A.J. Sendall's Blog, page 5

Sacrifice

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Sacrifice, and self sacrifice

I guess we all have our own idea of what sacrifice is, what we’re prepared to sacrifice, and what we expect other to sacrifice for us, or those we love.

Definition of sacrifice in English:

An act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to a deity:

they offer sacrifices to the spirits.
Christian Church: Christ’s offering of himself in the Crucifixion.
An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy:

We must all be prepared to make sacrifices.

When we look into the past, there is a plethora of anecdotes about the sacrifice of innocents. Sacrificing the life of a child to prove the depth of one’s faith and commitment was present in virtually all of the world’s religious and cultural traditions. The followers of all three Abrahamic faiths flirt with the tradition of child sacrifice in numerous ways, including the story of Christ, which celebrates a “father” who offers “his only begotten son” to be sacrificed on the cross.

Child sacrifice continues today. In a recent case in India, police in the central state of Chhattisgarh found the decomposed body of Lalita Tati. The A seven-year-old girl was sacrificed by two persons believing that the act would give a better harvest,” Narayan Das, the police chief, said.

I don’t know where this form of ritualistic sacrifice of the innocent stems from. Nor can I find any congruence between how the various deities are portrayed and the barbarism enacted in their name. There must be something wedged deep in the lizard part of our brain that allows such acts to be performed.

We are surrounded daily by less blatant and obvious sacrifice. Often this sacrifice come in the form of parents who live their lives either in ignorance of the detrimental effects their actions (or inactions) have upon their unfortunate offspring, or they just don’t give a shit. They put their own needs and wants first, unprepared to self-sacrifice, they offer up the well-being of their children to the gods of alcohol, drugs, sex, or lethargy.

 

Yesterdays post about Bai Fang Li was about self-sacrifice. About a man who sacrificed the final two decades of his life for other’s education and well-being. There are many great examples of self-sacrifice, from characters as diverse as Mother Teresa, and Captain Lawrence Oates. What Bai Fang Li, Oates, and Mother Teresa have in common, is that they gave up part, or all, of themselves for the well being of others.

Such acts are neither uncommon, nor the domain of the well-known. They happen around us on an almost daily basis, but are often hidden beneath the mountain of sensationalist morbidity pumped out by the media. They are extraordinary acts by ordinary people such as you or I.

 

 

“We must be prepared to make the same heroic sacrifices for the cause of peace that we make ungrudgingly for the cause of war. There is no task that is more important, or closer to my heart.”  ― Albert Einstein

What is your favourite story of self-sacrifice? Where have you drawn the line?

Leave a comment below.

I’ll leave you today with ‘Sacrifice’ by Elton John.

 

 

Thanks for calling in. If you want to see what others are doing for ‘S is for -‘ today, check out some of the other great blogs on the A to Z Challenge

Join me again tomorrow for a look at ‘T’. Until then, happy reading.

 

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Rickshaw

By %%ajsendall.com%%

A Rickshaw Driver’s Remarkable Story

In 1987,  74-year old rickshaw driver Bai Fang Li returned to his home town to retire from his backbreaking job.

However, after seeing children working in the fields and learning from his daughter that the children were too poor to attend school, he came out of retirement in order to earn money to help them.  He returned to Tianjin and went back to work as a rickshaw puller, taking modest accommodation close to the railway station where he waited for clients 24 hours a day. He ate simple food and wore an assortment of discarded second-hand clothes that he found. He gave all of his hard-earned money to support children who could not afford education.

Mr. Bai Fang Li contributed to finance more than 300 poor students in their tuition fees and living expenses, helping them to complete their studies.

 

At 82 years old, to his children’s surprise, Bai made another decision; he founded the Education Support Fund with the help of loans. His life pedalling a rickshaw continued.

Xu Xiuxiang, one of the workers at Education Support Fund, said: “Bai never forgot when to give money to the schools. Each time he gave the money he felt very happy, and said he had completed his mission again.”

In 2001, Bai drove his rickshaw to Tianjin YaoHua Middle School, to deliver his last contribution. At almost 90 years of age, he told the students that he had to retire, that couldn’t pedal his rickshaw any more. During the previous fourteen years, Bai had donated a total of 350,000 yuan (56,500 USD) to help more than 300 poor students continue with their studies. A staggering amount for a rickshaw driver living in condition we would class as poverty.

Bai Fang Li passed away on September 23, 2005, leaving behind an inspiring legacy.

 

Bai Fang Li – Rickshaw driver and humble philanthropist.

If a 90 year old rickshaw driver who wore used clothes and had no education can help 300 children to get through school, imagine what we can do with the resources we have to bring about positive change in our world.

 

 

I’ll leave you today with the classic song about having no regrets. I have a feeling that Bai Fang Li died without any.

If you’re looking for other interesting blogs to read, meet some of my neighbours from he April A to Z Challenge 2015

Discarded Darlings (WR)

Committed Thoughts (PR)

Rachel’s Ramblings blog (WR)

Eva Marasca

J E Oneil is Still Writing

Lisa @ Its Own Sweet Will {LI}

The Hatching Cat

4covert2overt~ A Place in the Spotlight

Defining Ways

happiness and food

Adorments for Dreams, Sweden

tammy theriault

Wee White Hoose (MY)

Living in the In Between (WR)

I Will Never Give you UP

Stephanie Lorée @ Scribbler to Scribe

Still Life, With Cats (PR)

Michael Williams StoryCoaching

Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams

 

Thanks for calling in, and call again tomorrow for a look at ‘S’.

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Quietness

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Quietness

Wasn’t that nice.

 

Thanks for calling in and enjoying quietness.

If you want to see what others are doing for ‘Q’ day, check out some of the other great blogs on the A to Z Challenge

 

Call in again tomorrow, when I’ll be taking a look at, ‘R’ is for …

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Protagonists

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Protagonists – which is your favourite?

We all have our favourite protagonist, these are a handful of mine.

Being a fan of noir, Philip Marlowe, the private detective created by Raymond Chandler, is high on my list. He is one of the most inspirational character I have ever read. He’s the epitome of heroism, toughness, and loneliness.

Another classic noir protagonist is Sam Spade, from Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon. Sam Spade is able to take care of himself in any situation, able to get the best of anybody he comes in contact with, whether criminal, innocent by-stander or client.

Both of those protagonists were played by Humphrey Bogart in the subsequent films. A third Bogart role, and notable Protagonist, is his portrayal of Rick, in Casablanca.

Bogart in one of his many roles as the tough-guy protagonist

 

I love the complexity of Thomas Harris’ Hannibal Lecter. He has immaculate taste, is highly educated, surrounds himself with beauty, and yet he’s one of the scariest characters you’ll ever come across in a book or movie.

I must include Great Expectations‘ Miss Havisham. Sitting for decade after decade in that fragmenting wedding dress, plotting her revenge, before vanishing into flames. A twisted and unforgettable character, and another Dickens masterpiece.

Toad of Toad Hall, the amusingly pretentious Toad, who acts as a mirror with his ego, laziness, and materialism.

PK, from  Bryce Courtney’s The Power of One, for having a stout heart, and getting even with The Judge.

Moll Flanders For her zest, and the wit and courage with which she overcomes the hand life deals her, using fair means or foul – usually foul. It’s remarkable that Daniel Defoe’s heroine first made her appearance in 1722.

Bigwig from Richard Adams’ Watership Down, a rabbit who displays character and leadership such as we need in the world now.

And of course no list of protagonists would be complete without Ian Fleming’s immutable James Bond.

 

Is Fleming’s 007 the ultimate protagonist?

 

Who are your favourite Protagonists? Leave a comment below …

Today’s music clip is a favourite of Micky DeWitt, the protagonist from Flank Street.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by. If you want to catch up on some great blogs, check out some of the others on the A to Z Challenge

 

Call in again tomorrow when I’ll be taking a look at ‘Q’ for …

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Overpopulated?

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Is the earth overpopulated by the over privileged, or is it a myth?

The Earth is overpopulated, there can surely be no argument about that. And even if you don’t see the world as being overpopulated, you cannot refute the logic that a finite amount of land is incapable of supporting a population with a limitless potential for increase. Therefore, at some point in time we have to limit growth, and given the current situation, that time is now. There are some, however, who regard the overpopulation argument as a myth.

The global population is 7.3 billion, and is growing by approximately 74 million people per year. Current predictions by the U.N estimate that the world population will reach 9 billion by 2050. As with many things in life, if you live with them every day, they become normal. That is how I feel it is for most people who live in densely populated areas. They just don’t see how negatively it can affect them.  The majority of articles discussing overpopulation tend to focus on an unavoidable shortfall of resources, which is a valid concern. But what is less discussed, and what is for me a major concern, is the crowded living conditions it will bring, dragging all of the known social problems with it. As the population grows and commodities become scarcer and more expensive, the problems will escalate and accelerate.

Leave a comment below, and let us know how you see it? What are your concerns, or is at all a myth? Do you live in high density housing, and if so, how does it affect you?

 

 

Today’s music clip was an easy choice – Too Many People by Paul McCartney

 

 

 

 Thanks for calling in, and do it again tomorrow when take a look at ‘P’.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the amazing A to Z blog challenge list.

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Noir

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Noir and neo-noir fiction and movies.

Noir was an easy choice for today’s letter ‘N’ for the April A to Z Challenge. Noir is one of my favourite genres in both books and movies.

The core of popular noir stems from authors such as Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain – “The Postman Always Rings Twice”, Patricia Highsmith – “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1955), and David Goodis – “Down There” (1956), which is a moody, intense novel of a musician who’s fallen on hard times, and gets caught up in his family’s criminal activities.

You’ll find plenty more in list such as this one on Goodreads.

And there’s even a list of chic-noir there as well!

 

Neo-noir

Neo-noir is probably more widely-known and popular that true noir. Much of the reason for that is the popularity of some very well made neo-noir movies.

One of the stand-out neo-noir movies is L.A. Confidential, based on James Ellroy’s novel of the same name. It has all the ingredients of a great book and movie, tension, intrigue, duplicity, romance, and of course, the stunning Kim Basinger.

Same goes for The Black Dahlia, which is another from Ellroy’s L.A. Quartet. I was surprised that this film didn’t get a better reception. It’s one that I’ve enjoyed many times, and has a great script and cast.

There are many other noteable neo-noir movies including, Miller’s Crossing, which is an interpretation of the classic ‘The Glass Key’. And more recently, Gangster Squad, in which Sean Penn plays an old noir favourite, Mickey Cohen.

 

 

There is a plethora of neo-noir novels to choose from other than the mega names above.

 

Die a Little by Megan Abbott

Before Dare Me, and before her Edgar-winning Queenpin, and her other superb novels, there was Die A Little. This stifling tale set in 1950s L.A. features Hollywood in all its nasty glory. There’s usury, addiction, prostitution, and maybe even a little true love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Possibly the best-selling author of neo-noir fiction is Dennis Lehane. You may recognize the work of Dennis Lehane from the films that have sprung from his novels: Shutter Island, and Mystic River being two of the most successful, and deservedly so.

He takes the lives of ordinary people in less than ordinary situations involving abductions, murder, and departure from reality, and weaves them into a complex, multi-layered plot.

Dennis Lehane’s work has wide appeal. The novels that are easy to read, but at the same time, complicated in their layers of imagery, plot, and depictions of the truth, and somebody’s reality.

 

 

Today’s music clip comes from Chet Baker, and really catches the mood of classic noir.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by, and call in again tomorrow for a look at ‘O’

 

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Micky

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Micky DeWitt is is the main character and narrator from Flank street, which is due for release on May 15th – just a month away. Micky is entirely fictitious, or as far as a character can be. When it comes to creating characters, we all draw on people who’ve crossed our paths, or influenced us in one way or another.

I don’t know who Micky is, or where he came from, but it started like this—

Late one night, I was looking down a wet, tree-lined street, and spotted Micky walking in the shadows. After a while, he stopped, leaned against one of the plane trees and seemed to be watching the house across the road. For a while, I watched him watching the house. He stood completely still, his hands thrust into the pockets of his black jeans, the grey hoodie covering his head and obscuring his face. It was obvious that he was up to no good—he wasn’t just sheltering from the light rain.

My attention was caught again an hour later when a car pulled into the driveway of the house that Micky was still watching. A man got out, checked his mail box, then went inside. Moments later, Micky crossed the rain-slicked road, and vaulted the gate into the back yard. I couldn’t see the back of the house. There was a sound like stones on a window, then the unmistakable cough of a silenced hand gun. I knew immediately who Micky was, and what I then had to do.

 

 

To discover who and what Micky DeWitt is, join me in Flank Street, where nothing is quite what it seems.

 

Today’s track is Midnight Blues by Joe Bonamassa recorded live at the Beacon Theatre in New York in 2012. I picked it because this is what Micky listens to as he spends his nights lost in a haze of whiskey, cigarettes, and melancholy blues.

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by, and call in again tomorrow when we roll into the second half of this year’s April A to Z Challenge with a look at Noir.

Until then, happy reading!

 

 

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Learning

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Learning  lessons – do you learn yours?

Learning comes in many different and unexpected forms. Over the years, I’ve learned a few the easy way, and many more the hard way. Some are waiting to come at me again.

noun: the acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or being taught.

Learning is something we do every day, so we should be good at it … right? Most things we do every day we get better at, more comfortable with, faster. But is this true of learning?

Those of you who know me, will know that I’ve spent a bit of time at sea, and if you’ve read some of the post I wrote whilst sailing in 2011-13, you might recall that I learned a few  lessons during that time.

By the time I moved ashore eighteen months ago, I had clocked up over 100,000 ocean miles. Only a few highlights, and moments of cold dread remain; the rest has faded to grey. Many of the lessons learned however, remain clear.

One lesson I learned early was; ‘the time to reef (reduce sail) is when you first think about it’. Ok, sounds good, but I doubt if 10% of shorthanded cruising sailors do that. Optimism, procrastination, and reluctance to wrangle flogging canvas into submission in a rising sea are just three of the reasons. I know because I was guilty of them all. I told myself the wind would reduce again; invariably it continued to increase. ‘I’ll do it once I have’ [insert any old lame excuse in here], and of course the wind would increase while I was being lame, making the task more difficult and hazardous. Eventually, and slowly, I learned things do not get easier if you leave them and hope they will get better or go away.

I have tried to apply that rule to writing. We all know when it is just not working, that what we should do is hit that delete key, but we forge ahead anyway hoping that it will get better. It doesn’t. We waste more time, and the more we write the harder it is to delete it. After all, who wants to scrap 2000 hard won words? Next time your gut tells you ‘no! stop!’ Put a reef in that chapter before the wind and sea gets up.

‘One hand for the boat and one hand for yourself’. Obvious from a sailing paradigm, but how does that apply to life in general, and writing? There’s no point hauling away on a topsail sheet with both hands, throwing all caution to the wind, and then fall overboard. All the hauling is then for nought.

In writing, we must preserve and grow our ‘other life’, our actual, physical everyday life. Regardless of whether you write about a philosophical mole that lives by a river, or about oversexed vampires looking for new recruits, at some level, it is our real life that inspires our stories. Let that stagnate and your writing will wither and die with it.

 

Today I’ll leave you with a classic track witch touches on learning.

 

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’re enjoying these A to Z Challenge posts, and that you’ll call in again tomorrow.
Until then, happy reading and blogging.

 

 

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Kirtan

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Kirtan – A Hindu devotional chant

Today I offer you a kirtan that I first heard performed by Krishna Das and Deva Primal. It’s a deeply moving song of devotion, devoid of self and ego.

 

Mere Gurudev

My Gurudev, I offer these flowers of my faith at your feet

Whatever I have, you have given to me, and I dedicate it all to you.

I have no love, nor do I know you.

I don’t even have the strength to worship you,

But this mind of mine, this body of mine,

my every atom is dedicated to you.

You are the only one in my heart and my thoughts.

You are the one who I call out to.

Now make me your instrument.

All I am, I offer to you.

 

 

 

 

Call in again tomorrow when we’ll take a look at ‘L’

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Journey

By %%ajsendall.com%%

Jumping around all over the place, looking for inspiration. What is J for??

Judgement? No, that sounds a bit serious and negative.

Joker? Better, and never better than when played by the brilliant Heath Ledger. Such a shame he died so young.

Jesus? Better leave that one alone.

Jimi Hendrix? Maybe we’ll finish with a track from him. Or perhaps J J Cale …

Joint? Save that for later too.

Jaguar? Yes, that’s a subject I like. But I doubt many of you would be interested, so I’ll post a pic and move on.

 

The classic XJ12 S1. The first Jag I owned back in ’79, and the last in 2011.

 

But before I do, I’ll throw in a little trivia.

Jaguar was founded by Sir William Lyons in 1921 as Swallow Sidecars. In 1931, they began selling the SS1, and in 1933 the company name was changed to SS Cars Ltd. The first “Jaguar” model was offered in 1935, and after WW2 Lyons changed the company name to Jaguar to avoid the unfortunate connotations with the Nazi “SS”.

 

 

Joy? Something we all need more of.

Juba? That brings back memories of dust and disease. Juba is the capital and largest city of Southern Sudan, and not a place to put on your wish list. I spent a bit of time there in the early eighties, none of it fun.

Journey? I guess that’s something we all relate to in our own way.

I feel as if I’ve been journeying my entire life, and for much of it, in a literal sense. The miles I’ve journeyed I couldn’t possible estimate, and what would be the point anyway. If I had to quantify those sojourns at all, I could only do it by using the lessons, the highs and lows. On the sea, I have spent some fifteen years sailing the watery parts of the world, and I doubt no more than a handful of those days passed without something teaching me a lesson. Even if that lesson was that I never learn my lesson. The oceans are like that. There are highs and lows aplenty when travelling on a small boat. Most of them are now fading as new experiences muscle them toward the aft lockers of my mind. Certain things will always remain, resilient enough to hold their place in my overworked conciousness.

 

Two ‘J’s in today’s music clip, with J J Cale’s Mamma Don’t.

 

 

 

What have your journeys been? What do you recall, and where have they led you?

 

Join me again on Monday for a look at Kindness.
Until then, happy reading and blogging.

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