"The Price of Fearlessness"

"Tom Dempsey relished hitting
opponents. Now 66, Dempsey,
with his wife, Carlene, has
dementia."

        Numerous studies continue to appear about the price football players have paid physically in order to compete. In fact, Mr. Bolos's blog "Sunday Suckers" talks about the serious injuries and illnesses that  NFL players have suffered due to the aggressive nature of the sport. With Super Bowl XLVII coming up this weekend, Tom Dempsey, former NFL kicker, attempted to share his complete story in last Sunday's New York Times. However, due to his onset of dementia resulting from repeated hits on the field, Dempsey had trouble remembering details of his own past. Over the course of his 10-year NFL career, he was the kicker for the Saints, the Eagles, the Rams, the Oilers and the Bills. His coaches would sometimes call him "the wedge buster -- football's version of a kamikaze pilot -- on kickoff." You would think that out of all people on the field, the kicker would be the safest from injury. Not in this case! Along with being the kicker, back then he also played offense and/or defense which is almost unheard of today.

         "Over the course of his career, the Dempseys say, Tom had
           three concussions that were diagnosed, but that several others
           likely went undiagnosed. They recalled one game in which
           Dempsey, after laying a jarring hit on someone after kickoff,
           was so disoriented that he ran to the wrong sideline and  
           grabbed a seat on the opposing team's bench. He had to be
           shown back to his place across the field by an equipment manager,
           and he later returned to the game."

        Instances like these always come back to haunt the players after retirement. Doctors have done extensive amounts of research, but what is the good of that without taking action? We now know that these kinds of injuries could be life-threatening -- would it be on your conscience if a player got seriously injured under your watch and you knew the NFL was fully aware something like that could happen? Albert Breer interviewed Roger Goodell, commisioner of the NFL, about their large donation to the National Institutes of Health, $30 million! But donating the money isn't taking enough action. Yes, it was very generous for them to make this donation, but what some concerned people want to see is a change on the field, in equipment and/or rules. I am not saying I want the game of football to change, afterall it is America's "modern day pastime," but keeping the players more safe is not optional.

Turning the Momentum

"Victoria Azarenka recieved
medical treatment during a
key moment in the Australian
Open semifinals."

       Despite the Australian Open women's final coming to a close early yesterday morning at 2:30am, Victoria Azarenka's medical timeout is still being questioned by many. She did end up winning the Grand Slam, but faced obstacles along the way. While playing American 19-year-old Sloane Stephens, who had just defeated Serena Williams in the Quarters, Azarenka was up one set and 5-1 in the second. Stephens won the next two games bringing the score to 5-3. Clearly, Azarenka was sweating!  Azarenka's serve was again broken (lost the game she was serving) after losing 5 match points. Score: 5-4. Now the nerves really kick in. The thoughts are "I could have just won"... 5 times! She called a medical timeout, supposedly for a rib injury, that proceeded into a 10-minute off-court treatment. This is where the momentum changed. Azarenka had time to catch her breath and get her head together while Stephens tried to keep her head in the game. Azarenka came back from her break to win the next game making the final score 6-1, 6-4.
       During post-match interviews, Azarenka admitted that she "almost did the choke of the year" and "felt a little bit overwhelmed." She commented, "I realized I'm one step away from the final, and nerves got into me, for sure." Could this be ruled as cheating?-- Not actually being physically injured but calling a medical timeout. Sloane Stephens commented that calling medical timeouts are "trendy." And she is right. Players have always twisted the rules to go for the win. After all, who wants to lose? According to Michael F. Bergeron, executive director of the National Youth Sports Health and Safety Institute, the trend of emphasis on "winning over sportsmanship and developing character" is rising even among youth sports. It is hard to capture the win without being mentally tough. The mental game can be the hardest aspect of any sport to conquer. You know you have the strokes and the serve, but it can all shut down if you are not mentally strong. But is calling a medical timeout the way to do it?
      Watching this match on TV reminded me of an almost exact parallel experience I had during a tennis match. I was down a set, 3-3 in games, my serve, 40-30. I had just come back from being down 0-3. The ump first gives my opponent a warning for taking too much time between points, then she asks for a medical timeout. For three minutes, I sit on the bench next to her while her dad massages her back. Nowadays, I wouldn't just sit there, but I would stay warm and move around. Then, I didn't really know what to do. I proceed back to the baseline, only to lose the next three points, and completely shift the momentum.
     

Those with a Divine Presence

        In a photo taken by Stephen Crowley at a Republican rally during the 2012 election, I sense the irony in Mitt Romney's savior-like pose, confirming American's adoration of political leaders. The image in this contemporary artifact is important because Crowley subtly captures the humor in American politics. Being a veteran Washington political photographer, Crowley saw the composition, lighting, and perspective he envisioned for this photo: Romney appears to be this godlike figure to his followers, when in reality, he is just a man, who was not even elected. It is almost like Romney is summoning his audience, with his arms in an upright position, a religious posture. The spot light in front of him and ceiling lights all focus in on the most important figure in the room. Romney is the only one on the stage, above his audience and followers, who is wearing a white shirt. White is sign on purity, religiously speaking. His rapt audience is snapping pictures of their favorite "icon." Mitt Romney is someone the republicans look to as their heavenly leader.
        Similarly, The Crucible, presents characters with special insights, answers to difficult questions beyond that of a "common" man. In Puritan times, the minister had both the civil and religious role as a leader in the community. His authority was never questioned by one below him. A fellow reverend, Hale, defends the head reverend of Salem, Mr. Parris saying, "The man's ordained, therefore the light of God is in him"(62). Mr. Parris is allowed to make an accusation without evidence because of his "official" status being "sent from God." His judgment is superior to those of the community being "god-approved." Romney's godlike appearance shows his superiority to those in the audience. They "look up" to him for their own answers.
        Our class examined the movie, Glory, in which Frederick Douglass, though not elected, is highly revered by the abolitionists and free African Americans during the Civil War. The scenes Douglass is shown in portray him in a godlike manner with his stern features and white hair. He is shown in front of a "white" window in the first scene, while all other characters appear in front of a backdrop of a dark room. The viewer can then again see Douglass while the African American troops parade in Boston before going to fight in the south; Douglass is the only African American on the viewing stand, always pictured in the middle. Both Douglass and Romney are the center of focus where they appear. Those against slavery look to Frederick Douglass just as the conservatives look to Mitt Romney for hope.
       Mr. O'Connor's blog, "Proclaiming Emancipation," shows a picture of the Emancipation Memorial in Washington D.C. I believe the designer and sculptor portrayed Abraham Lincoln in this godlike, religious pose with his arms up, like Mitt Romney, as if he was summoning the slaves to set them free. Lincoln's left hand extends out, giving a blessing to the slave, while his other hand rests on the Emancipation Proclamation, the document of his origin. Lincoln has always been admired by many Americans, regardless of their political affiliations. The slave figure under Lincoln looks out to his future of freedom; Romney's followers look toward him as if he has the capacity to free them from the legislation and ideology of the Obama administration. In the 2012 presidential election - despite his divine presence Crowley captured - Romney was not elected. Evidently, there were not enough true believers.

Putting Aside Politics

         Exactly one year ago yesterday American sailors rescued an Iranian fishermen's ship that was held captive by Somali pirates. A photograph of this event was one of six pictures featured in the New York Times: Summing Up a Year in Pictures.
     
         "Senior Iranian military officials this week bluntly warned an American aircraft
          carrier that it would confront the 'full force' of the Iranian military if it tried to
          re-enter the Persian Gulf."

American sailors with captured Somali pirates (the picture
from Summing up a Year in Pictures).

         "ABOARD THE FISHING VESSEL AL MULAHI, in the Gulf of Oman-" after being captive for about 45 days, Captain Mahmed Younes and his 12 fishermen were freed by the American Navy from Somali pirates. Seeing the Al Mulahi flying an Iranian flag, the Navy sailors were hesitant, knowing the current American relationship with Iran as unstable as well as being very aware the threats from the Iranian military. However, our strict embargo against Iran did not stop the Navy from helping Iranian citizens who were in danger. In desperation they asked Americans for help over radio, speaking in Urdu which the pirates did not understand. The Iranian government was not there to help, but an American ship was only three miles away. Our relationship with Iran is tense because of Iran's growing nuclear program and our view of Iran being anti-Israel. Our American Navy turned a blind eye to the embargo when it came to helping those in danger. The U.S. sailors went ahead and put people's lives ahead of politics. The event drew a "lukewarm" response from Iranian officials, while the Iranian sailors were quick to thank the Navy sailors. At first I wondered if events such as this might influence change in our relations with Iran. Clearly, while it is disappointing that it did not, it is not surprising. In the eyes of the Iranian government, it's only the lives of a few sailors. It is nice to know though that at the end of the day, our Navy showed their true colors as true humanitarians. The following New York Times article poses a play-by-play of the whole event.

Castro from a Different Perspective

        The first word that pops to my mind when "Castro" comes up is "dictator." Roberto Salas, a Cuban photographer, knew him in a different way. He knew him personally and became one of few trusted common people to be included in Castro's circle. Salas grew up in New Jersey with his two Cuban parents. He shared his father's interest in photography. The two were asked to do a photography project with many world leaders such as Fidel Castro and Che Guevara of Cuba. Castro was in his twenties at the time and Salas was 18. This was the beginning of the life time relationship of the photographer, Roberto Salas, and Fidel Castro.
         I had the opportunity to meet Salas and hear his stories that his photographs tell. One of my favorites was the photo to the left which shows Castro in a Cuban baseball uniform on the pitcher's mound. Castro loved baseball but clearly didn't have much time to devote to sports. As the story goes, after working one night, he and his brother Raul decided to go out to play some ball. He was pitching while Raul was at bat. Roberto Salas was off to the side taking the pictures. Now having two powerful leaders in play, the umpire figured he was in a bad position either way; after all, any call he made one of them would be against it. And this was all taking place while the rest of the people of Cuba were sleeping at 3:30 in the morning!
         I like this picture because it shows a side of Castro that many do not see or know. Who would have thought a story like this would be behind the person most of us know as the dictator of Cuba?! It is important to remember that people have many sides to them in order to fully appreciate who they are. As Americans, we may see Fidel as a monster, but Salas' pictures show a very human side to him. It appeared to me that the only side of Castro's personality that most Cubans know is the Castro that left them without freedom of choice, religion, and speech. Cubans that we met were scared to voice their own opinions, fearing harsh punishments for speaking against the government.  However, love him or hate him, most Cubans can't conceive of life without Castro.
       To read more about Roberto and his father check out this New York Times article or Roberto Salas's photograph book, Fidel's Cuba: A Revolution in Pictures.

The Embargo

A narrow Cuban residential
street (taken on my phone).

        This winter break my family went to Cuba. When I told people I was traveling to Cuba, everyone's initial reaction was: Cuba? Are you flying through Canada? And my response: no. We had to travel on people-to-people visas, meaning that we would interact with the people of Cuba and had a full itinerary with an approved tour company. This is the result of the 1962 full trade embargo on Cuba. 2012 also marks the 50th year the United States has kept the embargo going. An embargo is "an order of a government prohibiting the movement of merchant ships into or out of its ports." President John F. Kennedy placed this embargo on Cuba in order to "reduce the capacity of the Castro regime... to engage in acts of aggression, subversion, or other activities endangering the security of the United States and other nations of the hemisphere." But after 50 years is this really necessary? It is unconstitutional to restrict American citizens to travel places they desire to go or even bring back souvenirs that Cuba is most known for such as cigars, rum, and coffee? If we are truly "free" why not buy what we want and go where we want if safety is no longer an issue?
       
                     A 2009 report suggested how much the U.S. was also missing out  
                     on by continuing the sanctions. Relaxing the embargo, the report 
                     found, could create 6,000 new jobs in the U.S. and benefit exports  
                    by about $365 million a year.

Typical Cuban cars in front of
the International Art Museum
(taken on my phone).

           After reading this I thought, why not? I feel like at least relaxing the embargo could only benefit the United States and Cuba as well. Most Cubans are constantly struggling only making about 10 CUCs a month, which is about $12. This is why many doctors, lawyers, professionals etc. abandon their original jobs and take up a new professions in the tourist industry- taxi driving, or waiting tables- where significant tips make up their pay. Allowing American citizens to purchase and export Cuban goods could potentially help their economy. Stepping into Cuba is like going back to the 1950s before the embargo even happened. They do say that Cuba has the best mechanics because the Cuban people have to fix the cars that the United States had in the 1950s.