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filmwuju · 3 years

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Director Jung Ji-in’s interview for The Red Sleeve (SportsW)

Q. The drama achieved the best viewership ratings among all historical dramas this year. The drama did really well even though it's your first time directing a historical drama, so you must be filled with emotions. With Fri-Sat dramas being so popular, did you expect this success?

I'd like to thank all staff members and cast members for making the drama with us, and the viewers for being with us until the end at such a late time. I trusted the original novel and the script as well as the energy of the actors and staff members on set, so I looked forward to getting good feedback. However, I totally didn't expect that it would be this sensational. I want to once again thank everyone for giving us such overwhelming love. As we receive much love, I remember everyone who worked hard on set. I feel quite proud to be able to share this satisfaction with them.

When I saw the other ongoing dramas in the same time slot, it felt like there was nothing much to look forward to (for our drama), so I thought I should just work hard on the project that I was determined to do. I was filled with confidence as I was working with great actors like Junho and Seyoung, but rather than the viewership ratings, I set my goal on providing great quality until the end of the drama. Although the ratings are not absolutely important, we have broken through a symbolic number. With that, everyone who joined this project greeted the new year happily, so I'm quite delighted.

Q. There are overpouring praises about the directing and cast members' acting and chemistry. Was there any memorable viewer's feedback for you?

Things were quite hectic while the drama was ongoing and I had to decide on many things, so I didn't have the time (to check). Usually, the cast members would compile the funny ones and inform me of them. I remember enjoying them for quite a while. They gave me strength amidst the hectic filming. The most memorable one was the person who covered our music score using a recorder. I laughed so much upon hearing it and immediately sent it to our musical director. I remember he was extremely moved.

The title "God Ji-in" was also memorable. One day, Junho called me that on set and I wondered why he did that. It's quite embarrassing, but I wonder when I would ever hear something like that in my life? So, I just decided to enjoy it for now.

Q. You decided to direct the drama adaptation of the novel. Were there parts where you dramatized the novel? In terms of its differentiation from the novel, where did you focus on while directing?

I first read the novel in 2018. After reading, I immediately pushed for purchasing the rights to the novel together with the chief producer and planning team producer. As for the dramatization, I was concerned whether the ending of the novel is too tragic, but I thought I had to end the drama like the novel no matter what. Bringing the feeling of the novel's ending to life was our goal for producing the drama. As the characters were historical figures, writer Jung Haeri wanted to bring to life the stories during Yeongjo and Jeongjo's reign, hence (we) worked on a different unfolding of the story and used some dramatic devices. While contemplating the range and directions of the characters' emotions, I freely told her my opinions.

As the characters in the drama speak and move, my major concern was how to establish San and Deokim as characters in order to paint out a realistic vividness along with the emotions in the novel. In Deokim's case, we wanted to incorporate the importance of choice into the way her character in the novel wishes to live a long life. We wanted to paint someone who, despite living in a period where everything depends on gender and status, wants to do her best and make her choices within those clear limitations. In San's case, there were more concerns because in the novel, he was depicted from Deokim's perspective, whether as the crown prince or the king. It wouldn't be suitable for a main character to be simply objectified, so we took his personality as described in the novel as much as we can and tried to paint the person that is Yi San while looking through countless historical records. After we finished casting, we revised the script to match the two actors. We tried to include the first impressions they gave off when we met and the sides of them they showed in their previous works and interviews.

I think the scene that showed the most similarity to the sentiments in the novel while differentiating the drama was the encounter between young Deokim and Yeongjo. Seeing a king's attitude to a consort's death and having a frank conversation with the king was an incident that had a great impact on her life in the future. Unlike what happened in the novel, San and Deokim met at Yeongbin's mortuary when they were young. Without knowing what kind of person the young maid would become to him, San tried hard to forget about her. The visit to Yeongbin served as an important moment in both Deokim and San's life, and that's where the drama sets off from.

Q. It was decided that the drama would be continuously broadcasted. The decision was actually something that split up the viewers' opinions. The filming ended on December 21, but the producers had to speed up their editing, so it might have been difficult in terms of the volume and speed. For now, how did you feel when the drama achieved its best rating at episode 15* during the continuous broadcast?

Sufficient time for production was guaranteed in case a continuous broadcast would happen. I'm satisfied with the outcome to a degree. During the continuous broadcast, all production staff members cooperated with each other. They were not flustered in face of the increased workload and focused on the work until the end. Thanks to that, the quality of the episodes was satisfying. I'm really thankful to the viewers for tuning in for two continuous weeks until late. It's just that I have some regrets—unlike the original ending in the script, we concluded the story in a different place. We got a chance to produce the Blu-ray, and I'm considering looking for the original ending and editing it again.

Q. The novel tells the story until the end of Jeongjo's life. After the preview for episode 16 came out, coupled with the history serving as spoilers, the viewers cried a lot upon seeing Jeongjo and Uibin in mourning clothes. How did you want to paint the ending? And what was your reason for doing it that way?

My goal in directing this drama was to bring the novel's ending to life. After I read the ending, I told the company the next day that I'm going to work on this drama. I also emphasized many times to the writer that it's important that this drama unfolds for the last scene that's at the border between dream and death. As we came all the way here for this scene, I have no regrets at all for concluding the drama this way.

Q. Although there's a novel, we believe you had to be careful as you're dealing with history and Jeongjo, a historical figure. What did you study for the background knowledge, and how did you depict the parts that involved adaptation?

During the planning stage, the book I first read was Hanjungnok (The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong). Also, I recommended the cast members the parts I found helpful while reading Park Sibaek's Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, Collections of Letters by King Jeongjo, and Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty. Aside from that, I referred to a lot of educational books for kids in a short amount of time.

There are tons of records and analyses about Jeongjo, but it wasn't easy to figure out Yi San's personal feelings from them. In the novel, he was described as a cranky person who put up walls around himself. I used that as the foundation and tried to include the personality or vibe I felt from him from various historical records. There are not many records about Deokim, so we were able to depict her with more freedom. Uibin's epitaph was written from Jeongjo's perspective, so I reflected the ardent love San had for Deokim and decided there's no need to include every (other detail) in the drama. In the drama's first half, I tried to embody the lively vibe she had in the novel as much as possible. I constructed her character with Anne from Anne of Green Gables and Jo from Little Women in mind.

Q. There were so many legendary scenes in each episode that it's hard to pick one. Through scenes like the discovery of geumdeungjisa (Document of Truth) in the royal office, the treason scene at the temporary palace, Jeongjo's lonesome yet solemn coronation, the hunting of the tiger, etc., you exhibited your unique directing skills. Please tell us the most memorable legendary scene for you and the behind the scene stories of the most difficult scene, if any.

The most memorable filming was for the ending scene of episode 5, where Deokim swears her loyalty to San after Yeongjo intruded their poem-reading. It was the most important scene for the drama's progression and the most important moment in San and Deokim's relationship. The moment the East Palace set was built, I contemplated where they should sit and told the camera director and lightning director that we have to do a two shot using the shadows. Aside from the shadows, the filming took place during the first half of the production, so it took a long time to set up the lighting and filming equipment. We started rehearsing after lunch. After we finished filming at 1 AM, Seyoung and Junho came to me in total exhaustion, and the three of us hugged each other. Drained, we hugged each other and said that we've worked really hard, so let's go home immediately. Even in the midst of that, they both asked me if I was satisfied with the scene. The actors all excellently digested the relay race of emotions, from the feeling of butterflies to anger and fluster, then loyalty and affection. Thanks to them, the scene remains one of the best scenes. Among the drama's many ending scenes, I'm especially attached to this scene as it was filmed during the first half.

The precious moments are the scenes in the library. The filming went in full swing when Junho joined us after he finished his singer activities, and we started from filming San and Deokim's library scenes in episode 2. The freshness of the young maid and the fake lecturer was an important beginning for adult San and Deokim's story, so from the rehearsals to the filming, we came up with detailed movements with the two actors and filmed with great efforts. We filmed the scenes while carefully planning them in accordance with the two's emotions—from Deokim throwing the coins at San while they stood in the library, to when they should be comfortable enough to sit together at Deokim's little desk by the window. The two actors did not spare any effort. Seeing how they worked hard without being flustered even at the requests I made on the spot, I looked forward much more to our filming in the future. Thanks to the two actors who performed passionately as they were covered in salt and dust, we completed the fresh romantic comedy that signals the beginning of a puppy love.

Aside from that, the most memorable scene was every moment. I remember the decorations at the film set and every single small prop. The same goes for the people I worked with. It's been one week since the drama ended, but seeing how I still dream about shooting, I think it will be difficult to forget for a long while.

Q. The ginger slice scene and orange scene were also unique. Whose idea was the orange scene?

The orange was the first medium that San used to shyly reveal his feelings to Deokim. Deokim knew San's feelings, but she indirectly rejected him. The moment I saw the script, I told the writer that we have to film this no matter what because it's such a cute and nice scene. While rehearsing with the actors, Junho and Seyoung focused on fully expressing the emotions they first felt as San and Deokim.

Q. The munpungji (paper strips stuck to the doors) of the court maid's residence and even the collars of their inner garments were filled with flowers. The fact that you paid attention to even the court maid's outfits stood out. Junho also became a topic of discussion for having a great figure for hanbok. Do you have any favorite outfits, and if so, why?

My favorite outfit was the jade green court maid uniform. It's the outfit we spent the longest time discussing during the costume meeting. We had to choose and decide the color from more than 50 shades of green sent to us by the costume team. Since Deokim and the other court maids will be present in almost all sets, including their own residence, we had to compare the color to the wall's color. We also compared dozens of red sleeve cuffs before deciding on the one that matched the green color the best. The color of the daenggi (ribbon for hair) also matched with the sleeve cuff's color. It's an outfit designed after long consideration and the outfit that Deokim wore for the longest time, so it's the most memorable.

Aside from that, my favorite outfit was San's sky blue pyeonbok (clothing worn on a daily basis). I liked it the most the moment I first saw it. I let San wear it for a long time during his loveliest moments when he fell hard for Deokim.

Q. Because of the perfect casting of Lee Junho, Lee Seyoung, Kang Hoon, Lee Deokhwa, etc., people called The Red Sleeve an acting party. We're curious about the behind stories of the casting. What did you see from the actors which made you cast them? We also want to know how you felt working with them.

When we were first planning the drama in 2020, we were waiting for other actors to confirm their appearance. We're terribly sorry to those actors, but the production became uncertain due to budget and timing issues. I told the writer that maybe this project is not meant to be for us and that we should take it easy and let it go.

Miraculously, the production resumed, and the first actor we contacted was Seyoung. I enjoyed Kairos, and while watching the variety shows she featured in before, I felt curious about the energy and emotions she can show. I thought that she can fully express the vibe I felt from Deokim in the novel. I thought I had to quickly cast her before she gets booked. For Junho, his defensive expression and voice in Twenty and Just Between Lovers were memorable. Right in time, I heard the news of him getting discharged from the army and sent him the script. I was very curious about what kind of Yi San he would portray. They both trusted the script, and I was really thankful that they trusted me and decided to join despite this being my first time directing a historical drama.

Since the production resumed luckily, I immediately contacted the actors who were my first choice for each character. They were Lee Deokhwa, Jang Hyejin, Oh Daehwan, and Bae Jeki. Junho and Seyoung are both actors who do not get satisfied easily. They're considerate people who give importance to teamwork with their co-stars more than anyone else. From a director's perspective, they're the best combination that can ever happen.

For melodramas, the teamwork and chemistry of the two actors are especially important. During rehearsals, Seyoung and Junho would continuously discuss how they would act and cooperate. Of course, there were some peculiar jokes and mischiefs mixed during those times, so (we) had to get a hold of ourselves. There were also many times we kept laughing and just couldn't pull it together. Despite fooling around so much, when the shoot begins, they turn into San and Deokim and become extremely focused. I was always in awe of that.

Both of them are diligent people with excellent senses in acting, and they move the hearts of the producers and viewers. Even without this drama, they are actors who will accumulate sensational masterpieces in no time. It was a great honor to be able to work with them this time. I'm really excited to find out what kind of projects they will do in the future, and I wish that we can meet again one day. Many people loved the San and Deokim they had portrayed with all their might. I loved them a lot, too. I guess I'm still not ready to let go of them. It's been more than a week since the drama ended, but I keep dreaming about San and Deokim. Like how San and Deokim's happy moment became eternity, I hope that Junho and Seyoung will always be happy in the future.

For Yeongjo, I had to look for a vibe different from people's impressions about him. (He should be) very unpredictable while also maintaining his sharpness and, at the same time, have this overflowing energy to possibly fly into a rage anytime and anywhere. I wondered which actor would be able to portray those features and a king's charisma. I did not think very hard. It was Lee Deokhwa. After he saw the script, he immediately contacted me and said he will join us as long as there are no issues with The Fishermen and the City's schedule. He said he wanted to act as Yeonsan-gun one day, but he didn't expect he would be able to play Yeongjo as he got old.

Lee Deokhwa has this hook that draws people's attention to him. He doesn't slack off in researching about his character and continuously communicates with his junior actors. While I watched Yeongjo's mannerisms and diction slowly manifest on Junho's Jeongjo as time passed by, I remembered the traces that Lee Deokhwa's Yeongjo had left on this drama.

The ending scene of episode 5 and the royal office scene in episodes 11 & 12 were scenes that couldn't have been done if it were not for Lee Deokhwa's Yeongjo. The scene where they check the Document of Truth was especially a scene that should be made while totally relying on the actors. Though the shoot went on from the morning until midnight, Lee Deokhwa did not show any signs of fatigue and completed the scene while encouraging his junior actors. During the press conference, he praised me and called me a director with sincerity, but he is the actor who showed the sincerest sincerity.

Kang Hoon first came to the meeting for Sung Sik's role. He has a chilly look in his eyes along with his soft vibe, so I thought it would also be nice if he tried out Deokro's role. I gave him the script right away and met him during the next appointment, but it seemed like he was really nervous haha. Still, I did not give up on the potential I saw and set a meeting again. In the end, it was decided that he would play Deokro. In order to portray Deokro, we had separate script reading sessions once or twice a week until the beginning of the shoot, and we researched the character together. To bring out the vibe of a chic, handsome man, I suggested that he lose weight and exercise at the same time. Together, we also contemplated how to portray Deokro's feelings toward San. We looked through records that show Deokro Hong Gukyoung's (his real name) loyalty toward Jeongjo Yi San, and I told him to read Jeong Cheol's "Sokmiingok" and "Samiingok*." For me, the most important thing is Deokrio's attitude. It was important that he has the attitude wherein he will use any means and ways and do anything to ensure San becomes the king. During the first half of the shooting, there was this slight awkwardness as his clothes didn't fit him well, but as the shoots went on, he successfully created a Deokro who only looks at San. In the scene where Deokro writes his final letter to San, Kang Hoon disappeared, and only Deokro Hong Gukyoung remained.

* "Samiingok" is a love song based on innate and extremely devoted loyalty to a king.

With her charisma and ability to express the love and hate for the king, Park Jiyoung was one of the best castings we made. I was charmed when she laughed heartily, saying that she was curious who the drama's director is since it was her first time to be offered a court lady role. She is the best actress who guided the child actors along with Yeongjo in episode 1 and gave the drama a powerful opening. She served as an excellent guide for her junior actors as well as a director making her first historical drama. She always had many ideas, and that always made the rehearsals really fun. I learned a lot from her.

As for Jang Heejin, her duality in On the Way to the Airport was very memorable. Seeing the elegant coexistence of warmth and coldness, I wondered if we will see a Queen Jeongsun that is different from the versions we've seen before. Her diction when talking in real life is very different from her diction when she's acting, and it gave people the strength to focus. She is a charming and gently charismatic actress who creates this cool atmosphere in tension-filled scenes, making you feel like there's a cold wind blowing from somewhere.

After watching Nokdu Flower during the drama's preparation process, I thought of Jo Heebong for Hong Jeongyeo's role. The camera director, Kim Hwayeong, also happened to have watched that drama and kept recommending him, so I contacted him without hesitation. Jo Heebong is an actor who can portray all these things—the dignity of the Left State Councillor, his occasional subservience, and the pettiness of someone under the thumb of the Head Court Lady. He contemplates even the small things not disclosed in the script, discusses with me seriously, and expresses them through his acting. Even the adorable and funny parts were results of his serious contemplation.

Jang Hyejin once made a cameo in my project before, and she was the first actress I thought of for Court Lady Seo's role. The scene she made a cameo in before was a sad scene, but the experience remained as a happy memory to me. So, I could not think of anyone else at all to play the very true-to-life Court Lady Seo who protects Deokim warmly. As a court lady of the East Palace, she was also one of the important characters for San. Her charms and capabilities as an actress, which instill energy and vitality to the set, seeped into her character. With that, she embraced San and Deokim until the end. I relied on her in many aspects throughout the long period of shooting.

Kang Malgeum was an actress I really wanted to work with as I enjoyed Lucky Chansil. She had never acted in historical dramas before. I anticipated that she will show a tone different from the acting in regular dramas and portray a totally different Lady Hyegyeong from the existing ones. Together, we tried to create a cold and goal-oriented Lady Hyegyeong with the determination to protect her son. I was surprised that she even sent me a review after she finished reading Hanjungnok (The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong). She portrayed Lady Hyegyeong's cold and goal-oriented sides as found in historical records, and I was always amazed at her raw expressions that came out unexpectedly.

Kang Taeho, the Left Wing Guard, does not exist in the original novel. It was a character made just for Oh Daehwan. I even thought of removing the character if his schedules didn't work out with ours, haha. Oh Daehwan is an actor who cannot act without making ad-libs. Even when he doesn't have lines, he comes up with something that fits the situation just right. So, I let him be as much as possible and always anticipate where he'll take it and what he'll show. While acting with him, Junho also got the desire to make ad-libs, but it was a shame since there's a limit to what he can do as the crown prince and the king. If they get to meet again in the future, I hope to see them in a modern drama with no hierarchical constraints, showing us fantastic ad-libs.

For the casting of the court maids, our goal was to stay faithful to the original novel. We met countless rookie actresses and looked for a trio who matches Seyoung the best. In the end, we found Ha Yuli for Kyunghee and Lee Eunsaem for Younghee. Lee Minji, who played Bokyeon, joined her colleagues the latest, and things looked really awkward on the first day they met. I was worried if they could pull off (playing) a group of friends who grew up together since childhood and promised to be together until they die. It was a useless worry. During the shoots, they were always full of energy, and there were many times when they laughed so much during the rehearsal that they ran out of energy while filming. Thanks to the court maids who soon became "real friends," we were able to completely convey the feelings of the four to viewers during the scene in episode 16 where Deokim bids farewell to herself. During the rehearsal, I told them not to cry, but it was actually something I was telling myself.

Q. In the making clips, the way you laugh a lot, listen to the actors' opinions, and even respond to Oh Daehwan's ad-libs well was memorable. What kind of atmosphere did you want to create on set?

It's not just me. Maybe people keep hearing my laughter because I laugh loudly, but everyone on set laughed a lot. It was a big gathering of people with the same humor. Well, I actually laugh easily, so I'm the type to laugh a lot on set. I also like funny situations. There were many funny people among the cast and staff members in this drama who like to make jokes, so it was really fun to go to work. When we get tired, we give each other strength as we laugh. There were actually times when I laughed while I was mad, but I guess it wasn't captured in the making, haha.

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#the red sleeve #trs interview #the red sleeve cuff #mbc #kdrama #korean drama #lee se young #lee junho #junho

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jordanianroyals · 4 years

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10 December 2020: King Abdullah II inaugurated the 19th Parliament’s non-ordinary session and delivered the Speech from the Throne.

Addressing Jordanians, King Abdullah said in the speech: “You are the people of resolve. Let us show our patriotism in action, dedication and achievement, so that Jordan would remain strong and proud, and your heads remain held high.” Noting that Jordan is preparing to usher in the state’s centennial, His Majesty said: “Those who know this nation’s history, stand in awe of its journey, over a hundred years, as it stood tall and proud like Jordan’s mountains, and as it was built with the resolve of its people.” The King said Jordan has successfully held parliamentary elections, despite COVID-19, adding that the priority in dealing with the pandemic is the health and wellbeing of citizens, and continuing to safeguard the national economy. His Majesty noted that senators, representatives, and government officials must work as a team to advance Jordan’s national progress, in service of Jordanians. The three branches of power, the King stressed, must work within a framework of partnership and integration, and away from self-centred and narrow interests. “Public trust in state institutions is paramount, and this calls for further action to improve services, especially in the health, education and transportation sectors,” His Majesty said. The King also reaffirmed Jordan’s position on the Palestinian cause, noting that “denying the Palestinian people their just and legitimate rights is the very reason our region continues to suffer conflict and instability”. Moreover, His Majesty reiterated commitment to the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, saying, “The Hashemite Custodianship of Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites is a duty, a commitment, a firm belief, and a responsibility we have proudly undertaken for more than a hundred years.” (Source: Petra) Following is the full English translation.

“In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful, Prayers and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad, Honourable Senators, Honourable Representatives, Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you, In the name of God, and with His blessings, we inaugurate the non-ordinary session of the Nineteenth Parliament. I am delighted to extend to you my congratulations, for winning the trust of the nation’s sons and daughters. Honourable Senators, Honourable Representatives, Never have difficult circumstances prevented us from continuing the democratisation process, nor had it stopped us from adhering to constitutional requirements. With God’s blessings, we have successfully held parliamentary elections, despite the coronavirus pandemic, which is testament to the determination and strong will of Jordanians. Today, your Assembly convenes as our state confidently prepares to usher in its second centennial. This compels everyone—senators, representatives, and Government—to work as a team to advance our national progress, in service of the nation’s sons and daughters, and future generations. This nation, with God’s blessings and the strength of its people, is capable of forging ahead, with resolve and determination. Our state is youthful with its young population, mighty in its accomplishments, and resilient with the unity of its people. Those who know this nation’s history, stand in awe of its journey, over a hundred years, as it stood tall and proud like Jordan’s mountains, and as it was built with the resolve of its people, and the sacrifices of the ancestors, who achieved so much with so little, and wrote the success story that is Jordan. We salute Jordan and its formidable people. Honourable Senators, Honourable Representatives, What this exceptional period demands is clear, and we have indicated it in our Letter of Designation to the Government. And you are all well aware of the great responsibilities incumbent upon us all. The priority in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic is the health and wellbeing of citizens, and continuing to safeguard the national economy. This calls for devising plans and programmes, and taking actionable, informed decisions, as well as engaging in an active partnership with the private sector. We are aware that the world is facing economic setbacks due to the COVID-19 crisis. As part of this world, we must capitalise on our promising opportunities, in the food and pharmaceutical industries, and in medical equipment manufacturing and agriculture. Honourable Senators, Honourable Representatives, The role of Parliament, as outlined in the Constitution, must be focused on oversight and legislation, within a framework of partnership and integration among the three branches of power, and away from self-centred and narrow interests. Public trust in state institutions is paramount, and this calls for further action to improve services, especially in the health, education and transportation sectors. Transparency, openness, and achievement should define the Government’s approach. Speaking of trust, it is best reflected in public confidence in the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and security agencies, and their efficiency and competence. We, therefore, reaffirm the importance of supporting our Armed Forces and security agencies, who set an example in sacrifice. To them, current and retired personnel, we give our appreciation and support. Honourable Senators, Honourable Representatives, Safeguarding citizens’ rights and upholding the fundamentals of justice and equality are the responsibility of the Judiciary, in which we place our trust and pride, and whose role we are keen to empower, in order to enable it to continue maintaining justice and upholding the rule of law. Combating corruption in all its forms is a national priority, and further relentless efforts are required to counter this scourge. Public funds are safeguarded; abusing them is a crime against the nation and its people; and those abusing them must be held accountable, whoever they are. Honourable Senators, Honourable Representatives, Achieving just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution is our strategic choice, and it must guarantee the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Denying the Palestinian people their just and legitimate rights is the very reason our region continues to suffer conflict and instability. We have not, and will never, waver from defending Jerusalem, its holy sites, its identity, and its history. The Hashemite Custodianship of Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites is a duty, a commitment, a firm belief, and a responsibility we have proudly undertaken for more than a hundred years. Jerusalem is the symbol of peace, and we will not accept any attempts to alter its historical and legal status quo, nor attempts of temporal or spatial division of Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif. Honourable Senators, Honourable Representatives, From this podium, I say to each and every member of our Jordanian family: you are the people of resolve. Let us show our patriotism in action, dedication and achievement, so that Jordan would remain strong and proud, and your heads remain held high. I ask the Almighty to help us all serve our precious homeland and our dear people. Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.” Earlier, an official ceremony was held on the King’s arrival at Parliament, accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II. His Majesty was received by heads of the three authorities and a number of senior officials and officers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of public safety measures was observed at the ceremony.

#King Abdullah II #crown prince hussein

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born2battle · 4 years

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NDA Saga~ Spectacular Sixth Term

The commencement of the Spring Term in Jan 1970 heralded our final Term. The feeling of being a Sixth Termer cannot be described adequately since it has to be experienced. Afterall, NDA was in our DNA. I was privileged to be appointed as Squadron Cadet Captain while five of my coursemates were appointed as: Divisional Cadet Captains, Cadet Sergeant Major & Cadet Quartermaster Sergeant. All six of us constituted the core Team of leadership of Echo Squadron & reported to the academy one week prior before the beginning of the Term.

As Sixth Termers, we looked forward to some more privileges such as a reserved corner at the Dining Table in the Cadets Mess, exemption from the morning Muster Parade, permission to visit Pune on all Sundays & holidays etc. However, the most important privilege was to replace the sticker of DLTGH (Days Left To Go Home) by DLTPO (Days Left To Pass Out). Alongside privileges came the responsibilities. In my personal role as the Team Leader, I had to motivate the entire Echo Squadron towards pursuit of excellence. It gave us great pleasure to take the initiative, evolve plans & implement them to attain the overall goals.

In the Sixth Term, practical training in service subjects was stressed upon. Army cadets refined their skills for handling & firing of weapons, basic battle drills & tactics at platoon level. Naval Cadets practised finer details of seamanship. Air Force cadets practised gliding at the gliderdrome. In addition, central lectures we conducted on jointmanship giving examples from previous battles. We had to give group presentations about winners of gallantry awards( Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra & Ashoka Chakra), which proved to be source of inspiration. Bayonet fighting competition was conducted at the end of the capsule of service subjects. I was among the top 24 cadets who were awarded the ‘Bayonet’,which had to be displayed on the uniform.

Meanwhile, the tempo of academic sessions also picked up with a view to complete the Syllabus & the final exam before Camp TORNA. We had to submit several projects & assignments & give presentations on area studies. Personally, I had to double my efforts towards studies to improve my record of academic achievements.

After the mid- Term break, Camp TORNA was conducted in the vicinity of Torna Fort. This fort is located 65kms from NDA & has a special historical significance as it was the first fort captured by Shivaji Maharaj at the age of 16. The camp was conducted as an interesting two sided mock battle over 5 days. Six Squadrons(A to F) represented the Defender while the remaining six Squadrons(G to L) represented the Attacker. The traditional campfire, a sumptuous dinner & the favourite Tipsy Pudding which was a specialty of the Cadets Mess, signalled a farewell from camp life. Next followed, the Josh Run back to the Academy which was another gruelling test of endurance. On termination of this Cross country race of 65 kms wearing FSMO, we were immediately tested in marksmanship competition. My Squadron secured Third position in this camp which proved to be tougher in comparison to Camp Greenhorn ( Second Term ) & Camp Rover ( Fourth Term ).

On return,we realised that DLTPO had reduced to 30.It evoked mixed feelings of elation as well as sorrow since we were in the last month, of the last Term of our NDA saga.The Academy had taught us so much in the process of out transformation.I wish to summarise the key learnings --- in fact, the life lessons in retrospect.PT constantly improved physical fitness while Drill instilled discipline.Swimming & Riding honed our skills & built up our courage.We developed our table manners & etiquettes in the Cadets Mess.System of ragging & punishments strengthened our resilience.Periodic rewards & recognition were morale boosting factors.Outdoor training and Camps enhanced our confidence as well as endurance.All the activities in a tight daily routine followed in each Term taught us the techniques of Time mgmt & Stress mgmt.

Most important factor was the conducive environment & the cadets of the Eagle family which made us feel at home --- always and every time!! It helped in nurturing the Squadron spirit & building ever lasting bonds.We experienced the value addition of this camaraderie as an ex-NDA throughout our career in the Armed Forces and even after retirement !!! It is amazing as to how all ex- NDAs create a symbiotic relationship in just one dialogue ----- Ex NDA? Which Course? Which Squadron?

Yet another monument in NDA which is a symbol of reverence is the Hut of Remembrance.It is situated behind the Sudan Block & is respected as the ‘Holiest of the Holy’. It enshrines the spirit of those NDA Alumni who made the supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Armed Forces. Interestingly, the Hut was constructed through Shramdaan by cadets of 10th to 17th Courses.It was formally inaugurated on 01 Jun 1957.

Rehearsals for POP & related activities began with the usual gusto. We felt sentimental with each passing day as we reflected on the days gone by. We were surely going to remember all the ups and downs during our nostalgic innings at the Cradle of Military Leadership. The Academy Dinner Night set the ball rolling when I was awarded several book prizes & yet another academic Torch.

Next evening we had a poignant farewell from Echo Squadron Each one of us spoke briefly & conveyed our gratitude to all our professors, instructors, Ustaads & the administrative staff. In the end, I exhorted the cadets from 39th to 43rd Course to carry forward the legacy. I concluded with a message “Deep within my heart I hear an Echo~ Echo yesterday, Echo Today, Echo Tomorrow & in fact, Echo forever....” Next morning, we assembled at the Hut of Remembrance & paid homage to the martyrs in a sombre wreath laying ceremony. None of us could even visualise that some of us would have their names inscribed on the Roll of Honour displayed inside the Hut !!

We welcomed our parents who had started arriving since morning. They had been invited to attend all ceremonies commencing two days prior to the POP. Their stay had been organised in the Cadets cabins by vacating one Squadron per Battalion. This gave the parents a feel of staying as a Cadet, in a facility which we still relate as our Home.The first event was the Parents Dinner in the Cadets Mess. It was an opportunity for social interaction between the Parents & the Instructors of the Academy who shaped our future. Commandant of the Academy gave his congratulatory message and compliments to all cadets of the 38th Course. It proved to be yet another nostalgic evening.

Next morning, we escorted our Parents to the Bombay Stadium to witness the PT & Equestrian events, Motorcycle display & a magnificent Para drop demo. This was followed by a guided tour of the entire Campus which reminded us of our cycle tour in the First Term to familiarise us with each & every nook and corner of the Academy. In the evening, we enjoyed the Variety Entertainment Program in Habibullah Hall. A musical mime on the theme “Yaadein” was the grand finale of the Show.It reflected on our journey down the memory lane !!

06 Jun 1970... the D Day finally arrived. It was the much awaited day of the POP, a day which would always be cherished by the 38th Course & a day when we would get the prestigious designation of an ex NDA !!! We assembled at the QM Fort well in time before the commencement of the Parade.Meanwhile, the Parents & other guests were seated in designated enclosures to witness the POP. The Parade marched onto the hallowed Drill Square to the tune of “Sare Jahan se Accha” & formed up to await the arrival of the Chief Guest. Air Chief Marshal P C Lal who was the Chief Guest arrived upto the Drill Square in a horse drawn carriage, as per the tradition. He took the ceremonial salute from the Quarter Deck & reviewed the Parade in an open jeep. This was followed by the main march past around the periphery of the Drill Square. Thereafter, was the much awaited moment for me as well as my parents... the Awards Ceremony. I was privileged to be awarded the President’s Silver Medal for being first in the order of merit. I am certain my parents gave me a standing ovation with moist eyes at that moment while the spectators applauded all the medal winners.

Thereafter, the Chief Guest gave his farewell address. Then began the solemn final march past to the traditional tune of Auld Lang Syne. With a heavy heart, my course marched onto the Quarter Deck, saluted the National Flag on top of the mast & bid farewell to the prestigious NDA.Magnificent fly past overhead & the cadets of 43rd Course on the mast, wished us the final Au Revoir !!! Finally, with Diligence, Determination & Devotion, we felt blessed on achieving our Dream. We looked forward to achieving our final Goal, in respective training institutions, next year. However, we can never forget that NDA is in our DNA. I am and will always be proud of being an ex NDA/ 38th Course/ Echo Squadron !!!

#NDA NDA POP Cadet Life Army Anecdotes

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vermiculus-incipiens · 4 years

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OOC INFORMATION:

What’s your name? Cleo

Preferred pronouns: she/her

Timezone: CET

IC INFORMATION:

Character Name: James Fleamont Amias Potter With names such as Euphemia and Fleamont, his parents really wanted their son to have a less ancient name. They had quarrelled over possible options (one of such being John to James terror because he could have shared a name with the John bloody Lennon!) and finally settled for James. As his mother argued, it has a nice ring to it and was historical enough that he could never face any pureblooded elitist discrimination over it. They did add more traditional names as his second and third since they felt it was a necessity.

What’s a hobby or pastime that your character enjoys?: James can be found doing anything and everything for as long as he is being active. If he is not stationary he’s good. That means flying on his broom, hiking in the Highlands, strolling through Muggle London or meeting for a cuppa (or a pint) with his friends are all very valid ways of spending his free time. Any activity that keeps him moving is what he needs to stay sane, however, with Lily’s pregnancy James is all the more content to spend his days prepping the house for a child. He has found immense pleasure in setting the nursery and putting together the crib without the use of magic. He’s settling down into the role of a father, something that feels is so much more important the closer they are to meeting their child and it’s helping him mature even more. And maybe, just maybe, Harry is going to be falling asleep to James reading him transmutation textbooks instead of fairy tales.

Do you have any preferred ships or anti-ships?: Would I be joining such a group if I didn’t like Jily?

What do you think your character’s Boggart would be? If their greatest fear isn’t something that could easily take a solid form, what is it? Why?: Tw:accident As a child growing up in an old magical house, James has had a misfortune of seeing several boggarts. In fact, around his seventh birthday, the Potters actually had a huge problem with one that kept reappearing in his very own closet for close to two weeks. It kept scaring him, especially at night, because even though he knew what it was, a magical creature set on showing him his biggest fears was not exactly something he could just ignore and go to sleep. But as a child, he used to see all the regular things. Snakes and spiders and then an occasional bloodied pirate. Until one of their neighbours died in a freak accident. Dorothea Hayward was in her forties when she misstepped on a stair and fell down two floors breaking her neck in the process. It reverberated strongly within the Potter’s household because she was Euphemia’s best friend and their most frequent visitor. She also used to babysit James whenever the need arose and she always baked the most tooth-rottingly sweet pies. To be honest, she was more of an aunt to him than his actual aunts were. He was eight when he finally understood what death meant and around that same time realised that his parents were much older than regular parents were meant to be. It is normal for a child to get separation anxiety at a certain point in life, but his turned into a regular trauma. He couldn’t sleep at night and when he did, he’d wake up screaming for them after having seen various visions of their demise. It lessened slightly after he actually went to school, but he always worried that every goodbye could be the last one. Fortunately, the school was more or less void of boggarts because he didn’t exactly fancy the idea of his schoolmates seeing him shatter at the sole thought of becoming an orphan. Now, as he’s all grown up and fighting a war, he hasn’t seen a single boggart in years but if he did it would most likely resemble a tragedy striking their family — Lily losing their child, Lily dying or any of the boys doing so while he is unable to save them.

What’s your character’s biggest pet peeve?: James cannot understand how some people can choose to be neutral in this war. It’s impossible for him to believe that there are others so absolutely uncaring about the whole thing and deciding to stray clear of the conflict. Obviously, he cannot understand how people can think other’s so far below them to start actively targeting them, but somehow the fact, that there are blood purists out there is much more comprehensible than the existence of those who claim to be neutral. Especially, since no one can stay untouched by the war in the long run.

What would you consider to be an eccentricity of your character?: Despite having spent his whole adult life actively fighting in a war, James had never stopped being loyal to a fault. He values loyalty and friendship above all else and is physically unable to distrust those closest to him. In general, he either trusts you completely or believes you are a Death Eater even though there are so many shades of grey in real life, It, to some extent, has to do with his disbelief in not choosing a side. You are either with him or against and that’s naive, but it is something that allows him to stay sane.

What is/was your character’s favorite subject in school? Why?: Transfiguration became James’ favourite subject the minute Minerva McGonagall introduced herself to the class. She was an imposing witch, one that simply demanded respect and would not have it any other way, but boy, was she fun to mess with. It simply became a thing of honour for him to make McGonagall crack with laughter over one of his pranks, and while he never achieved that goal, he was certain that the occasional sudden glint in her eyes was more than just a reflection of light. It helped matters greatly that James simply had a knack for transfiguration and loved to study it, quickly moving to more advanced spells and techniques while at school and then further exploring the subject after graduation.

What time of day is your character’s favorite? What time of year?: James loves early mornings. While he is also a person who enjoys sleeping almost as much as flying, it might be surprising how much he enjoys seeing a day be born. Holding a cup of coffee in one hand and stroking their ginger cat with another, he likes to just look out of the window of their soon-to-be-born baby and relax. In moments like this, he can imagine having no worries while at the same time bracing himself for the incoming day. Of course, it’s not every day that he wakes up early enough, but it’s definitely a frequent occurrence.

What’s your character’s Patronus? If they can’t conjure one, what would it be if they could? Why?: When James had first conjured a corporeal Patronus, he hadn’t been surprised to see the mighty deer. He had heard before that the spell usually took on a form identical to that of a person’s animagus (however, most books said it the other way around as teenagers shouldn’t be able to master that kind of magic) and yet he still felt proud. A deer Patronus indicates that the wizard has a strong intuition, especially towards anything dangerous. Deers are also presented as majestic animals, filled with grace and gentleness. The meanings associated with the deer combine both soft, gentle qualities with strength and determination. And he’s not ashamed of that symbolism.

What is your character’s biggest vice (bad habit or immoral craving)?: James can’t stay put. There’s a huge reservoir of energy deep inside of him that needs to find an outlet regularly and that usually means he doesn’t stop fidgeting or else he gets cranky and can explode. He bores easily and needs constant stimulation. That also sometimes can mean he rushes headfirst into action before thinking things through, which had caused him a few mistakes and injuries in the past. He had to put actual effort into changing that side of himself and he had been somewhat successful (a part of his growing up process) in slowing down, but not entirely and definitely not always. However, it does still require effort and when emotions take over him he loses that control.

Is your character an introvert or extrovert? How well do they handle social situations?: As a child James used to crave attention. While his parents loved him and made sure he wasn’t lacking in anything they were old and tired and most of the time he was left alone to his own devices simply because they couldn’t keep up. Going to Hogwarts was a dream come true to him because not only could he finally start learning magic, but he was also surrounded by hundreds of people around his age. And James easily thrives while surrounded by others. In a social situation he likes to make sure everyone feels included. No one can be left alone or feel down when there are others in the room. James will make sure of that.

What is your character’s diet like? What’s his or her favorite food?: There is a lot of food that James doesn’t like. He’s beyond picky, something that always drove his mother mad, but he’s stubborn and always had been and if he says that he will not eat this or that – won’t. And it’s not about him not eating things that could be considered garbage, either. It’s not about only stuffing his mouth with expensive and good in quality ingredients, but rather the few dishes he likes the taste of, and he can live solely on those. In fact, if faced with a necessity (or under no supervision) he’d be happy to eat the same thing seven days in a raw. For as long as there is no corn in it or pineapple, or it’s a pizza with nothing else, but pepperoni and mushrooms.

How do you think your character’s psychological issues have manifested and changed your character up to this point?: James doesn’t really notice any physical changes in himself. When he looks into the mirror, he doesn’t notice the wrinkles that are showing on his face and shouldn’t have place on a twenty-year-old or how his jaw is tight whenever he’s not smiling. In fact, he himself tries really hard not to change too much. It’s a small rebellion on his part as he is not allowing the war to force itself onto his person. He refuses to stop trusting people to keep a grip on anything he recognizes from the life before the war. Or actually, his life before he took a part in this war since he was still at school when it started. But he’s quieter now. He still jokes and messes around, but it’s more forced since he knows it’s inappropriate. There are people dying every day because of the war and if he keeps joking it’s like he’s mocking their sacrifice. But some people want to pretend that nothing has changed, so he tries to bring smiles to people’s faces during particularly tedious meetings. And usually, for a moment, it feels like everything is good with the world again. He really wants the war to end, even if it’s hard to imagine. The war has been going on for so many years now, that perhaps a world without it is impossible. It’s wearing him down… Making him anxiously reach for his wand at the slightest of rustles and observe his surroundings even if he’s somewhere supposedly safe. He doesn’t want this kind of life for his child, for his wife and for his extended family and friends. He has already lost so much to the war. Both his and Lily’s parents were dead and that meant, that were anything to happen to the two of them, their child wouldn’t even have grandparents that could take care of him. This war needed to end and it needed to end soon.

Give us a headcanon for your character. Anything is acceptable.: James would love to have a huge family. At least four kids and preferably with as small age gaps as possible so no child of his could ever feel lonely. But with Harry surprising them, they can’t really fulfill that particular dream so he will make sure that his son is never alone.

#VIAccepted #Accepted #James Potter #Closed Character

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duchess-anna-ofanjou · 4 years

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A series of questions designed to help you get to know the new Duchess of Anjou, Anna Estelle Omnes.

Basic Information

Full Name: Anna Estelle Omnes

Nickname(s): None, really. She had an aunt that would call her Annie, but she didn’t particularly care for it.

Age: 23

Date of Birth: April 2nd

Hometown: Vannes, Breton

Current Location: Vannes, Breton

Gender: Female

Pronouns: She/Her

Orientation: Bisexual

Designation: Domme

Occupation: Duchess of Anjou. Former book editor.

Living Arrangements: Living at the Anjou Chateau.

Language(s) Spoken: French, English, and Latin.

Physical Appearance

Face Claim: Florence Pugh

Hair Colour: Blonde

Eye Colour: Green

Height: 5’4”

Tattoos: None

Piercings: Ears

Designation Symbol: A sword necklace that has been passed down through her father’s family.

Health

Physical Ailments: Occasionally gets headaches.

Neurological Conditions: N/A

Allergies: N/A

Sleeping Habits: Anna is a morning person, so even when she doesn’t have appointments she gets up early. She does her best to get at least six hours of sleep each night and typically has no problem sleeping.

Eating Habits: She does her best to stick to a healthy lifestyle, but takeout is one of her weaknesses. She loves getting food delivered to her place and tucking in to read a book or watch a movie.

Exercise Habits: She occasionally does yoga, but otherwise doesn’t exercise much.

Emotional Stability: 9 out of 10, because she will never rate herself as perfect at anything. She considers herself very emotionally stable, which she counts as a good thing now that she is a duchess.

Sociability: Anna loves being around people. She loves learning from new friends and learning about the lifestyles and cultures of strangers. She can normally make a conversation with just about anyone.

Body Temperature: Average, verging on the cold side.

Addictions: N/A

Drug Use: N/A

Alcohol Use: Socially.

Personality

Label: The Bibliophile and The Leader

Positive Traits: Approachable, calm, compassionate, diplomatic, hard-working, loyal, passionate

Negative Traits: Impatient, jealous, possessive, stubborn

Goals/Desires: To successfully lead the House of Anjou and gain the respect of its members, as well as those outside of the house that doubt her. To make her family proud. To hold onto who she is despite leading such a large house and entering the political world. To maintain a sense of privacy. To restore the reputation of the Anjou House.

Fears: Failure, bugs that sting, collapsing bridges

Hobbies: Reading (any genre), watching movies, playing silly apps on her phone

Habits: Rubbing her thumb and pointer finger together, reading for longer than intended

Favourites

Weather: Slightly cloudy and not too hot.

Colour: Sea-Foam green, silver, and various shades of purple.

Music: Any and all of it, especially when it has meaningful lyrics. Fun fact- Anna loves to rap along to songs.

Movies: Historical, comedy, and musicals.

Sport: She enjoys watching rugby and swimming.

Beverage: Coffee, tea, sparkling water, or wine.

Food: Takeout. Any takeout.

Animal: Lions and peacocks.

Extra

Zodiac Sign: Aries- Aries is a passionate, motivated, and confident leader who builds community with their cheerful disposition and relentless determination. Uncomplicated and direct in their approach, they often get frustrated by exhaustive details and unnecessary nuances.

MBTI: ENFJ-A, The Protagonist. | Protagonists are natural-born leaders, full of passion and charisma. Forming around two percent of the population, they are oftentimes our politicians, our coaches and our teachers, reaching out and inspiring others to achieve and to do good in the world. With a natural confidence that begets influence, Protagonists take a great deal of pride and joy in guiding others to work together to improve themselves and their community.

Enneagram: Type 2 - The Helper

Temperament: Choleric - Choleric individuals tend to be more extroverted. They are described as independent, decisive, goal-oriented, and ambitious. These combined with their dominant, result-oriented outlook make them natural leaders.

Hogwarts House: Slytherin

#cd;;

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ucflibrary · 5 years

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Every October UCF celebrates Diversity Week. This year’s dates are October 14 - 18, and the theme is Empowering Equity. University-wide departments and groups champion the breadth and culture within the UCF community, and work to increase acceptance and inclusion for everyone at UCF and the surrounding communities.

One of the fantastic things about UCF is the wide range of cultures and ethnicities of our students, staff, and faculty. We come from all over. We’re just as proud of where we are from as we are of where we are now and where we will be heading in future.

UCF Libraries will be offering a full slate of Diversity Week activities. To learn about the upcoming events visit: guides.ucf.edu/diversityweek

Join the UCF Libraries as we celebrate diverse voices and subjects with these suggestions. Click on the link below to see the full list, descriptions, and catalog links for the featured UCF Celebrates Diversity titles suggested by UCF Library employees. These 12 books plus many more are also on display on the 2nd (main) floor of the John C. Hitt Library next to the bank of two elevators.

And thank you to every Knight who works to help others feel accepted and included at UCF!

Girl, Stop Apologizing: A shame-free plan for embracing and achieving your goals by Rachel Hollis In Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis sounds a wake-up call. She knows that many women have been taught to define themselves in light of other people—whether as wife, mother, daughter, or employee—instead of learning how to own who they are and what they want. With a challenge to women everywhere to stop talking themselves out of their dreams, Hollis identifies the excuses to let go of, the behaviors to adopt, and the skills to acquire on the path to growth, confidence, and believing in yourself. Suggested by Sandy Avila, Research & Information Services

It Ain't So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas Zomorod (Cindy) Yousefzadeh is the new kid on the block . . . for the fourth time. California’s Newport Beach is her family’s latest perch, and she’s determined to shuck her brainy loner persona and start afresh with a new Brady Bunch name—Cindy. It’s the late 1970s, and fitting in becomes more difficult as Iran makes U.S. headlines with protests, revolution, and finally the taking of American hostages. Even puka shell necklaces, pool parties, and flying fish can't distract Cindy from the anti-Iran sentiments that creep way too close to home. Suggested by Cindy Dancel, Research & Information Services

Lean in: women, work, and the will to lead by Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell Lean In continues the conversation around women in the workplace, combining personal anecdotes, hard data, and compelling research to change the conversation from what women can’t do to what they can. Sandberg provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career. Suggested by Katy Miller, Research, Education & Engagement

Out of Many Faiths: religious diversity and the American promise by Eboo Patel In this inspiring and thought-provoking book, Patel draws on his personal experience as a Muslim in America to examine broader questions about the importance of religious diversity in the cultural, political, and economic life of the nation. He explores how religious language has given the United States some of its most enduring symbols and inspired many of its most vital civic institutions―and demonstrates how the genius of the American experiment lies in its empowerment of people of all creeds, ethnicities, and convictions. Suggested by Richard Harrison, Research & Information Services

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life. Marjane’s child’s-eye view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary family. Intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly original, Persepolis is at once a story of growing up and a reminder of the human cost of war and political repression. Suggested by Cindy Dancel, Research & Information Services

Reclaiming the Black Past: the use and misuse of African American history in the twenty-first century by Pero Gaglo Dagbovie In this wide-reaching and timely book, Pero Gaglo Dagbovie argues that public knowledge and understanding of black history, including its historical icons, has been shaped by institutions and individuals outside academic ivory towers. Drawing on a range of compelling examples, Dagbovie explores how, in the twenty-first century, African American history is regarded, depicted, and juggled by diverse and contesting interpreters—from museum curators to filmmakers, entertainers, politicians, journalists, and bloggers. Suggested by Richard Harrison, Research & Information Services

Savage Feast: three generations, two continents, and a dinner table (a memoir with recipes) by Boris Fishman The acclaimed author of A Replacement Life shifts between heartbreak and humor in this gorgeously told, recipe-filled memoir. A family story, an immigrant story, a love story, and an epic meal, Savage Feast explores the challenges of navigating two cultures from an unusual angle. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

Text Me When You Get Home: the evolution and triumph of modern female friendship by Kayleen Schaefer From Broad City to Big Little Lies to what women say about their own best friends, the stories we're telling about female friendship have changed. What used to be written off as infighting between mean girls or disposable relationships that would be tossed as soon as a guy came along are no longer described like that. Now, we're lifting up our female friendships to the same level as our other important relationships, saying they matter just as much as the bonds we have with our romantic partners, children, parents, or siblings. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

The Best We Could Do: an illustrated memoir by Thi Bui This beautifully illustrated and emotional story is an evocative memoir about the search for a better future and a longing for the past. Exploring the anguish of immigration and the lasting effects that displacement has on a child and her family, Bui documents the story of her family’s daring escape after the fall of South Vietnam in the 1970s, and the difficulties they faced building new lives for themselves. Suggested by Richard Harrison, Research & Information Services

The Moment of Lift: how empowering women changes the world by Melinda Gates In this moving and compelling book, Melinda shares lessons she’s learned from the inspiring people she’s met during her work and travels around the world. As she writes in the introduction, “That is why I had to write this book―to share the stories of people who have given focus and urgency to my life. I want all of us to see ways we can lift women up where we live.” Melinda’s unforgettable narrative is backed by startling data as she presents the issues that most need our attention―from child marriage to lack of access to contraceptives to gender inequity in the workplace. And, for the first time, she writes about her personal life and the road to equality in her own marriage. Throughout, she shows how there has never been more opportunity to change the world―and ourselves. Suggested by Sandy Avila, Research & Information Services

Tinderbox: the untold story of the up stairs lounge fire and the rise of gay liberation by Robert W. Fieseler Buried for decades, the Up Stairs Lounge tragedy has only recently emerged as a catalyzing event of the gay liberation movement. In revelatory detail, Robert W. Fieseler chronicles the tragic event that claimed the lives of thirty-one men and one woman on June 24, 1973, at a New Orleans bar, the largest mass murder of gays until 2016. Relying on unprecedented access to survivors and archives, Fieseler creates an indelible portrait of a closeted, blue- collar gay world that flourished before an arsonist ignited an inferno that destroyed an entire community. The aftermath was no less traumatic―families ashamed to claim loved ones, the Catholic Church refusing proper burial rights, the city impervious to the survivors’ needs―revealing a world of toxic prejudice that thrived well past Stonewall. Suggested by Richard Harrison, Research & Information Services

Womanish: a grown black woman speaks on love and life by Kim McLarin Searing in its emotional honesty, Womanish is an essay collection that explores what it means to be a black woman in today’s turbulent times. Writing with candor, wit and vulnerability on topics including dating after divorce, depression, parenting older children, the Obama’s, and the often fraught relations between white and black women, McLarin unveils herself at the crossroads of being black, female and middle-aged, and, ultimately, American. Powerful and timely, Womanish draws upon a lifetime of experiences to paint a portrait of a black woman trying to come to terms with the world around her, and of a society trying to come to terms with black women. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

#featured bookshelf #ucflibrary #ucf celebrates diversity #booklr #suggested reading

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scifigeneration · 5 years

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Apollo 11 brought a message of peace to the Moon - but Neil and Buzz almost forgot to leave it behind

by Michelle L.D. Hanlon

President Richard M. Nixon welcomes the Apollo 11 astronauts aboard the USS Hornet, the recovery ship for the mission, where they are quarantined. From left to right: Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin. NASA

“How about that package out of your sleeve? Get that?” is certainly not the most famous phrase uttered by a human while on the Moon. And the items nestled in a small packet that astronaut Buzz Aldrin had stowed in the pocket just below the shoulder of his extravehicular mobility unit were certainly not mission critical. They were sentimental objects, intended to be left on the Moon purely for symbolic and commemorative purposes.

Apollo 15 astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin left a commemorative plaque on the Moon in memory of 14 NASA astronauts and USSR cosmonauts. The tiny, man-like object represents the figure of a fallen astronaut/cosmonaut. NASA

More than one hundred sites

You may be surprised to learn that a partial catalog of human-made objects on the Moon fills more than 20 single-spaced pages. There are more than a hundred sites on the Moon with evidence of human activity. The sites contain materials from the European Space Agency, Japan, India, Russia, China and the United States. Not only do these sites contain ongoing experiments, they hold invaluable data. For example, engineers are hoping to examine these materials to determine how they have fared after continuous exposure to the elevated radiation levels on the Moon. Along with scientific equipment, robotic landers and other objects left behind to lighten the load for the return home, there are a number of memorial and tributary items.

But perhaps most important, these varied objects, and their position on the lunar surface, alone can reveal the true story of humanity’s history on the Moon. A chronicle which celebrates the persistence and passion of hundreds and of thousands of scientists, engineers and aviators throughout human history who have supported the effort to “slip the surly bonds of Earth” and reach the stars.

I am not a historian. I am a space lawyer and have made it my mission to develop the laws we need to protect historic artifacts and sites in space. I co-founded For All Moonkind, the only organization in the world dedicated to preserving human heritage in outer space, to assure that archaeologists, historians, scientists and tourists are given the opportunity to learn the valuable lessons of our past.

Messages of peace

Buzz Aldrin and fellow Moonwalker Neil Armstrong chose to go to the Moon with an Apollo 1 patch. It was selected to honor the ultimate sacrifice of astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee, who perished in a fire during the first test of the Apollo command and service module. The astronauts also chose to remember their fallen Soviet competitors and carried with them two Soviet medals, honoring cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov, who died in the Soyuz 1 spacecraft in 1967 and Yuri Gagarin, the first man to orbit the Earth, who was killed in an aircraft in 1968. Aldrin and Armstrong understood that even as Americans raced the Soviets to the Moon, success would be shared by all.

That’s why they also carried a small gold olive branch – a global symbol of peace – and a silicon disk about the size of a United States half dollar. Inscribed on this disk in microscopic text are messages from the president of the United States and leaders of other 73 nations solicited by Thomas Paine, then head of NASA. The messages, intended to be left on the Moon for posterity, are poignant, proud and congratulatory. Some speak of their own national heritage, others salute the courage of the three humans who strapped themselves into a rocket and catapulted into the unknown. From Afghanistan to Zambia, the messages have one common theme: peace.

The Apollo 11 lunar module shows the stainless steel dedication plaque. The signatures are of the three Apollo 11 crew members and President Richard Nixon. NASA

Neil Armstrong’s favorites

According to his biographer, James Hansen, Neil Armstrong identified three favorite messages. The president of Costa Rica hoped the Moon landing would produce “new benefits for improving the well-being of the human race.” The king of the Belgians remained “deeply conscious of our responsibility with respect to the tasks which may be open to us in the universe, but also to those which remain to be fulfilled on this Earth, so to bring more justice and more happiness to mankind.” Finally, the president of the Ivory Coast asked that the first human messengers to the Moon “turn towards our planet Earth and cry out how insignificant the problems which torture men are, when viewed from up there.”

I personally find the message of the president of Mexico rather prescient as he noted “in 1492, the discovery of the American Continent transformed geography and the course of human events. Today, conquest of ultraterrestrial space – with its attendant unknowns – recreates our perspectives and enhances our paradigms.” He went on to remind that human migration to space carries with it “a new far reaching responsibility.”

The figure shows a gold replica of an olive branch, a traditional symbol of peace, an Apollo 1 patch and a silicon message disk. NASA

Forgotten?

Space historian Tahir Rahman, who has published an award-winning book that tells the full story of the Messages of Peace, recounts that Aldrin and Armstrong nearly forgot to leave the disc and other mementos on the lunar surface. Indeed, according to NASA records and transcripts, it wasn’t until the Moonwalkers were climbing back into their spacecraft for the return journey to Earth when they realized their oversight. At the last minute, the disc was tossed from the ladder and settled in the regolith without pomp or circumstance. Once in the capsule, Armstrong verified that “the disk with messages was placed on the surface as planned.”

The mystery is not that these busy astronauts almost forgot to leave the disc behind. After all they were pretty occupied being the first humans to set foot on the Moon. I think it is strange that the two most popular films about Apollo 11 released in the last year, “First Man” and “Apollo 11,” make no mention of the disc and its moving and hope-filled messages.

On July 20, 1969, the world united to celebrate the most remarkable technological achievement in human experience. And in that celebration, our leaders focused on our common hope for peace. This is the lesson of humanity’s effort to reach the Moon. I believe this is the history that we must embrace. It is our responsibility to explore space in peace, together as a species.

Let’s not forget, or forsake, the lessons of our past. The first step is to protect the sites which chronicle our history on the Moon. And hopefully, along the way we can recapture the goodwill that Neil and Buzz left behind.

About The Author:

Michelle L.D. Hanlon is Professor of Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi

This article is republished from our content partners at The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

#Space Exploration #computer science #Science History #Apollo 11 #Moon Landing #nasa #Technology

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chosen-42-blog · 5 years

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‘love you to the moon and back’

“I love you to the moon and back“, a quote from the children’s book "Guess How Much I Love You", meant to express that one loves another person more than they can imagine.

From ancient times to the present, MOON is always be seen as a symbol of beauty, romance and mysterious. Therefore, the curiosity and exploration to the moon have never stopped. On July 20, 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first and second person to walk on the moon. At the time, US President Richard Nixon was in the first place. They talked to them on a landline. In the televised broadcast of the call, Nixon told the astronauts that the whole world is proud of them. "Because of everything you do, heaven has become a part of the human world." Humans regard the moon as a wonderful symbol. It is both the goal of scientific inquiry and political expansion, as well as the source of romance and the desire of art. Common ambitions and desires have gone through thousands of years of accumulation, and humans have finally had a close contact with the closest neighbors of the Earth half a century ago.

In order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Apollo's moon landing and to explore the complex and strong attraction of the moon to humans, the global art circle has also presented exhibition projects related to the "moon" to explore the human image of the moon and its importance and power of charming.

Firstly, the exhibition of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Apollo's Muse: The Moon in the Age of Photography, explores the visual performance of the moon from the beginning of photography technology. In addition to the photos, the exhibition also features a series of related sketches, prints, oil paintings, movies, astronomical instruments and cameras used by Apollo astronauts.

On July 20, 1969, 500 million viewers around the world watched the first moon landing photo uploaded by the American astronauts from the moon. The images helped humans remember this very historical moment in their unique way. The limit of human vision was pushed. To the new dimension.

▲ El Meyers, "Le Voyage dans la lune" film excerpt, 1902

This "moon landing"-themed film pioneered the sci-fi film, which made the film a platform for fantasy and a tool for entertainment. This year's exhibition in the West, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of Apollo's moon landing, almost all showed the film.

Another typical exhibition is the museum of the moon. The Moon Museum is an art installation project for global tours. British artist Luke Jerram replicates the moon at a ratio of 1:500,000. Through the image of NASA, he displays every corner and crack of the moon's surface on an internally illuminated 23-foot diameter sphere, representing 5 kilometers of the moon per centimeter. As Jerram said in an article: "I hope this project can reproduce a myth, inspire people's doubts and re-engage with the night sky." This installation of more than 30 museums, palaces and landmarks has been popular in Europe and the United States since two years ago. But it is not as simple as a photo location. Its popularity comes from the result of the common emotions, myths and narratives of human beings. When you stand in front of this huge moon, it seems to be surrounded and impacted by the charm of the vast universe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX6HrVdtC7A

OLALA 2018-The Museum of the Moon, Luke Jerram

Moon Museum, British National History Museum, London

As it travels from one place to another, it will collect new musical compositions and continue to collect personal reactions, stories and myths, as well as highlight the latest lunar science. The device combines a moon image, moonlight and surround sound, created by British composer Dan Jones. From the beginning of human history, the moon has become a "cultural mirror" of our way of faith, understanding and observation. For centuries, the moon has been interpreted as a god and a planet. It is used for timing, calendaring, and assisted night navigation. Throughout history, the moon has inspired artists, poets, scientists, writers and musicians all over the world. A round of the moon, a delicate new moon with the sun, or the mysterious dark side of the moon, the faint blue light that evokes people's passion and exploration. Different cultures around the world have their own historical, cultural, scientific and religious relationships with the moon. The Moon Museum allows us to observe and think about cultural differences and similarities around the world and to consider the latest lunar science. The meaning and interpretation of the work will vary depending on where the work is presented. New stories and meanings will be collected through local research on the artwork of each location. (https://my-moon.org/about/)

Moon Museum, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney

Moon Museum, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto

Moon Museum, Milano

Moon Museum, Water Cube, Beijing

For a long time, human beings have a long-lasting fascination with the fascinating spheres in the sky, so this exhibition shows various paintings, scientific instruments and contemporary art through interactive installations, displays and art installations to explore the moon in human faith and science. And the various roles played in the arts.

Talking back to the meaning of moon exhibition, those exhibitions aim to memorize the 50th anniversary of the first human landing on the moon. In today’s context of the United States’ “returning to the moon”, the establishment of a lunar space station, and other countries competing to explore the moon, people cannot forget the political, scientific, technological, economic, and life-like aspects of Apollo’s manned moon landing on human society. Even the great influence and promotion brought by the spirit.For the time being, the US “Return to the Moon” program will also draw heavily on the experience and technology of the Apollo manned moon landing project. Many of the programs and technologies of the year are not out of date even today. The Apollo manned moon landing project will continue to affect the global influence for many generations and affect generations.

| Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing logo. The prominent two letters O nested the Moon and Mars, respectively, meaning that the two planets NASA has explored, from "Apollo" to the moon, to "return to the moon", and then to Mars in the future. The next huge overflight refers to the next era to explore the focus: Mars. Samsung represents the three stars on the Orion belt. This logo was designed by NASA graphic artist Matthew Skins.|

In the fierce space competition between the United States and the Soviet Union in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Soviet Union successively won several firsts: launching the world's first artificial earth satellite, launching the world's first moon detector, and launching it. The world’s first manned spaceship... The United States deeply feels that this is an extremely serious political issue. Therefore, the United States has been eager to surpass the slogan of the Soviet Union and is determined to show the United States as the world’s number one superpower. Level and national strength.

On May 25, 1961, US President Kennedy announced to the world that he would implement a majestic manned moon landing plan. “I think that our country should achieve the goal of sending people to the moon and returning them safely to Earth before the end of this decade.” Thus, the implementation of the manned mission to the moon in the United States is a political decision. The purpose is to re-establish the technological leadership of the United States in the eyes of the people of the world and to invigorate the spirit of the United States.

| President Kennedy speaks on the "Apollo" project in Congress |

The project is named after the sun god "Apollo". Although it can be seen as an ad hoc plan to compete with the Soviet Union, it is also the first step in human expansion into the solar system. Its purpose is to achieve manned moon landings and human field visits to the moon, for manned planets and Probing for technical preparation.

The Apollo manned moon landing project has greatly stimulated the slow-moving space program in the United States. Various people from all walks of life have offered suggestions, and it took only eight years to get on the moon.

| Apollo 11 Badge |

The success and achievements of the Apollo program have great historical and practical significance.

Politically, it has finally established the United States in a leading position in many aspects of space technology, and has produced a great reputation. In science, it has made humans have the first direct research and understanding of the moon and near-moon space. In terms of technology, many breakthroughs have been made, which not only laid the foundation for the later aerospace program, but also widely used in the national economy.

In engineering management, NASA has thus gained a series of valuable experience in large-scale engineering planning and management. Economically, this is a more controversial issue, but according to the Zeiss report, the “Apollo” plan has increased the US economic growth rate by 2%, the price index by 2%, and created 800,000 employment indicators. The Zeiss report also believes that In 1958, the US national income was 406.2 billion US dollars. In 1968, it reached 864 billion US dollars. In 1970, it increased to 90.46 billion US dollars.

The implementation of the project has led to a large number of high-tech industrial groups such as liquid fuel rockets, microwave radars, remote control operations, radio guidance, ultra-high strength and high temperature resistant synthetic materials, new electronic computers, pharmaceuticals and bioengineering. Later, many technical achievements such as artificial intelligence, robotics and remote control operations of the project were transferred to civilian use, which promoted the overall development and prosperity of science and technology and industry. The benefits of secondary development and application far exceeded the Apollo program itself. Direct economic and social benefits.

In the last 10 years of the 20th century, the United States was able to maintain high-speed and efficient growth, thanks in large part to the thousands of application technology achievements or patent applications in the economic field derived from the Apollo manned moon landing project. The United States is ahead of the world. High-tech, such as information, biology, and new materials, comes from the digestion, optimization, and secondary development of lunar exploration technology.

In the implementation of the Apollo manned moon landing project, in order to cool down and ensure the safety of the astronauts on the moon, the liquid cooling suit was developed. The principle is to use the pump to deliver cold water circulation refrigeration. Later, this technology was directly applied to the army, navy and air force. The working conditions of tankers, submarines and pilots have also reduced the suffering for some special patients. For example, there is a little boy who has scalded scalpel disease and can't dissipate heat through the skin. Therefore, most of his time can only be kept in the air-cooled environment. Many daily activities can't participate. After the liquid cold clothes, he can Go out and play, save from illness and loneliness.

Another popular bar code for shopping pricing is one of the aerospace technology masterpieces that was originally invented by the United States to control the countless components of the Apollo program.

The intensive care unit was one of the important medical advances brought by aerospace technology. It was originally born in response to the Apollo program's need for health testing of astronauts on the moon.

The dried cabbage leaves in instant noodles are the dehydrated vegetables commonly used in aerospace foods. They are used to store, store, and transport excess water in vegetables. The Apollo program first uses this technology to allow astronauts to eat vegetables. Aerospace foods are now widely available in aerospace foods.

All kinds of fashionable sneakers are also the "products" of Apollo's achievements. The "air blow molding" manufacturing technology is derived from the Apollo plan for the production of space suits. At that time, scientists made a complete and uniform thickness. The large-pressure space suit liner invented a method of heating and softening a group of pressure-resistant soft materials, placing them in a mold, and then blowing high-pressure gas into the mold. After that, the sneaker manufacturer found that the process could Quickly and efficiently create a complete upper that is widely used.

In conclusion, human desire for space and resources is growing towards rationality with the advancement of technology. On September 5, 1977, NASA unmanned probe traveler 1 launched into the solar system. Voyager 1 carries a gold-plated bronze record with a diameter of 30 cm, trying to introduce humanity to the extraterrestrial civilization as completely as possible. The album contains 115 pictures of the earth's features, humans, knowledge and solar system celestial bodies; 55 kinds of earth language greetings, beginning with the Aka German used by the Sumerians 6,000 years ago, ending in Chinese dialects; Dogs, birds, trains, and other "voices of the earth"; there are also music from a variety of cultures, including Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, Chinese Guqin "Water", Chuck Berry's rock, African blows Music, the voice of New Guineans, and so on. When astronomer Carl Sagan presided over the compilation of the album content, people's expectations of discovering extraterrestrial civilization seemed to be a little higher and more romantic than now, unlike the calmness of more than 40 years. Today, the urban legendary craze of UFO and alien signs is over, but serious exploration is still in progress.I don't know if we can see the breakthrough in our lifetime. We don't know when humans can really leave the cradle and start the interstellar voyage. We don't know whether the form of life will exceed the range we are familiar with, or even whether human cognition is enough to understand the universe and itself. The only thing that can be determined at the moment is that as long as the human species still exists, there will always be some members who will be the pioneers of travel, extending the footprints of human footprints and thinking to farther places.

#museum of the moon

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armeniaitn · 4 years

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PM Nikol Pashinyan Presents Armenia's National Security Strategy

New Post has been published on https://armenia.in-the.news/society/pm-nikol-pashinyan-presents-armenias-national-security-strategy-34451-10-07-2020/

PM Nikol Pashinyan Presents Armenia's National Security Strategy

The Security Council of the Republic of Armenia held a regular meeting in Yerevan on Friday, chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The meeting approved Armenia’s National Security Strategy. Following is the full text of PM Pashinyan’s statement:

“Extremely important issues are on the agenda of today’s Security Council meeting, but I would like to single out the National Security Strategy of the Republic of Armenia. I think we have got a pretty good draft strategy in terms of both the original text and the general context.

I think we first of all need to look at our national identity while discussing the national security strategy just because national security is supposed to safeguard our ethnic identity by protecting it from physical and substantive threats. On the other hand, we should admit that national identity may change over time.

Our nation has existed for several millennia, though being Armenian did not mean the same thing during this time. The meaning of the term has changed over time due to various circumstances, events, and factors.

We do not know what our compatriots meant by saying Armenian in the time of King Artashes, but we know for sure that they did not mean what we mean nowadays. At least he had no idea of our existence, while we know for sure that they existed. This alone is a major factor in the development of our national identity.

We do not now know whether the Armenians who lived 2000 years ago viewed their actions from the perspective of our present interests, we do not know at all whether there was such a process of thought or not. But now we can do that, knowing the past, thinking not only about the present and the future, but also about the millennial horizon.

Perhaps this is the turning point where the national ideology becomes a vital necessity, an institution of practical significance, when based on our past and present experience, we are facing the task of not only formulating what needs to be done today, but also sending such a fundamental message that would liaise between the future generations of Armenians and the Armenian who lived a thousand years ago. This is our vision of developing national identity and consciousness. National identity develops on the basis of our history, those positive and negative impressions we draw from past experiences, as well as on our vision of the future, which is organically connected with the past and the present.

Our national identity has evolved over the years so that today we can formulate our goal, which is to ensure the future generations’ survival and normal development on the planet Earth for several millennia ahead in the territory of the state of Armenia and think of what we should do today.

An Armenian that will live in 2000 years will not look the way we do today just as we are not acting the way our ancestors did 2000 years ago. But unlike those who lived 2,000 years ago, we can send a message to the future generations of Armenians that should bridge them with the past, and the main point of that message is what needs to be done in order to strengthen and make that connection viable.

On the other hand, that interconnectivity should not be deemed as a bond. It should not pull us back, but push forward, stimulate and inspire for ever new achievements, it should not become an overwhelming presence, but it should encourage every Armenian to feel part of our millennial mission, become part of that mission, expand the scope and enrich the content of that mission through deeper knowledge of our identity.

National identity has a core component, which implies connectivity with the roots and a sense of ownership of the heritage and values formed throughout history. This in turn should develop individual faith and trust in one’s own strength, as well as people’s collective faith and trust in their own strength.

This is why I consider it important to draw such a line in the foreword to the National Security Strategy, which is formulated below. In this context, I would like to quote Vahan Teryan’s famous lines:

Babylon used to be our enemy, but see It disappeared, passed away like an evil fog.

So, we come from the Armenian highlands, from Hayk Nahapet, and our name is Armenian. We are the descendants of the Kingdom of Van, Yervanduni dynasty, Artashesian dynasty, Arshakuni dynasty, Bagratuni dynasty, the Kingdom of Cilicia, and the First Republic of Armenia.

We acknowledge the unique role played by the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic in the development of education, science, culture and industry in our country. We are the proud citizens of the Third Republic of Armenia, the children of the Armenian people who founded the Third Republic of Armenia and liberated Artsakh.

The Republic of Armenia is the guarantor of the security and freedom of the Armenians of Artsakh. The Republic of Armenia is a pan-Armenian state and represents all Armenians from across the globe.

The Armenian people boast the ability of defying historical disasters; we have reached the 21st century thanks to the skills and qualities we have developed on the way to building our own statehood. The awareness of these historical facts helped us reinstate our sovereignty immediately after the Medz Yeghern.

The Armenian state is the sole guarantor of our nation’s survival and development. Therefore, our statehood must exist forever since the Armenian people must exist forever.

National values The national values of the Armenian people are as follows: – Armenian statehood, citizenship of the Republic of Armenia;

The history and folklore of the Armenian people: our epic, beliefs, legends, and myths;

The Armenian language and alphabet, Armenian literature, including translated literature, knowledge, science;

The pan-Armenian potential, the Armenian Diaspora;

Homeland, family, individual;

The Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic Church, the Armenian Evangelical Church. Christianity;

The art of Armenian bards and troubadours, our folklore, classical and pop music, Armenian dance art, Armenian fine arts, Armenian stage art, Armenian architecture;

Armenia’s nature and wildlife with its biodiversity;

Progress, freedom, dignity, hospitality, education, diligence, law-abidingness, respect and tolerance for other peoples, ethnic groups and religions;

Fraternal feelings and relations with the ethnic minorities living in Armenia and Artsakh, developing an organic union with them based on the citizenship of the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh;

Armenian cuisine, all the samples of material and intangible heritage that express, depict, describe or symbolize the aforementioned national values;

National Goals The national goals of the Armenian people are as follows:

Providing the prerequisites necessary for the eternity of the Armenian statehood: ideological, security-related, public, political, legal, economic, demographic, international, educational, intellectual, cultural and institutional;

International recognition of Artsakh’s right to self-determination without any restrictions;

International recognition of the Armenian Genocide, overcoming and eliminating its consequences;

Ensuring security, freedom and well-being for the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, as well as protecting and promoting other fundamental rights;

Equality before the law, equality of men and women, equal access for men and women to opportunities available in public, state and economic life, as well as achieving national unity and cohesion through strict enforcement of civic rights and duties;

Preservation and development of our national and sovereign identity by safeguarding the independence and sovereignty of the Armenian people, including the restoration and development of national identity among those Armenians who have lost, or who seem to be on the verge of giving up their ethnic self-consciousness, including the knowledge of language;

Mobilization of the pan-Armenian potential in a bid to preserve and develop our national values and achieve our national goals;

Pan-Armenian Rules of Coexistence 1. Violence must be ruled out in dealing with domestic issues. Any such social group or individuals that view violence as a medium for addressing internal problems must be rejected. The vision of a non-violent society free of violence must become the cornerstone of our national unity. Indeed, this does not apply to the use of legitimate force with a view to preventing and exposing crimes, ensuring the normal life of society, as well as protecting the homeland from external aggression.

The expression of people’s free will is the only source to form a government in the Republic of Armenia. Any distortion of people’s free will should be considered as an anti-state and anti-national activity.

The sovereignty of Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian people is the highest value. Such forces as may be willing or trying to involve foreign powers in the settlement of internal issues, acting as representatives of foreign interests in our country must be strongly opposed by the Armenian people and its legitimate representative – the Government of Armenia.

Armenia and Artsakh should be free from all forms of corruption, including sponsorship and artificial monopolies, no man-made barriers to free competition should be created and the material damage inflicted on the state and the people through corruption must be repaired.

The rule of law, equality before the law through the exercise of civic rights and duties must become the core of intra-national relations.

A judicial system exposed to external or internal influences is a threat to national security. The law-courts must be independent.

The existence of a privileged class, circle, and individual in the sphere of economy, politics and public life must be ruled out.

The negotiations on the settlement of the Artsakh issue should seek to safeguard the results of the liberation war waged to ensure the self-determination and security of the people of Artsakh. Any solution agreed upon by the governments of Armenia and Artsakh cannot be considered acceptable unless it gets popular support and approval in Armenia and Artsakh.

We and the World Throughout its history, Armenia has been looked upon as the “west of the east” and the “east of the west,” often becoming a scene of a clash of civilizations. We reject the presumption of a clash of civilizations, and in international relations we position ourselves as supporters of the dialogue of civilizations. Our vision of international relations implies international and interethnic dialogue based on mutual respect, and a mutual desire to understand and be understood.

Promoting dialogue among civilizations, peoples, States and multilateral relations should be the reflection of our commitment to promoting international peace and stability. Armenia stands ready to become a platform for such dialogue. That is so much as a message.

Coming to the text of the National Security Strategy that will be adopted later today, I wish to highlight another important nuance consisting in the fact that the will of the Armenian people is indicated as a source and a guarantee for Armenia’s statehood, that is, the existence of the Republic of Armenia should be determined by the will of the Armenian people.

To objectively formulate what I mean by saying the will of the Armenian people and how it should be expressed in daily life, my understanding is that the popular will is formed at the crossroads of civic rights and duties, when the citizens of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people, as a whole, have the opportunity to simultaneously exercise their rights and duties. The Armenian state is to be underpinned by the synergy of these two concepts. I think it is a key feature, and I do believe that it should be enshrined in the text and concept of the National Security Strategy because, as we have mentioned on many occasions before, the existence of the Armenian statehood, as well as, unfortunately, its absence was often due to favorable or unfavorable geopolitical circumstances.

Our primary task is to get the Armenian nation out of that vicious cycle where geopolitical factors can predetermine the fate of our statehood. Our statehood should be dependant on the collective will of the Armenian people.

And, in fact, with this National Security Strategy, we are setting a new benchmark for ourselves. But I want to say that this is not so much a benchmark, but it would be more correct to call it a bar, because it imposes a proportionate responsibility on each of us, starting with senior officials and ending with ordinary citizens. The survival of the Armenian statehood depends on our will to bear that responsibility and exercise our rights, and I am convinced that as a nation, we are actually prepared to take on this responsibility today.

I am glad that as a government, as a security council, we have the required mandate to formulate such willingness and make a daily work of it. Thank you. This was my foreword.”

Read original article here.

#Armenia #Armenians #Artsakh #Yerevan #Society

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