When Your Hero Falls

Human minds will always be riddled with contradiction. And this is one of the main critiques of Tupac Shakur’s vast amount of work. Yet, this is what makes the character so fascinating and appealing to his many followers including myself. His music is evidence of his constant quest and struggle to find meaning and ways of bettering life for his people as he toyed with numerous philosophies and thought. The music he created is brilliant to listen to. There is so much to be admired in his star qualities, his skills, his poetry, his success and so on. However, it is the passion behind the words, the emotions poured into his work and the meaning in the songs that make him a true inspiration to me and countless others. The list is endless to why he is a hero of mine but, in attempt not to bore you, I’ll keep it short and sweet. A man with no father, from extremely humble beginnings and a childhood of constantly moving homes eventually ended up as the biggest icon rap has ever produced. And with the fame, struggle and pain followed him like a shadow. Ordeals included being shot, verbally attacked by government officials and, through his own errors, time behind bars. Yet, despite it being easier to just leave that life behind, he stood up for his beliefs and continued to be a representative and voice for black communities and, as he would call it, the oppressed. Songs like ‘Keep your head up’ ‘Dear Mama’ ‘Unconditional Love’ and so on are pieces that can change my feelings in an instance. Not only did he educate through songs but gave people hope and the will to keep going. If ever down in the dumps, I’ll throw on one of his tracks.. His overlying message may have been of hope but at the same time, he stated how his future was hopeless. He may have talked of peace yet his lyrics, and indeed life, would always be shrouded with the reality of violence. And herein lies the contradiction that I aforementioned. This is what makes him so easy to relate to. He had massive pains in his life also and in the end his paranoia and so on got the better of him. But to witness what he achieved despite all of what he had been through was testament to his courageous character and this can inspire others to do likewise. Trying to find the answers to suffering, endlessly searching for a spiritual connection and so on reaches me deeply. Every social issue he seemingly touched upon and gave great insight on. He has influenced me greatly such as to try and educate myself more, to stand up for my beliefs, to treat my people well, to aspire to be a soldier and leader like he was, to be creative and so on. Recently it was the 14th anniversary of his death and he never truly got to see the ‘better days’ he talked of but he has lit a beacon of hope for millions of others. I hope I ain’t kissing his ass too much but to the rose that grew from concrete RIP!

Heroes

Over the last few weeks, my dangerous diet has been apallingly atrocious. Filthy fly-infested kebabs, ominously large pizzas and calorific Chinese dishes have been regular feeds. And it was when devouring a mildly meek Chicken Tikka Massala that I wondered how I could spice up my blogs. I came up with a solution, which may provide some minor interest. Rather than ramble on about nothing in particular as in prior writings, every month I will attempt to detail on a hero of mine. Good idea? Now I have got many people I admire in varying ways such as for their skill, courage or how they have changed the world for good. Certain musical artists, film stars, sporting legends, leaders and soldiers spring to mind. Yet, I want to talk of people who I not only admire but also have changed or impacted me in big ways. Definitions for this maybe over-used word are wide ranging, but one I particularly liked was someone who fights for a cause in a struggle. I also concur that one has to relate or be deeply touched by an individual to label he or she a hero. Bearing this in mind, I want to share with you my heroes and I ask you who are yours? And finally, while you have caught me in a sentimental and pensive mood, may I say you are all my heroes. People who work hard, who bring smiles to people, who help others, who aim for their goals, who defy the odds and so on are inspirational to me. Right, time to get my guard up again...

Summer thus far

I sometimes relate my hamlet dwelling to the Adams’ Family home in that we struggle to have the modern normalities. We only have three TV channels and the Internet is more limited than Lil Wayne’s rapping skills. So to explain my sporadic or even non-existent blogging of recent, I choose to blame the fact I cannot get on the website rather than my imagination ceasing to fire. Yet, to end my long hiatus, I have runaway like the Corrs to the local library. A week or so ago I had scribbled a piece slandering modern day relationships in comparison to my Grandparents 50 plus year marriage. I also commented on how memories are what make life so you have to make as many good memories as plausibly possible. However it went too far into the ‘softie’ realm, hence it did not make the cut. So as a more boring and less thought provoking edition, I thought I’d merely describe my summer highlights thus far. First of all, I have finally given in to modern demands and ridded myself of the CD player, which was here in the time of the dinosaurs, and replaced it with a shimmering I-pod. Now I have always questioned whether I need to splash ludicrous amounts of money on to these high-tech gadgets. Not to imply I’m a saint, but I do wonder whether money could be spent on better things. However, now that I have crammed on a load of Abba, Barry White and Dolly Parton, I’m enjoying it to the fullest. Secondly, in the wake of constant fat jibes aimed in my direction, I have taken it upon myself to hit the running with some friends. (I think the chubby jokes are so common as a few years back I was skinnier than Posh Spice only to balloon to the Rory of today.) Our jogging may draw stares of amusement. It is a slow pace so to passers by, we are seemingly walking whist shaking our arms ferociously. Oh, how effort kills. Thirdly and finally, I just love my village life. There have been plenty all-dayers in the pubs, cricket on the green and nightlong banter train riding. My people are family. Home is where the heart is and I have many attachments to this area! It may well prove difficult to tear myself away and return to university. Yet as my friend said, there is more to life that one needs to explore. Yet, with work looming for the whole of August, life is good; thank God. Memories indeed…

The Beautiful Game

After every fourth circle around the sizzling sun, arrives the greatest show on Earth. A competition enriched with glorious history of roaming giants, leaping legends and where mere mortals became kings! Ok, maybe I’m getting a little carried away but I’m more excited for the World Cup than Hendrik Dennemeyer is when talking about sex. Sorry mum, this is why the fridge has been cleared of food to be crammed with billions of beautiful beer bottles. For the next month I’m going to be glued to the box! However what really has struck me is not just the slick, stylish skills that’ll be on show but the global impact it has on all the supporters. People across the world unite, strangers actually speak to each other and passionate patriotism ignites. Pictures of kids portrayed in the hosting Rainbow Nation show lives that appear so less well-off than our own in terms of wealth, health and so on. However the forthcoming tournament excites them and lets them dream that they may one day be the new Pele. This is the beautiful game to me! Let’s hope the over-paid pompous tarts that play today don’t kill it! They do need to be role models but I don’t want to be a hypocrite. I don’t like people judging me with no evidence, which a certain person did the other week. I’ll let her have her thoughts but I’m not going to worry about that; Just let the games begin!!

Me and my Chins

Looking back over past photos of golden days, on the time waster that is Facebook, I happily conclude that there WAS a day when I didn’t have more chins than China. People used to say I had my mothers chin. Nowadays they also say my second chin is that of my fathers, the third is definitely similar to my cousins while the fourth is just utterly unique. Splendid! The best banter is when it has an echo of truth to it! I can only point my finger to one reason why I’ve had to withstand this barrel of abuse. The lure of the tantalisingly tasty drink that is beer! An interesting fact from yours truly is that there are roughly 210 calories in a pint of Guinness. So when I guzzle ten of these every other day, not only am I pummelling dangerous amounts of alcohol into my blood but also, I’m almost reaching my recommended calorie intake. This is without taking into account my, lets say, less than healthy food diet! Why do I do this? My body is a temple; you have to take off your shoes to enter me! Sorry, how crude of me! My aim is to get to some decent standard of rugby again; it pains me to see all these wannabes thinking they’re good! I suppose my recent trend of jogging will help; even if I drip sweat, contemplate cramp and grasp for breath as if I’m drowning (As Josephides would say). And that’s just to keep up with my Genevan fashion guru. I was on the ‘no pain no pain’ motto until recently. Yet as Bigger says, what’s the point of trying to look perfect, I sure don’t care! And it means I can keep up the greatest social thing in the world. Sitting in a pub all day! Hmm a blog about chins and beer… sorry!

Juggling with Wisdom

If you throw numerous balls into the air and attempt to catch all of them, inevitably you wont catch any. Faster than Usain Bolt, they will fall like volcanic ash from your grasp, squirm through your outreaching fingers similar to a slippery salmon and escape like Harrison Ford in the Fugitive. Yet this fugitive cannot be caught once free. So with the beauty and luxury that is hindsight, the option you must partake in is crystal clear. Go for just the one ball; set your mind firmly onto catching this and do not let go! This appears reminiscent to life; we cannot have everything so maybe you should set aside certain possibilities and aim for the goal you truly desire most (Unless you can juggle of course!). Well clearly I’m no Aristotle, Plato or Dumbledore in the philosophy department so maybe I should just stick to what I’m good at. Then again I don’t have the faintest (Like Becca at the doctors) idea what that is! Sorry Becca, I am glad you’re ok and sorry everyone else for the terrible attempt at a gag. Well I’ve been labelled many varying things since my debuting blog from gay to the new Oscar Wilde – well ok, no real difference at all. However I refuse to be a sell out regardless of the taunts and heckles from people who trail me in the realm of banter by a country mile! To my many followers, yes all three of them, I will be blogging away in the upcoming days! Now I look forward to revelling in some Ready Salted crisps!

Bow and Arrows with Russell

Well I feel like I am talking to no one bar my angel Gina with her pearly teeth whiter than the peak of Everest. However I quite like that; I don’t have to hold back or worry about offending people though that is probably what I’ll end up doing! What to write? Well Robin Hood may well be a good starting topic. Witnessing Crowe russell (get it?) some magic up is always an enjoyable thing for me. His body is a panzer tank yet at the same time you can tell he enjoys his beers! He’s not, I conclude, one of those ridiculously ripped men who clearly have no lives nor, on the other hand, is he a fat slob. I would happily be his Maid Marian however if he saw me writing this I don’t think he’d be so keen. The other thing that sparked my dud of an imagination was the way their little communities interact. They work together in the day and get drunk together (Getting drunk, I think this could lead to a good ethical debate of a blog soon) at night while singing and listening to live music. Casting aside images of it being a disease filled, rat infested and plague packed lifestyle, I choose to envision a life where people merrily relax and enjoy themselves. In other words, is this modern life, full of gadgets and skyscrapers, really all that? In the snobbish west we look down on these ‘simple’ lifes but it is these lives that appear void of work and exam stress, spiralling debts and the general constant pressures. All this recession bullshit. Today with my main Nottingham lass, Gen, she gets denied entry into the library for not having a card. Why are people so uptight and have to follow every stupid law when instead they could just give a fellow human a helping hand? Everybody is for themselves in these modern towering and suffocating cities. There’s a lack of community.

I wish I could fly away to a world of my own,
One of peace and dreams,
A land of no tears, a land of no fears,
And the waves wash out the screams.
Yet as I get beaten down, trodden on,
Those clouds seem miles away,
Yet I can still yearn, I can still earn,
A life in a brighter day.
A place where one can smile,
Where there’s no hint of the dark,
You’re never alone as this world of my own,
Gives me a happy heart.

Just a little cheeky poem based on the idea of an alternative world. I think everyone is fascinated with ideas of heavens or different worlds. It’s nice to escape once in a while from this fast life; hence calling this blog A world of my own. And Russell, you can join me whenever you want.