Remembering Diana Bianchedi

Like many fans watching yesterday's NBA finals between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma Thunder, I was horrified and devastated by the torn Achilles tendon injury suffered by the Pacers' guard Tyrese Haliburton. The painful expression on his face was heartbreaking. 

It also recalled a similar incident that occurred nearly 30 years ago during the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. I was working as a volunteer in the fencing venue, mainly as a scorekeeper. While I was scoring one match I noticed something on the adjoining piste. Diana Bianchedi (Italy) had been fencing when she fell to the ground writhing in pain. She took a medical time out, and her coach and medical personnel immediately attended to her. They spent a lot of time with her, and given the severity of her injury, she was given another time out. Then something extraordinary happened. Bianchedi got back to her feet with the help of her team and, believe it or not, continued to fence. She could not advance, only retreat. And would you believe it? She WON. Her opponent from China could not have been very happy. Shortly after her victory, Bianchedi withdrew from the competition. 

It was later revealed that she had torn her Achilles tendon during the bout with her opponent. And somehow she had the mettle to not only finish her bout, but to actually win. I will never see a more inspiring and monumental moment. Back in 1996 there was no social media, so this story did not make the rounds outside of the fencing venue, but those of us in the fencing area could not stop talking about it. 

Watching Haliburton walk away in such tremendous pain reminded me of how incredible Diana Bianchedi's performance was. I know I could not do that. I don't think too many people could. 

Oh, yeah, as a fencing fan boy, I had my picture taken with her. :) 

 

 

Soto Becomes Soto Mayor

The German poet Rainer Maria Rilke once wrote, "The cunning enmity of fame, later, which makes you innocuous by scattering you all around." I reflected on these words shortly after learning of the mega 15-year $765 million contract that Juan Soto signed with the New York Mets. The super-talented outfielder was already well-regarded for his skillset, but this new deal catapulted him into the stratosphere of dollar signs and lofty expectations. Naturally, everyone is buzzing about this. Today, after leaving the gym, I stopped by a Tim Horton's and discussed the contract with two workers there. They also couldn't believe it. 

How does $765 million break down? 

Sportskeeda was kind enough to provide this information! 

Juan Soto will earn the following: 

$51 million per year 

$8.5 million per month

$314, 815 per game 

$133, 396 per hour

$2,018 per minute

$34 per second 

This is truly staggering and naturally, everyone is talking about this contract, loyalty, the need for a salary cap, etc. As a New York Yankees fan, I was disappointed, but Soto now embarks on a new adventure; on a contract that could eventually become, in the words of Ezra Pound, "golden chains of loveliness". At what age will his production begin to diminish? 34? 35? Time will tell. But I certainly do not wish him any ill will, I just hope that with all the social media-driven hype around this contract, he does not become innocuous by being everywhere. 

Source: msn.com 

In today's episode of Pardon the Interruption, co-host Tony Kornheiser whimsically asked whether Soto's agent, Scott Boras, might be the Devil or not. Such was the surprise that Soto did not stay with the Yankees. The agent has a reputation for extracting astronomical contracts for his players and this latest announcement ensures that his villainy among baseball owners and general managers, will not lose any of its "luster". 

2025 should prove to be a very interesting year!

Anima Sola, by Ezra Pound

Believe it or not, there are some items you cannot find on the Internet. I am reading "Collected Early Poems of Ezra Pound" and I came across a wonderful poem titled "Anima Sola". Surprisingly, it is nowhere to be found on the Internet. So I post it here. Enjoy!

Anima Sola

"Then neither is the bright orb of the sun greeted nor yes either the shaggy might of earth or sea, thus then, in the firm vessel of harmony is fixed God, a sphere, round, rejoicing in complete solitude."

                                                                                                                   Empedokles

Exquisite loneliness

Bound of mine own caprice

I fly on the wings of an unknown chord

            That ye hear not, 

            Can not discern

My music is weird and untamed

Barbarous, wild, extreme, 

I fly on the note that ye hear not

On the chord that ye can not dream. 

And lo, your out-worn harmonies are behind me

            As ashes and mouldy bread, 

I die in the tears of the morning

            I kiss the wail of the dead.

My joy is the wind of heaven, 

            My drink is the gall of night, 

My love is the light of meteors;

            The autumn leaves in flight. 

I pendant sit in the vale of fate

    I twine the Maenad strands

And lo, the three Eumenides

            Take justice at my hands.

For I fly in the gale of an unknown chord.

The blood of light is God's delight

And I am the life blood's ward. 

O Loneliness, O Loneliness, 

Thou boon of the fires blown

From heaven to hell and back again

Thou cup of the God-man's own!

For I am a weird untamed 

That eat of no man's meat

My house is the rain ye wail against

            My drink is the wine of sleet. 

My music is your disharmony

            Intangible, most mad, 

For the clang of a thousand cymbals

Where the sphinx smiles o'er the sand, 

            And viol strings that out-sing kings

Are the least of my command. 

Exquisite, alone, untrammeled

I kiss the nameless sign

And the laws of my inmost being

            Chant to the nameless shrine. 

I flee on the wing of a note ye know not, 

My music disowns your law, 

Ye can not tread the road I wed

And lo! I refuse your bidding. 

I will not bow to the expectation that ye have. 

Lo! I am gone as a red flame into the mist, 

My chord is unresolved by your counter-harmonies.

Source: art.com 

When Performance Overcomes Historical Importance

"Cinemas form memories and memories form history," observed Ukrainian film director Mstyslav Chernov during his acceptance speech for winning the Oscar for Best Documentary at Sunday's Academy Awards show. His powerful condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine resonated throughout the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. 

But for me it also touched on how some cinemas or the subjects they attempt to portray can fade from memory and history if the discerning and capricious spotlight shown on them from the Academy and the audience is affected or shifted in any way, no matter how slight. 

Everyone acclaims the value of the recognition of receiving the prestigious Oscar award, but there are layers of reasons why it is important and how it is important. Also, for whom is it important.

For many actors, it is the ultimate acknowledgment of their ability as an actor, director, producer, etc. But for others, like me, it is an opportunity to recognize something historical; a moment in time or a movement; something that is spoken for by the actor/actress nominated for the award. In an era where the importance of history seems to recede further into the shadows of time, events like winning an Oscar award can do much to solidify one's standing in the always-shifting sands of public sentiment and recollection. 

Lily Gladstone, proudly assumed the role of being the first Blackfeet Indian (Niitsitapie) and Nez Pearce (Nimíipuu) to be nominated for an Oscar award for Best Actress for her brilliant, human, bilingual, and nuanced depiction of Mollie Burkhart, the Osage Indiana who was the victim of a horrendous serious of murders in Oklahoma in 1929. Her role in Martin Scorcese's masterful film "Killers of the Flower Moon" exposes the Reign of Terror that had been hidden in the dustbins of American history for years. 

Had she won for Best Actress award, or if the film had won any award, it would have helped cement the tragedy of the Reign of Terror in the collective conscience of the American persona. For many, this was not just about the best physical performance before a camera, but rather the portrayal of a voice echoing quietly from the past that needed to be heard and understood. The eventual winner, Emma Stone, received the award for her technical prowess in bringing to life Bella, a modern-day re-imagining of Frankenstein, In short, the Academy needed to decide between awarding historical relevance and skilled performance and they chose the safer option. No one, of course, can demean Stone's performance, but for me, Gladstone's effort had more cultural value and historical flavor and was meant to serve as an anchor to avoid the Osage historical tragedy from being swept away by the currents of history. As James LaRue, noted librarian and consultant observed, "cancellation can happen by distraction." And while we cannot say that the Academy hoped to cancel the luminous importance of "Killers of the Flower Moon", they drastically dimmed the light that Mr. Scorcese, Ms. Gladstone, and the team of the film so effectively displayed on this historical moment. The over-extended "rivalry" between "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie" did not help either. But I do hope that down the road, people will still remember this film and its subject. If not, future directors may have to hire Emma Stone to play a Native American Indian. Maybe that will work! 😊

Sadly, the Academy is not ready yet to award an Oscar to a Native American Indian; they have much work to do. But at the very least they allowed Osage musicians and singers to peform on stage during the ceremony. 

 

Winning With Class Still Means Something

Many Americans will probably be unfamiliar with Wrexham FC, the oldest football (soccer) club in Wales and the third oldest professional club in the world that plays in the National League in England. But as the success of the Netflix tv series "Welcome to Wrexham" continues to grow and attract new fans, more people are becoming aware of the team, not only because of the program, but because their owners are American: Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Today they played a crucial game against Notts County and won 3-2. Apart from the exultation, what struck me was the class and grace with which Ryan Reynolds spoke about his team's opponents. We live in an age where a win-at-all-costs attitude is celebrated. The recent cases of extremely boorish and poor sportsmanship that were displayed during the latter stages of the NCAA Women's Basketball tournament have rankled many. One player punched another, and two others used a "you-can't-see-me" gesture; one directed toward a team, the other toward one individual in particular. This is symptomatic of what former New York University President John Sexton calls a "colosseum culture". It is no longer just about winning; it is about denigrating your opponent in a fashion that makes for click bait on social media platforms. 

So it was a wonderful breath of fresh air to watch Ryan Reynolds be interviewed after the Wrexham-Notts County game in which he extolled his team's opponents and made sure that they were also recognized for their magnificent season. It is nice to see that grace and dignity still exist in some parts of the sports world. 

The 700 Club

For baseball fans, this year will be remembered as one that provided us with milestones being reached by some of the game's most famous players. Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees tied and then

Photo credit: CHRISTIAN PETERSEN / GETTY IMAGES

surpassed the American League homerun record set by Roger Maris in 1961.  Perhaps more impressive is the 700 homeruns that Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals achieved recently. He is now one of the top three homerun hitters of all time.  What an amazing accomplishment! 

Today someone else entered the 700 Club: Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, the goal scoring machine who does not seem to age. Naturally, this did not receive much attention in the North American market, but it is still worth celebrating. As Albert Pujols played his last game yesterday, Cristiano Ronaldo seems to keep going forward at full tilt, dazzling defenses with his technical wizardry, speed and moxie. I really wish newscasts in the US would have celebrated his remarkable achievement. 

Remembering Samantha Smith

Samantha Smith. Source: The Peace Abbey

Before there was Malala Yousafzai, Rachel Corrie, Greta Thunberg or Autumn Peltier, Samantha Smith claimed our full attention during the waning days of the Cold War. Her youthful optimism, honesty and a gentle willfulness made her an endearing figure. Smith was a young activist (13 years of age) when, sadly, she perished in a plane crash on August 25, 1985. But she has left a legacy that we should honor. The 1982 letter she wrote to the then leader of the Soviet Union, Yuri Andropov, beseeched him to work with the United States to avoid nuclear war. Anyone who grew up in the 1980s knows how palpable this scenario was and Samantha Smith became a light in a period of darkness.  It seemed that back then that was all that was on our minds: the Cold War and the potential for nuclear war. Now as the US and Russia have assumed the roles of antagonists once again, we must look for other people who can take up the role so well embodied and embraced by Samantha. 

In her letter (when she was ten years old) to Mr. Andropov, she wrote:  

Dear Mr. Andropov,

My name is Samantha Smith. I am ten years old. Congratulations on your new job. I have been worrying about Russia and the United States getting into a nuclear war. Are you going to vote to have a war or not? If you aren’t please tell me how you are going to help to not have a war. This question you do not have to answer, but I would like to know why you want to conquer the world or at least our country. God made the world for us to live together in peace and not to fight.

Sincerely,

Samantha Smith

Did her letter have an effect? Yes. According to Maria Grigoryan and Oleg Yegorov, Andropov read the letter and invited Samantha and her family to visit the Soviet Union. Grigoryan and Yegorov write:

"The world sat up and took note. Andropov answered Samantha, assuring her that no one in the USSR wanted war, and invited her to visit the country. She accepted the offer, and the whole world followed her journey across the USSR with her parents. Along the way, Samantha understood that the USSR was full of kind, peaceful people, and she made many new friends. Her youthful idealism became a symbol of hope for a better future for all."

As the 37th anniversary of her death approaches (August 25), we should step back and admire what she did.  There was no social movement pressing her to take the role of peace activist and citizen diplomat. She simply wanted a better world. After her death schools in the state of Washington were renamed in her honor and many schools in the Soviet Union held memorials to her. We need to recapture this feeling of commonality, solidarity and friendship. But more than anything, on August 25th, we should stop and remember Samantha, whose life was cut too short. 

Katya Lycheva is second from the right.

On the Soviet side, there was a young woman who embodied the same spirit that Samantha demonstrated so passionately. Her name was Katya Lycheva.  She came to the US, met with Ronald Reagan and even met Ronald McDonald, making many friends along the way. Click here to learn more about her.

As international education continues to grow and diversify it must not lost sight of its strong citizen diplomacy tradition. 

You do not have to be an international educator to be an internationalist or peace activist.