only shelter
for your spirit that cannot find rest under man made roofs.
desert of curiosity seeking everywhere
I am your soothing rain.
wild river flowing out in the unknown
you will always retun to your source
to mend your pain and cradle your heart.
we are one.
memyselfandela, 2013
Rose
often night embraces me
instead of you.
you are far away, lost
with no ears to hear me.
in the midst of silence
I hear my every thought bloom
I know them all
like a gardener knows every stem in his garden.
In my child-woman soul
I grow you countless roses
wrapping me, stinging my heart
in a fierce fight for a more sunny spot under your eyes.
maybe oneday you’ll set aside all glory,
the love for yourself, the perfect dreams.
when you’ll stop your conquests and wars you’ll find me here:
the white rose quietly bleeding for you.
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100 words, memyselfandela, 2013
Sunset
Where to hide when we run away from ourselves
When outside is quiet but it’s war deep inside?
How to think with a cold mind when the heart is burning?
Among millions of people can we really hide?
In my own world I’m the intruder.
In my own silence I am the scream.
Sunset. Darkness. Rewind.
Then will all once again begin.
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memyselfandela, 2013
Disturbed – Indestructible
“Another reason.
Another cause for me to fight.
Another fuse uncovered,
Now, for me to light.
My dedication,
To all that I’ve sworn to protect.
I carry out my orders,
Without a regret.
A declaration,
Embedded deep under my skin.
A permanent reminder,
Of how it began.
No hesitation,
When I am commanded to strike.
You need to know,
That you’re living the fight of your life.
You will be shown,
How I’ve become…
Indestructible.
Determination that is incorruptible.
From the other side.
A terror to behold.
Annihilation will be unavoidable.
Every broken enemy will know,
That their opponent had to be invincible.
Take a last look around while you’re alive,
I’m an indestructible master of war.”
Lord, come Lord, to see what’s left of people…
23 years ago….
“It was 23 o’clock. News from Bucharest:
Started in Timisoara with a peaceful demonstration repressed brutally by the system , authorities and security forces, the Romanian revolution spread rapidly throughout the country, the army passed on the side of the civilians on the streets of Timisoara, Sibiu, Bucharest, Brasov and other cities. The number of young people killed and wounded in the fight for freedom continues to grow. ”
Lord, come Lord,
to see what’s left of people…
Nights long and sad
I think of home
And there I see you
There are nights full of dread
For me in the war.
They are nights of tale there for you.
And Lord, for what a life of nightmare.
And for whom they die in vain?
There are nights full of dread
Where I am afraid to scream
Nights of fairytale
of which we no longer know.
Lord, come Lord,
to see what’s left of people….
Why you don’t not stop
This terrible war?
For what you think
Only of you?
And you don’t even care
of the mother who cries
for her child killed
lying in pools of blood.
and you don’t even care
for those who are no longer
for those who accuse you
from there in the grave.
Lord, come Lord,
to see what’s left of people…
Lord, come Lord,
to see what’s left of people…
Bucharest. The Romanian Revolution has succeeded.
After 25 years of terror the Ceausescu dictatorship was overturned.
Romania has become again free…”
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translation: memyselfandela, 2012
Apocalyptica feat. Till Lindemann – HELDEN / HEROES
Dedicated to all those fighting with their own demons, with a hard life, with solitude, with sickness, with discrimination, with pain.
KNOW THIS : YOU ARE ALL HEROES, EVERY DAY. ❤
“You
Could you swim
Like dolphins
Like dolphins do it
When nobody gives us a chance
Still we can triumph
For ever and ever
And we are then heroes
For one day
Yes!
I
I am then king
And you
You queen
Although they
Seem so unbeatable
We will be heroes
For one day
We are then heroes
For one day
I
I think I’m dreaming this
The wall on my back was cold
The shots tear the air
But still we kiss
As if nothing happens
And I have many on their side
Oh, we can strike them
For all times
Then we are heroes
Only this day
Then we are heroes
Then we are heroes
Then we are heroes
Only this day
Then we are heroes
Only for today”
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translation: memyselfandela, 2012
roll the dice, charles bukowski
“if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
otherwise, don’t even start.
if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
this could mean losing girlfriends,
wives, relatives, jobs and
maybe your mind.
go all the way.
it could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days.
it could mean freezing on a
park bench.
it could mean jail,
it could mean derision,
mockery,
isolation.
isolation is the gift,
all the others are a test of your
endurance, of
how much you really want to
do it.
and you’ll do it
despite rejection and the worst odds
and it will be better than
anything else
you can imagine.
if you’re going to try,
go all the way.
there is no other feeling like
that.
you will be alone with the gods
and the nights will flame with
fire.
do it, do it, do it.
do it.
all the way
all the way.
you will ride life straight to
perfect laughter, its
the only good fight
there is.”
Open Wound
Asya, 22, Chechen Rebel, 1996
Raped at the age of 14 by a man that entered the family house while she was alone.
Thrown hurriedly in the car.
Forced to marry him because Chechen traditions allow a man to kidnap the woman he wants to marry, with or without her consent.
Forced after the birth of their child to resist a jealous drunkard and agressive husband.
Forced to escape him by fleeing to her sister in Grozny she decided to become a nurse.
After graduating she met her second husband.
With her angel face she is now a fighting nurse.
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100 words
memyselfandela, 2012
Photo :Stanley Greene
The Image of Freedom
Have you ever wondered how freedom looks like? We are so used to be free that we take it for granted…
On April 13th 1945, a division of American soldiers was ordered to investigate a train abandoned by German soldiers near a concentration camp. The train was packed with Jewish families: over 2,500 people – men, women and children. The Germans were about to move them to a new concentration camp.
The Americans were able to release them all, and the photo below was taken by Major Clarence L. Benjamin, who participated in this operation.
This is the image of freedom.
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100 words
memyselfandela, 2012
memyselfandela 