Rooftop - Views From the Top

I used to live around the corner from the Washington Monument in Baltimore, Maryland and the park which surrounds it. Sitting on a circular plot surrounded by the Peabody Conservatory on one corner; and the old Methodist Church on another; across from the Walther’s Art Gallery; this was the centerpiece of uptown Baltimore, which is less than a mile inland; or north; of the Harborplace.

Living in this area was a pure delight. There are many fine restaurants and stores, and housing is fairly reasonable. I used to have a furnished room in an old boarding house on Cathedral Street, simply because I had never lived that way before; with a toilet down the hall. It was different, and I’m glad to have had the experience. It was kind of like living in the Old West.

I must have lived in that neighborhood; on and off; for several years and never got to climb the monument. But a few years after I was married Sue and I returned to the neighborhood with our daughter Sarah, who was about 3 at the time, and decided to climb it. And I’m glad we did, as I could never make that climb again today!

I carried Sarah most of the way up while Sue took the great photo which appears as my masthead. It’s one of my favorite photos and hangs by my bed. These other photos were also taken by Sue at various stages on the way up. And she has her own version of this story, so I’ll let her tell you about it in her own words.

“Robert and I love to visit historical sites and this day we were going to the climb the Washington Monument in Baltimore. Being young and fit, I couldn't imagine that I would pay for this excursion physically for a week. As I approached the inside, I saw a circular stairway going straight up and we began the climb. I started holding Sarah and quickly handed her over to Robert. 

Within a few circles going up I could feel this was going to be a challenge. I had to slow down my pace as I was feeling dizzy but that was going to be the least of my worries. About a quarter of the way, the back of my legs were starting to ache. I didn't understand as I am a walker and often took long walks; holding children as I did so. My friend Betty and I would walk up the hills of ‘Keswick’ during our lunch hour at work and I walked in the evening to wind down from the day. 

We lived in a house with stairs and I took the stairs at work. Why were my legs aching? I continued the climb, each small circle going higher and higher I had to push myself to make it to the top. I was no help with Sarah, Robert had to carry her the whole way, I barley was carrying myself. The view from the top was breathtaking, it was a beautiful day and I was able to take some great pictures. 

While we standing there together looking out, I told Robert that I had to remember this view as I was sure I would never be able to ever make this climb again. Down we went, same circular route, and the trip down only added to make the ache into pain. At home with Motrin and rest, I was sure this would pass. 

No – a whole week of heating pads, ice, pain kills and I could still barley walk. I managed to get to work but had to use the elevator and hold on to the railings and walls to propel myself forward.  I've seen a few circular stairways since this torturous trip up the monument but I stay below and remember that I got some great photos but at what price. : )”

I Always Wondered Why.....

I always wondered why the Weekly Reader; that cool little newspaper we used to get in elementary school; was sometimes confusing to me as a kid. I mean, there was the time when the Weekly Reader was loudly lambasting South Africa for Apartheid at the same time as we were experiencing the events of Selma, Alabama here in the United States. 

But the Weekly Reader had nothing to say about that. Accordingly, I raised my hand and asked what the difference was between South Africa and Alabama. I was told to be quiet and sit down. So I’ve always wondered about that little newspaper.

Well, decades later while reading about the Bush family in Russ Baker’s “Family of Secrets” I came upon the astonishing fact that Allen Dulles; head of the CIA; was on the Board of Directors of the paper, acting as a sort of ghost editor in determining what stories got printed; or not. Kind of makes you want to rethink some of the things you’ve been told…

A Quote From Archbishop Desmond Tutu

"A self sufficient human being is sub human. I have gifts that you do not have, so consequently, I am unique - you have gifts that I do not have, so you are unique. God has made us so that we will need each other..."

"Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom" with (2013)

No movie can ever effectively encompass the life of Nelson Mandela. There simply is not enough time to spend on any one portion of his life, and 2 hours is hardly representative of all which he accomplished in his struggle to free his country. That said; this movie shines brightly as a tribute to what one man will endure to breathe life into his dream of being free.

Beginning with memories gleaned from a childhood of tribal rituals, the young Mandela leaves home in the early 1940’s to seek his fortune. In a racially restricted environment which can only be called “Nazi-Lite”, he encounters all of the racial segregation of the Jim Crow south at the time. The only real difference between South Africa and the United States was that the Federal government in South Africa was part of the problem; unlike in America where the central government would eventually become an ally of the oppressed.

Mandela was a skilled legal representative for the poor and oppressed before he became involved in politics. As a matter of fact you could say the his advocacy for the poor was the very thing which made him hyper aware of the abuses heaped upon the African citizens in their own country by the 10% minority, which was composed of the descendants of the original British and Dutch colonists. Working with youth groups and teaching them the skill of boxing brought him into close everyday contact with the people he would someday inspire to take the freedom so long denied  them.

As Mandela became more involved in the political struggle he turned to violence as a means to an end. If the white rulers would not respect the rights due native African peoples, then the people would not recognize the government which so brutally oppressed them. This made Mandela extremely dangerous to the power structure. By 1964 he was granted “mercy” in a court case which gripped the world. That “mercy” consisted of a life sentence with no chance of parole. Moreover, he would serve that time, along with his co-defendants, on an island; basically exiled from his native soil.

The years rolled by, but Mr. Mandela didn't lose his edge; he simply changed directions. An early victory in prison came when he was able to confront the sadistic Commander of the island prison and demand; of all things; long pants for the prisoners. The reason for the request was simple; making prisoners wear short pants made them “boys” rather than men; by demanding long pants they were in effect taking back their manhood. This was the first step in the path of non-violence which changed Mr. Mandela’s life.

Naomie Harris is excellent in the role of Winnie Madikizela, who would later become his 2nd wife. The film does not flinch from showing her as becoming overly militant after her brutal treatment at the hands of her husband’s oppressors. It is highly doubtful that any marriage could have survived these years intact. And her emotional unraveling is yet another result of the inhumanity of the apartheid system which was still in place.

As the 1970’s came to a close, a movement was begun to free Nelson Mandela. That movement was worldwide. Due to the spotlight being shone on the racial inequalities of South Africa, Mr. Mandela was transferred to a prison on the mainland where he was allowed to see his wife for the first time in years and his teenage daughter for the first time.

By the time the 1980’s came to a close Mr. Mandela would be granted his freedom. But if President Botha; or later DeKlerk; thought that this would silence the force that had become Mandela, they were wrong. Instead, he used his freedom to begin the truth and reconciliation committees, which were set up to study the mistakes of the past in order to keep them from happening again. And when these committees were finished with their work a new political era was born in South Africa; and one of the first things to occur was the election of Nelson Mandela as President of the South African Republic.

The film is beautifully directed by Justin Chadwick, and the screenplay by William Nicholson stays true to the basic tenets of Mr. Mandela’s extraordinary autobiography. This is a film well worth seeing, made from a book well worth reading and a life well served.

  

"The BangBang Club" with Ryan Phillippe and Malin Akerman (2011)

When you open your morning paper; or turn on your TV for news; you are confronted by images that, while they may be unpleasant, represent the reality of the world in which we live. This film tells the story of the men; and women; who take those photos; and the people who buy them. The subject is deftly handled by director Steven Silver, who explores the difference between journalism and opportunism, in war torn South Africa in the early 1990’s, as Apartheid was dying.

As the vacuum of leadership under the Mandela rule, the new country was plagued with tribal warfare, largely in the area of Soweto, where some of this story takes place. The ANC, the African Army, took sides in the tribal warfare that erupted between the newly freed South Africans, and their Hutu rivals, who had come to South Africa for jobs. This warfare required the newly formed government to take sides, aiding the native Zulus against the immigrant workers, resulting in massacres.

Into the middle of all of this comes fresh faced photographer Greg Marinovich , played by Ryan Phillippe, who fearlessly goes where no one else has dared to go before; inside the Zulu camps to hear their side of the story.  He is then befriended by the local photographers who freelance for the leading publications of our time and call themselves the “BangBang Club.” When Greg witnesses a man being burned alive; and wins the Pulitzer Prize for it; he begins to question his own motives; as well as his colleagues; in their pursuit of the news.

A very realistic look at the side of the news we do not ordinarily see, this film is contemporary and speaks to the inhumanity of man against man, as well as what drives those of us who stand on the side and watch, or the ones who take the photos.

"Sixto" Rodriquez - Happy Birthday

Sixto Diaz Rodriguez is a largely unknown American musician, singer-songwriter who was born in Detroit, Michigan on July 10, 1942. Today is his 70^th birthday. His family named him 'Sixto' because he was the sixth child born to his parents, who settled in Detroit, after leaving Mexico in the 1920s. His full name is Sixto Diaz Rodriguez, and you’re about to hear a lot about him in an upcoming film about his life; and for good reason. His story is one of many when it comes to music. It is also proof that sometimes success takes time. In the case of Rodriguez, not only was that time too long in coming, but it almost didn’t happen at all. And the curious part of it is that while we in the United States were virtually ignorant of this talented and charismatic musician, he was a huge hit in places such as Australia and South Africa. Even the clubs in Europe were aware of his unique talent. It’s almost like the 1950’s again, when America didn’t quite embrace some of her own rhythm and blues artists until they were played back to us by the British. And, it begs the question, “Why?”

Mr. Rodriguez’ first album, “Cold Fact”, was recorded in America in 1969, and released in 1970; it went nowhere. The same thing happened with his second album, “Coming from Reality”, which was released in 1971. But by the late 1970’s the albums had spread by word of mouth to Australia, and then on to South Africa, where he was selling out concerts, and millions of albums. Meantime, back in Detroit, Mr. Rodriguez' career was in limbo; he wasn’t even receiving any of the royalties due him from his work. His record company didn’t even believe him when he told them of the sold out concerts overseas.

Finally, in 2006, film-maker Malik Bendjelloul came upon the Rodriguez story while looking to make a 7 minute documentary film in Cape Town, South Africa for Swedish Television. While pursuing that endeavor, he kept hearing the name, and music, of Sixto Rodriguez. Now he was hooked. There was a story to be unearthed and told.  This was not the first attempt to locate the elusive Mr. Rodriguez, who had been living in Detroit, working at various construction jobs; and later, even running for City Council, as well as Mayor; while half a world away he was bigger than the Rolling Stones.

Ten years previous, two of his biggest fans, Cape Town record store owner Steve Segerman, and music journalist Craig Bartholomew, began to wonder what ever happened to Rodriguez – and how he had presumably died. Then they began to wonder; if Rodriguez was dead, then where were all the royalties going from his hit albums? Setting out for America, they met with the co-producer of the “Cold Fact” album, Mike Theodore. That was when they found out that not only was Rodriguez alive and well, but still living in the same run down house in Detroit! He had been working all those years in construction, while raising  3 daughters.

Life works in very mysterious ways; and Sixto Rodriguez is a perfect example of that. He is now the subject of a soon to be released movie, “Searching for Sugarman.” Here he is with the movies director Malik Bendjelloul last month at the House of Blues in Hollywood. It’s due out shortly, and I am already itching to see it. Meantime, hit You Tube for a look at this very talented, and patient, musician. His life highlights the fact that sometimes it just takes time.