Images courtesy of “Man Up and Go” Facebook

Fathers – they teach us how to be strong and confident in ourselves, they guide us towards what is right and try to shelter us from what’s wrong. If we ever need any support, fathers are the first ones to step up. They teach us responsibility, push us to do our best in life. But not everyone has one, not everyone has that bulwark of encouragement.

Can you imagine life without your father? That’s the cruel reality for seven million orphans in Uganda and Ethiopia, but this is where the documentary “Man Up and Go” comes in. During Atlas Week, the viewing of “Man Up and Go” was an inspirational experience for members of the SLU community who got a glimpse at the amazing work of 30 American men willing to be a positive force on the lives of children.

“Life is not supposed to be nurtured in orphanages- if fathers are there we are not going to find children in streets… if fathers are there you are not going to see children being thrown in toilets. The number of children who are disadvantaged in the world will grow less. It is the greatest need. The greatest need in the world is fatherhood,” said a Ugandan orphanage manager in the film.

Through the “Man Up and Go” mission, American men from all walks of life aim to be “fathers to the fatherless” for orphans in Ethiopia and Uganda. The film “Man Up and Go” specifically documents the journey of five of these men, as well the plight of orphans and how they’re making a difference. It’s received several accolades at festivals such as the Sonoma International Festival, Indie Fest USA, Africa World Documentary Film Festival and others.

These children grow up without the love, the care and the hope that a father can give, and the Man Up team is doing everything in their power to change that. Their mission according to their website is, “to be a father to many, to hold and hug those children that do not have a father…to be an example to other men what a real man is like, what it means to be a father.” The men do everything from helping with building projects and doing dishes, to cooking and caring for these children – telling them that they are loved and important. Some even adopted children as their own in an act of validation that can only come from a father.

The lack of fathers, who either leave and forgo their responsibilities or perish, is too horrible a sight to see. Ugandans who manage orphanages strongly believe that, if there were more fathers, more positive influences, the country wouldn’t be ridden with crime. The film names a great deal of criminals who grew up fatherless from dictators to murderers; Adolf Hitler is a gruesome example. A major tragedy is that these orphans who had nowhere to go were placed in juvenile prisons by corrupt governments. These deteriorating prisons, which often lacked adequate facilities and had no access to clean water, was what they called home.

What’s even more appalling and gut-wrenching are the living conditions in Ethiopia where thousands upon thousands of people, mostly children, live in large dumps. Every day they wait for the garbage truck to come so they can scavenge for food. At times the hopelessness in their eyes was too much to bear. The sight of them playing in the dump was worse, engendering an overwhelming sense of guilt.

The film left all in the audience with a renewed sense of our privilege as well as the many injustices in the world. Who are we to complain about anything? We sit here, complaining about how we detest that we have so much work for school, when there are kids who’ve never gone to school a day in their life. We complain that our parents annoy us and never understand us, when there are kids who’ve never felt loved or trusted the wrong adults for lack of any guardian. We complain that there’s nothing to eat when we’ve never had to hunt for food in a dump.

Inequality truly does create drastic differences but “third world” doesn’t mean different planet. It’s still our duty to do our part in changing the lives of the less fortunate, and “Man Up and Go” is one group that’s going above and beyond.

Image courtesy of Bastille

The London-based, critically-acclaimed indie rock group Bastille is exploding in popularity. Their single “Pompeii” from debut album “Bad Blood” hit No. 10 on US Billboard Hot 100, while the album itself is No. 11 on Top 100. Bastille has also reached No. 3 on DigitalSpy’s list of top list of top albums in 2013 and has been nominated for four Brit Awards, including British Group, British Breakthrough Act and British Album of the Year.

Headed by frontman Dan Smith, Bastille’s synth-based songs are characterized by a strong percussion presence. Songs like “Bad Blood” and “These Streets” illustrate how the drums, piano and xylophone are the heartbeat of Bastille. The sheer range of sounds that this band utilizes in its music is truly amazing and lends each song a different feel. From the blaring guitar in “The Silence” to the sci-fi synth in “Laughter Lines” that’s paired with Smith’s haunting, resonant voice – the music is evocative and unmatched. One only has to listen to “Things We Lost in the Fire” or “Laura Palmer” to feel chills.

Not only is the overall effect brilliant, but the songs themselves hold thematic allusions that most modern day music lacks. “Pompeii” refers to how the eruption of Mount Vesuvius demolished the city of Pompeii, turning people into ashes. The video reflects the symbolism; just as Pompeii took a turn for the worst, the video shows Dan running away from people becoming black-eyed aliens. Other tracks make references to the Bible, such as the song “Daniel in the Den,” or Greek mythology, as does “Icarus.”

This band indubitably goes above and beyond in conveying themes of importance to its listeners, rather than the typical lyrical drivel about partying and bad lifestyles. “Flaws” illustrates how imperfection is part of the human condition: “All of your flaws and all of my flaws/ They lie there hand in hand/ Ones we’ve inherited, ones that we’ve learned/ They pass from man to man.” “Weight of Living Pt. 1″ describes overcoming hardship and letting go of pain by “shooting down your albatross,” while “Laura Palmer” encourages you to follow your passions by saying, “this is your heart, pumps through your veins, can you feel it?”

The lyrics tie the themes to modern day life. For example, in the song “Icarus,” he equates the fall of Icarus to the downfall of youth who live their lives in the fast lane. The way Smith crafted his lyrics yields music that is close to flawless.

It was a cold, overcast Tuesday, and I was 8 years old. I remember getting ready to go to school. The school I went to was at the nearby mosque. For the most part, it was a typical elementary school; we said the pledge of allegiance, learned the same subjects:  art, math, science. But we also learned Arabic and studied the Quran, which is why my parents sent me there, to further my knowledge about my religion.

On this Tuesday, however, third grade me didn’t know that life as I knew it would change forever. Because soon after my mother dropped me off at school, maybe an hour or so later, she came rushing back to find me and took me home. It was so unusual to see her panic like that. I knew something was wrong, but she wouldn’t say what had happened. She sped back to our apartment and I saw my father watching the TV, an expression of total shock on his face. And then I saw. The two towers engulfed in flames, voluminous plumes of black smoke emanating from the tops. At first, I couldn’t believe it, and I thought it was a movie. However, seeing the aghast expressions on my parents’ faces, along with the frenzied news anchors, quickly dispelled that notion.

Like my parents, I remember wondering why would anyone ever do that, and I felt helpless as I watched hundreds of New Yorkers running and screaming. I overheard my parents say “terrorists,” “hijack” and “extremists.” I saw my mother crying and saying she had to pick me up because she was afraid someone would bomb the mosque.  Even as a third grader, I knew something absolutely horrible had happened; I was scared and I wanted to help the people who were hurt.  I couldn’t have known, though, just how much 9/11 would impact our lives, just because we were Muslim.

From then onward, I’ve had to explain time and again that being Muslim does not equate to being a terrorist or extremist. People just couldn’t reconcile the fact that I, like them, was American but I was also Muslim simultaneously. And I was both. I loved apple pie, Fourth of July fireworks, baseball. I had a wide variety of friends. I was and still am extremely proud to be an American, because of everything we stand for. I also prayed, read the Quran, celebrated Eid and spoke Urdu and Arabic. My religion instilled in me strong morals and good character.

When you think of the word “terrorist,” what comes to mind? Someone holed up in a cave halfway across the world? Someone who looks a certain way, or speaks a certain language? That right there is the problem. Giving the word “terrorist” a face, ethnicity or religion, and incriminating an entire group for the senseless, evil actions of a few. The way American Muslims felt after 9/11 was akin to how Japanese-Americans probably felt after Pearl Harbor.

It’s interesting how fear and blame are intertwined. When you’re afraid, you lash out against what you don’t understand; fear of the unknown causes people to make erroneous judgments about others. I think if people made an effort to understand Islam better, they’ll see that the religion itself is beautiful and that those who commit terrorist, evil acts are far from Muslim, however much they claim to be. They aren’t Muslim in my eyes. There is a verse in the Quran that says, “If you kill one innocent person, it’s as if you’ve killed the whole of humanity, and if you save one person, it’s as if you saved the whole of humanity,” [Quran 5:32]. And killing is a major sin in Islam.

In the wake of the Boston Marathon tragedy, the perpetrators claim to be Muslim, and there will be ignorant people who will judge all Muslims by their standard. I and many others, Muslim and non Muslim, believe that the suspects should be punished for the crimes they committed; what they did was horrible and I don’t condone them. But I believe in this great, beautiful nation of mine, and know that we will rise above the hatred.  More and more people I meet realize that it’s not right to paint everyone with the same brush, and are genuinely curious about Islam. Another one of my favorite verses is, “Verily, with hardship there is relief,” [Quran 94:6]. I feel that this verse describes America as a whole, the way we come together after tragedy, the way we feel joy in helping our fellow citizens to overcome anything life throws at us.

On April 28, the Hindu Students Community will be hosting a festival to celebrate the coming of spring and the Hindu tradition of Holi. It will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Tegeler Field, and there will be over 9,000 water balloons, inflatable pools and colored powder, all imported from India. In each of the past few years, over 200 people attended the event, and it’s completely free to everyone.

Holi participants from last year, covered in colored powder and water from water balloons.
Photo Courtesy of Deval Patel

Holi is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun, which is the month of March in the Gregorian calendar. Deval Patel, president of the Hindu Students Community said that the event will be held in late April, rather than in March, due to the weather. “Since we are working with water balloons, colors and outdoor activities, we wanted adequate temperatures so that it would be enjoyable for everyone,” Patel said.

The name Holi originated from the name “Holika,” the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu. In one story from Hindu mythology, the demon king Hiranyakashipu tries to kill his son, Prahlad, who is a devout follower of Vishnu, a supreme god in Hinduism. The belief is that he incarnates on Earth from time to time as an avatar, to eradicate evil forces and to restore the Dharma that regulates the universe. Hiranyakashipu has a sister, Holika, who cannot be burned by fire. Hiranyakashipu tells Prahlad to sit with Holika in a burning fire and Prahlad obeys. Lord Vishnu protects Prahlad while Holika burns to death. This is why, often, effigies of Holika are burned during the celebration of Holi to signify the victory of good over evil. The festival commemorates Prahlad being saved.

Primarily, Holi celebrates the new season of spring, a time for new beginnings. “Holi symbolizes the colors of spring, and the fact that winter is finally over. Everyone wears white, and each color means something different,” Patel said. Other stories of Holi say it is a celebration of the love between Radha and Krishna and marks the coming of spring. Radha and Krishna are the combination of both the feminine and the masculine aspects of God in the faith tradition. The different colors that people play with and cover each other with symbolize the colors of spring.

The festivities are delightful and bring together the whole community: young and old, men and women, and different castes.

“More than anyone, my grandmother taught me to dream, dream, dream… [a Grammy] isn’t just a shiny trophy to hold onto…but a dream come true,” LL Cool J proclaimed in his introduction, after Taylor Swift’s Cirque du Soleil-esque performance of “We are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”

The 55th Annual Grammy Awards took place at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 10. Rapper LL Cool J was an excellent second-time host. Several musicians gave incredible live performances, namely Mumford and Sons, Maroon 5, Frank Ocean and Ed Sheeran.

Winning Best Album, Mumford and Sons have certainly come a long way with their album “Babel.” The English alternative folk band delivered a stellar performance of “I Will Wait.” Adele took home her ninth Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance. Best Song went to “We Are Young” by Fun. The song, dramatic, powerful with indie and alternative influences, climbed the charts last year. Fun also performed their single “Carry On.” Best Country Solo Performance went to Carrie Underwood for “Blown Away.” Gotye and Kimbra won Record of the Year for “Somebody That I Used To Know,” a song that was played continuously on the radio during 2012. Kelly Clarkson won Best Pop Vocal Album, against greats like Florence and the Machine, Maroon 5 and Pink. Best Rap Song went to “No Church in the Wild” by Jay-Z. Best Dance/Recording went to “Bangarang” by Skrillex, and many more awards were handed out throughout the course of the night.

The performances themselves varied greatly; some were definitely more theatrical than others. When Fun sang “Carry On,” water fell onto the stage to make it look like it was raining. When Frank Ocean performed “Forrest Gump,” it appeared as though he was running; a projector behind him played a video of runners, one of them was Frank himself (well, half of him, anyway). It was a riveting visual effect.

Other artists were more traditional, such as Mumford and Sons and Bruno Mars when he sang “Locked out of Heaven.” Afterward, Mars, Sting, Rihanna and Ziggy Marley sang a tribute to Bob Marley. The Grammys were attended by many other celebrities and musicians including Neil Patrick Harris, Jennifer Lopez and Katy Perry.

The “most honorable” awards ceremony for music, according to LL Cool J, this year’s Grammys certainly exceeded everyone’s expectations, even if it was a bit long. Viewers were able to watch their favorite bands and musicians not only win awards for their hard work, but also watch many artists perform.
As LL Cool J said, “For me, the Grammys equals music. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is an equation that has been proven true for 55 years.”

Bell casts ordered for the cathedral’s 850th birthday

Exterior view of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.
Brianna Radici / Design Director

Paris–Upon the cathedral on Notre Dame’s 850th anniversary, nine new bells will replace the existing set, which went out of tune.

Notre Dame, “our lady” in French, began construction in 1163 and took around 90 years to build. The bells gained popularity through Victor Hugo’s classic novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” in which the bell ringer, ironically, was deaf.

The “old” bells were added in the 19th century to replace those from the 18th century, which were melted down during the French Revolution. The replacements were widely said to be France’s most out-of-tune church bells.

The bells weigh, in total, 23 tons. They are named after distinguished Catholics such as Jean-Marie Lustiger, the late bishop and cardinal of Paris, and after saints, such as the Archangel Gabriel.

Mary, the largest and loudest of them all, weighs 6.5 tons.

Each bell is inscribed with the latin phrase “Via viatores quaerit,” which means “I am the path looking for travelers.”

Patrick Jacquin, rector at Notre Dame Cathedral, said in an NBC World News report, “With these bells, we’re looking back at our history and ahead to our future.”

“I think they look fantastic. They’re very beautiful and the casts are very different, one to another…so I’m dying to hear how they sound,” a tourist said in the same report.

Hundreds of people gathered to watch Cardinal Andre Armand Vingt-Trois bless eight of the nine bells, which are on public display until Feb. 25.

Through private donations totaling nearly $2 million, the new bells will be exactly what was imagined in the Middle Ages. Eight of the new bells were created in a foundry in Villedieu-les-Poeles, a town in Normandy.

The ninth, Mary, was cast in the Netherlands, financed by the foundation of Liliane Bettencourt, a principal shareholder of L’Oreal.

The renowned cathedral in Paris attracts 20 million visitors annually, tourists and Catholics alike.

BELLS FAST FACTS:

• The Bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully, ordered the construction of Notre Dame in 1160.
• The current bells were added during the 19th century to replace the melted bells from the French Revolution.
• Each bell is inscribed with the latin phrase for “I am the path looking for travelers.”
• The bells were funded through private donations, totaling almost $2 million.
• The ninth bell, named Mary, was cast in the Netherlands, financed by the foundation of Liliane Bettencourt, a principal shareholder of L’Oreal.