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Ada Gonzalez asked:


The 1st thing to do is - open the closet, stand tall, and stare at it up and down (show NO FEAR!) then slowly stare from left to right. This will help you avoid an attack from your closet (since you are looking around for loose items in your closet that may fall on you). After the showdown is over, you wrestle using the 3 “C” techniques that I teach all my clients that hire me to help them get organized:

1. COMMIT: Commit yourself to a reasonable time frame & stick to it. Make it fun by challenging yourself to accomplishing a task by a particular time frame - no coffee break, no *** pee break. For example say I “WILL” remove all the items from my closet within ½ hour, I “WILL” not have the chocolate covered donut in the kitchen until I finish removing the clothes.

2. COLLECT: Quickly collect & sort all the items from your closet into a large bag or container or area (bag/container will keep the items from overflowing your room & make it transportable). Place all similar items together (i.e.: all shoes in one bag, all purses/handbags in another, all clothes in bed). DO NOT analyze the items (for this will make the process longer) - the technique of collecting grabs your wrestling opponent to tame “it” before the conquest.

3. CONQUER: On 3 white pieces of paper write KEEP, DONATE, & TRASH and tape them on a designated space on your floor. Then chose what you want to tackle 1st (ie: shoes, clothes, etc.) and determine what you NEED to place back in the closet. Be realistic – if you haven’t used an items in more than a year, chances are that you will NOT use it; therefore, get rid of it so you can have MORE SPACE for items that you truly love & will wear & use.

Many times my clients find items that they thought they lost or forgot they had. I would love to hear YOUR DISCOVERIES.

Remember, live BEAUTIFUL and COMFORTABLE!

© 2007 Ada’s Interior Design, Inc. All Rights Reserved | Website: www.adasdecoratingsolutions.com



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Dave Page asked:


WWE is a name that brings a glint in the eye of all youngsters out there. It is a name that we have grown up with. From skipping studies, to skipping meals, all for those 90 minutes of pure adrenalin; the lights, the action, the drama was something to die for! And if that’s not enough, wrestling card games, trading cards, and walls adorned with posters of Hulk Hogan and The Rock and what not! Those were the good old days.

WWE brought a revolution to the world of sports entertainment. Yes, it is sport, but it is essentially entertainment, and a part of the entertainment industry, and entertainment at its best for that matter. The People’s Champ, the Texas Rattlesnake, The Heart Break Kid, Triple H; these people were, and still are role models for a lot of young teens out there.

Why you ask? Because, it was different. It had the magic required to keep people glued to their seats/TV sets. It was better than any Hollywood flick. The oh-so-arrogant Mr. McMahon and his mini-wars with the stars, especially Stone Cold Steve Austin; the life-in-a-pot-undead Undertaker; the People’s Champ, The Rock who Layeth the SmackDown with the People’s Elbow; who can forget those golden moments. I mean, they’re etched into our brains, and I speak for a lot of people when I say that. The craze was so extreme that I actually fractured my leg once trying to do a Jeff Hardy + a Brahma Bull “Swanton Elbow”. This just goes to show how much we were in love with those people with the cool hair, the big muscles, and of course the underwear. The only thing that we never followed was the “Please don’t try this at home”!

Then came the name change, and I personally feel that it wasn’t only the name that had changed. Maybe I was growing out of it, but that’s just not right because I’m still a WWE fan. In came a new breed of muscle-men, hungry for each other’s blood. Brock Lesnar.. Man he was one strong guy. He bloody broke the ring, and the tool used was a Big Show! A 500 pound superplex! I could hear myself thinking “What the hell just happened?!” followed by “What else did you expect?” John Cena, a skinny little thing who liked slapping people and showing some “ruthless aggression” is now close to legend, accompanied by the likes of Batista the Animal, Mr. 619 Rey Mysterio and the Punjabi Giant, The Great Khali. Although extremely talented and bloody well powerful, these new champions somehow didn’t have what the older Heroes did. They had just disappeared. And to this day, I’m always hoping for some turn of events and The Rock, or Stone Cold walking down towards the ring. But such is life.

All I know is that WWE is legendary, and even though it is very different from what it was once, I’m glad I grew up watching, idolizing, and imitating what can now only be called Legends of the wrestling world.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

Steve Dubin asked:


It is the fastest growing sport since NASCAR and giving professional boxing a run for its money, but what exactly is Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)?  Some say that it is the sheer violence and ferocity that surrounds the sport of MMA that has spurred controversy as well as impressive TV ratings. 

USMMA, located at 316 Hartford Avenue in Bellingham, is hosting an open house and workshop, “What is an Ultimate Fighter?”, to introduce and demonstrate the sport of Mixed Martial Arts on Saturday, September 20, from 10AM – 1PM, at its Bellingham training and yoga center. As the fastest growing sport, especially among young people, there is much to be learned about MMA such as the athleticism involved and the real fighters and their stories.

Critics, including prominent politicians and concerned parents, have called for a ban on the sport.  Presidential hopeful John McCain refers to it as “Human Cockfighting”.  As many as 35 states have hosted sanctioned MMA events proving that there is no questioning the sports popularity. 

SpikeTV was the first cable television network to showcase the sport with “The Ultimate Fighter,” reality series.  Fans of the sport can easily tune in at almost any time and view a fight and it is taking off like wildfire outselling pay-per-view sales of boxing matches 10 to 1.

“It’s not just one of those cult sports anymore. It’s really become mainstream,” said Tom Hafers, CEO of the United States Mixed Martial Arts (USMMA) program, in Bellingham, MA. “We are passionate about Mixed Martial Arts and are excited to share it with everyone interested in its explosive growth,” he said.

USMMA is home to International Ultimate Fighting Champions including co-owner Jorge Rivera, also known as “El Conquistador”, and several other emerging MMA stars like Mike Campbell.  Campbell was recently chosen for the reality show “TapouT” on SpikeTV.

Just what is this sport all about?  The goal of the workshop hosted by Hafers and Rivera, is to introduce Mixed Martial Arts with a brief presentation and hands-on demonstration.  In addition to demonstrations, attendees will have the honor of meeting Ultimate Fighting Champions.  They will answer questions for anyone wanting to learn about MMA or their fighting experiences.  Light refreshments will also be provided. 

The event, located at the state-of-the-art padded training center, will focus on the various mixed martial arts programs including: 

§  Mixed Martial Arts:  Mixed Martial Arts is a compilation of combat skills involving Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Thai Boxing, Wrestling, Kickboxing, Judo and Boxing, in what is quickly evolving into one of the most popular sports in the world.

§  Thai Boxing:  Thai Boxing, the national sport of Thailand, is a martial art that involves striking with the hands, feet, elbows and knees. Known as the “Art of the Eight Limbs,” Thai Boxing equips practitioners with the ability to execute strikes from eight different points, giving them a greater arsenal of defense techniques in contrast to boxing and kickboxing. The sport is widely practiced throughout Southeast Asia and is quickly gaining popularity in the United States.

§  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, known as BJJ, is a martial art rooted in ground fighting and submission wrestling. First developed in Brazil by the world-renown Gracie family, BJJ promotes the belief that a weaker individual using proper leverage and technique can successfully defend his or herself from a larger, stronger opponent.

§  Boxing:  Boxing is often called the Western martial art, but it is more accurately identified as a martial sport. It probably originated in ancient Greece or Rome, as there is evidence that the Greek pankratium (also spelled pankration) competitions included a boxing­like event. The pugilistic sport then spread to most every Western country, and in the early 20th century it became a popular spectator sport. Boxing techniques have played an important role in the development of modern kickboxing, since they are often judged as being more effective than the hand techniques of the Asian martial arts. The techniques are now being added to the curriculum at many schools that teach eclectic martial arts.

§  Judo:  Judo was intended to be a martial sport derived from jujutsu. Created by Jigoro Kano in the 1880s, it enjoyed much popularity as its practitioners routinely defeated students of other martial arts. Kano created the Kodokan Judo Institute in 1882 as the governing body for the sport. Later, it was adopted into the curriculum of Japanese public schools. Judo became an Olympic sport in 1964, when the Games were held in Tokyo. Judo training emphasizes throwing an opponent to the ground by grasping his body or uniform. Once down, a variety of chokes and joint locks may be used to effect a submission. Two important parts of judo training- character development and morality-make judo a preferred martial art for children to practice.

§  Wrestling:  Wrestling is a combative sport that probably originated in ancient Greece and Rome. It is practiced in various forms in most cultures of the world (sumo in Japan, ssirum in Korea, khok in Armenia, Sambo in Russia, etc.). It formed the basis for the Japanese martial sport of shoot fighting, and many of its techniques are similar to those of judo.

 

The United States Mixed Martial Arts Training Center, located on Hartford Avenue in Bellingham, focuses on elevating the physical and spiritual well being of students through Mixed Martial Arts and Yoga. This is accomplished through a four-pronged approach to reality self-defense training centered in total body wellness. 

The state of the art, 4 thousand-square foot training facility is complete with a 2 thousand-square foot padded MMA training floor equipped with heavy bags and conditioning equipment, a 15 hundred-square foot yoga studio, locker rooms, showers and a juice bar. To contact USMMA, call 508-966-5006 or visit their website at www.usmma.org.

 



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MCStylin asked:


I can remember back to the early good days of wrestling. Back when wrestling really started to explode and take off in its World Wrestling Federation (WWF) days. It was when Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Randy Savage and Andre the Giant were wrestling. Gimmick wrestlers like Iron Sheik, Million Dollar Man and Nikolai Volkov were there as well. There were diverse characters who stood out and each had a story to tell. And they each came to the ring with powerful and different theme music which made them easily identified and cheered or jeered.

Hulk Hogan has perhaps the most famous of wrestling songs with “Real American”. According to info found at Wikipedia, Hogan originally used the Survivor song Eye of the Tiger which was from the Rocky movie’s soundtrack. Hogan of course had made a cameo in the Rocky 3 movie. Hulk later started using the tune we all know, “Real American” as performed by Rick Derringer. The song became synonomous with Hulkamania and fans everywhere continue to cheer to it. Somehow fans can’t help but feel goosebumps when that tune comes on, whether they are at an arena or watching a WWE event at home. It’s classic and timeless music we identify with a wrestling legend.

Other very famous pieces of WWE music have been used with The Macho Man Randy Savage and Ric Flair. These two entrance themes are borrowed classical music making them even more recognizable. The Macho Man used the very famous music of Pomp and Circumstance, which is heard year in and out at graduation ceremonies. Ric Flair uses the well-know Also sprach Zarathustra, op. 30 by Richard Strauss. The piece was inspired by a Friedrich Nietzsche book and was also used in the Stanley Kubrick film 2001.

Over the years WWE has brought forth many more popular wrestlers, each with distinct music and theme songs. There’s the famous entrance of Stone Cold Steve Austin, complete with glass shattering to start the tune off. There’s The Rock’s famous entrance song which features the bravado and smooth yet cocky funk of the People’s Champ. Undertaker’s famous bell toll followed by his eery organ music that could be heard in a funeral parlor. John Cena is one of a handful of superstars to record his own music for use as an entrance theme. There’s many more including the current theme music for wrestlers like Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Batista and Rey Mysterio..

It’s the music that makes WWE just as good as the in-ring wrestling action. The music pumps up the fans and gets them ready for the action. It also gives us an identifying trademark for each wrestler, just as symbolic as their finishing moves. The WWE music will always live on, long after wrestling careers end.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

Bob Cline asked:


When the Roman soldiers threw their slaves, criminals, and undesirables into the Coliseum then turned the savage man eating lions loose upon them, everyone knew what the gruesome outcome was going to be.

However dreadful it was, it was the basic beginning to the man vs. beast mythology that has followed for over two thousand years. Many a circus advertisement or circus poster from the mid to late eighteen hundreds showed a circus performer in a Roman Gladiator outfit as he wrestled a lion, or even stood with one foot on the lion as the marked conqueror of such a vicious beast.

As the development of a circus became an original idea, simple feats of bravery were considered to be exceptional behavior and held in awe and amazement by all that witnessed such a circus act. It is this form of bravery that allows us to document the beginning of man and the wild circus animals together in the same cage at the same time. Van Amburgh is given due credit as being the first animal subjugator in America as he entered a den of man eating circus Lions and returned unscathed. These were usually the cages the circus animals remained in. The circus performer then entered this den of dangerous denizens of the damp, dark jungle to stand or even sit in the same cage with these animals during a parade or as the main attraction. The attraction of circus animals and humans together was thrilling to say the least.

While lions and tigers were the most commonly used circus animals due to their size, colors, and availability to acquire, a wide variety of animals were used in the circus acts or caged displays including leopards, bears, and other feline creatures. By the late 1800’s, a new turn of events was taking place with the evolution of this animal and man encounter moving to a huge portable animal cage that the animals could thus enter, move around, and return to their holding dens. This became know as the Steel Arena as these portable cages were made from all steel fabrication and weighed a ton creating a large arena to work in. The combining of the wild animal and the circus performer under the big circus tents was becoming an amazing attraction.

The European influence was new and spellbinding as visitors to the great shows at Coney Island or the Chicago and St. Louis World’s Fairs saw these great circus animals entering this huge steel cage and actually doing something in a form of a performance by getting on pedestals and holding still in various formations to the circus performer reading a newspaper while sitting in front of them. People were gasping in terror as they witnessed these remarkable circus performers enter into a steel cage filled with five or six dangerous animals, work with them and a couple made actual hands on contact with the animals before returning to the relative safety associated with being outside of the caged arena.

By the early 1900’s, American trainers were becoming involved in huge ways with the presentation of these wild animal acts. Some of the premier animals trainers like Louis Roth began by training their own act then moving on to train more acts that other people ended up performing. These performances were not confined to just lions and tigers. There were complete acts with as many as 15 Polar bears, Spotted and Black leopards, jaguars, and then the most incredible displays of all, the mixed acts.

Circus Animals were all captured in the wild as were all Zoo animals back at the turn of the century. So to have a jungle bred animal that is full grown and never been around a human before, then to have a person brave enough to work with them was purely amazing. The Circus performers who entered the great steel cage took their lives into their own hands every time they did. The lions and tigers were generally described as hating each other and kept the hair on everyone’s neck standing straight up until the trainer was out and the last animal was securely put away again. People were standing in long lines to buy their circus tickets.

One such young man, named Clyde Beatty was a young kid from Bainbridge, Ohio working at cleaning up around the animals on a circus when he got the chance to go in the great steel cage. He never looked back. After over forty years of battling the deadly combination of lions and tigers together in a fast and thrilling journey that included as many as 40 animals at one time, Clyde also found the time to appear in Movies and commercials and owned his own Circus. His legacy was infamous and his name so well known that for 40 years after his death, his name was still on the title of the circus.

At the same time as Clyde Beatty was establishing himself as a true circus performer and master of the steel arena, another man, Terrell Jacobs, the Lion King, was already well established in the great cage filled with over 50 of these dangerous circus animals under the big circus tents. The ability of one man to go in with 50 mortal enemies, perform with them in manners we never thought of as possible, and return safely brought the crowds to their feet every time he had finished his circus act. The Circus Clowns always followed to bring joy and laughter to one and all and to give everyone a moment or two to slow their own hearts down again.

Men weren’t the only circus performers entering the steel arena daily. Lucia Zora on Sells-Floto was in the cage before the 1920’s with her hugely appreciated circus act as well as working her circus elephants. Other women followed but no one took more risks, and understood her animals more than the legendary tiger trainer, Mabel Stark. She knew her animals well and even raised a few of them herself. Standing in front of her massive circus animals is one thing but Mabel took her exciting circus acts to new heights when she started to wrestle a tiger daily. Two and three times a day. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus would have as many as three circus acts with wild animals all at the same time.

The greatest displays of animals working together were the mixed acts where more than one species was working at the same time. Many of the acts incorporated several species of animals. Alfred Court was instrumental in the utilization of mixed breeds by having Leopards and Dogs together or the large groups with lions, tigers, polar bears, great Danes, leopards, and cougars all together at one time. Making it even more interesting was a circus elephant, horse, or combination of both in the great cage with a lion or tiger riding on top of the elephant. The early 1960’s saw a beautiful mixed act with Leopards, wolf hybrids, and a zebra.

In an effort to always make a presentation better than ever before, more exotic animals were introduced to the performances such as the amazing snow leopards or cheetahs. Just in the past 40 years, we have seen the arrival of a white tiger to US soil. This magnificent animal has reproduced many times through the ages to allow the genetics to now offer the White tigers with stripes, white tigers without stripes, the Golden Tabbies, a white tiger with gray stripes, the regular colored tigers, and reports from China of a bluish / grayish tiger. The Circus has offered circus acts with these white tigers and a mixed variety of these colors as these beautiful circus animals showed off the natural beauty.

The 1973 Endangered Species Act took note of the loss of animals in the wild and prohibited animals to be removed from the wild for commercial purposes any more. Zoos and Circuses could not obtain animals from the wild so captive breeding programs have supplied all the animals in the circus in the United States since then with most of the feline family or “Big Cats” generally only living 18 to 20 years. Sadly extinction is forever. Of the eight subspecies of tigers in the wild, The Bengal, Siberian, and Sumatran tigers still exist with the other five considered extinct now.

To read more about these incredible circus animals and the circus, look in our circus books and circus DVDs at http://www.thecircusworld.com



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Robert Benjamin asked:


All you wrestling fans out there who aren’t quite sure what to do for their next vacation should plan a visit to Oklahoma City. That’s because the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Oklahoma City and it is a must see for anyone who enjoys wrestling. Here you will learn about wrestling’s past, its present, and the plans for the future.

It is such an educational trip not to mention enjoyable that individuals who aren’t that big on wrestling will probably even enjoy it. There really is a lot to learn because the sport of wrestling did not begin with the WWF - WWE. Instead, the sport had a much more modest beginning and the museum celebrates this as well as all the leaps and bounds the sport has made in popularity since.

When you head to the museum make sure you plan on arriving Monday through Friday 9 am until 4:30 pm or else by appointment on the weekends. Within the Museum you will see the Paul K. Scott Museum of Wrestling History, the John T. Vaughan Hall of Honors, Gable/Smith Room, FILA International Hall of Fame, William S. Heins Jr. Library, Cliff Keen Theater, as well as others. You will learn so much about wrestling that you never knew before when you visit the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

When you visit Oklahoma City you will also find many other things to enjoy. You can play golf, go shopping, enjoy seeing professional sports games, and even more. Oklahoma City is the most populous city in the state of Oklahoma so there are lots of things for tourists to do and see here. You will love the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum as well as everything else there is to see and do.

There is a website that has great information on USA Vacations and Unique Travel Spots Listed State By State and Season, the website is called: Seasonal Vacation Spots, and can be found at this url:

http://www.seasonalvacationspots.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.



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Jay Schindler asked:


You may think that cats are very aloof, independent and likely untrainable to do some tricks, but think again. With the proper training habits and system, you will engage them in every fun activity you may like especially during playtime.

Kittens love to play as well as adult cats. But they want you to interact with them during playtime.

There are four games they love to play.

•    wrestling with their co-felines or a toy; •    scooping fish in the floor or any toy will do; •    bird swat, and; •    prey pouncing.

You do not have to worry if your kittens wrestle with each other. It is definitely normal in their behavior and they are not likely to hurt each other. You can join the fun but see to it that you wear protective gloves.  Scooping a fish literally means finding an object on the floor. They will scoop it over their shoulders, turn it up side down and pounce it. Similarly, in prey pouncing, they would use an imaginary prey or you can make a toy for this game, and they will run and try to catch it. When they do, they pounce on it. Usually, it is their mother cat’s tail or your shoe or even another kitten.

Cats love to reach for dangling objects and toys. When they are successful in getting it, they smash it with one paw and finish off the prey. This is the bird swat game.

The difference in these games is that they are best with people’s interaction. Oftentimes, cat’s toys are free and you can readily make them but again, PARTICIPATION in the games is crucial.

Like in scooping a fish game, you can make your cat a toy with a feather string and a stick. You can enjoy watching your cat as he leaps for it. Once in a while let him get the thing so that he will not be easily bored.

Another good toy for cats is the classic crumpled paper. You can use it like a ball. Hide it behind your back, show it to your cat, and throw it. See how amazingly he will chase and tear it into pieces. Another handmade toy you can make for him is to cut up fuzzy pipe cleaner or make it into a ball and enjoy the same reaction from him as he chases and pounces on it it.

A popular toy that cats also enjoy is the grocery paper bag. You can do a lot of tricks to the bag and see how it can be fun.

Playing with your cats can be a totally hilarious and exciting experience.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

Phoenix Delray asked:


Kevin The Monster Randleman, one of the shining stars in the world of mixed martial arts, has several different sides that fans of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) may not see. Sure, he is the former heavyweight champion of the UFC and many opponents think twice before getting in the right with him. Still, in addition to having many wins to his name, Kevin Randleman is also a father, husband and son.

Born on August 10, 1971 in Columbus, Ohio, Kevin Randleman always loved sports. At a young age he got involved in wrestling and martial arts, eventually graduating from Sandusky High School and going on to attend Ohio State University. While at Ohio State, Kevin Randleman joined the wrestling team, competing at the weight of 177 pounds. At five feet, ten inches tall, Kevin Randleman went on to take home two Division I NCAA championship titles. Basically, out of the four years he was in college, Kevin Randleman was the American wrestling champion in his class for half of the time. Impressive, to say the least.

Kevin Randleman is one of the biggest opponents of steroid and other performance enhancing drug use, speaking out against drugs on a regular basis. During a fight in Brazil in 1997, Kevin Randleman lost his first match ever to Carlos Barretto. To this day, he swears that there were shady circumstances surrounding the fight. Specifically, he claims that they other fighters were using steroids and continued to throw strikes at him while outside of the cage.

Until recently, Kevin Randleman has been plagued by kidney trouble, a horrible staph infection and an addiction to painkillers that had been prescribed to help him recover from his numerous surgeries. Fortunately, he has since recovered and in May of this year he made his grand comeback, defeating Ryo Kawamura in a unanimous victory. In 2004, he was both inducted into the Ohio State Hall of Fame and awarded the title of the 2004 Knock Out of the Year by sportsbook.com.

Kevin Randleman has been married to his wife, Elizabeth, for several years now. He also has two children: an 18 year old son named Calvin and a 10 year old daughter neamed Jasmine Capri. Calvin is clearly taking after his famous father, as he took his high school football team to the regional finals in Ohio. Currently, Calvin is continuing his football career at Ashland University.



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Phoenix Delray asked:


MMA fighter Kevin Randleman was born on August 10, 1971 in Sandusky, Ohio, and seemed destined to be a champion athlete. Kevin, also known as The Monster, is an American Mixed Martial Artist. At five feet, 10 inches tall and 205 pounds, the 37 year old MMA champ has an impressive athletic history. Kevin Randlemans background is one of wrestling. He was a two-time Division I NCAA Champion for Ohio State University. For two years out of the four that he spent at Ohio State, he was the Division I wrestling champion in his weight class. Kevin Randleman is also a former heavyweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC.

When Kevin Randleman graduated from college, he began his professional career fighting. In 1996, Kevin Randleman won the first five cage matches he had at the competition Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 4. This is how he earned his nickname The Monster. In 1999, just three short years later, he began wrestling for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or the UFC. He won almost all of the matches that he competed in. During the years time between 2002 to 2003, Kevin Randleman took part in Pride 22 through Pride 26, winning three out of the five competitions he was a part of.

Beginning in 2006, Kevin Randleman endured a handful of setbacks in his career and in his own personal life. He had failed a drug test that was administered to him by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. He had turned in un-human urine for the test, and was discovered. His fans were surprised, because he had been such an advocate against performance-enhancing drugs up until then. He explained that the reason he did not use his own urine was because he had been using antibiotics and painkillers after a surgery he had recently undergone. As a result, the Nevada State Athletic Commission revoked his fighting license for one year. Also in early 2007, he had been hospitalized with a critical staph infection that threatened his health seriously.

In August 2007, Kevin Randleman was arrested near Las Vegas on several different charges, one of which was drunk driving. After the horrible year of 2007 had passed for Kevin, he returned to fighting professionally, and in May of this year he won a comeback fight against challenger Ryo Kawamura of Japan.



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Jo Hedesan asked:


A brief overview of the main newspapers, news sites and TV channels shows that, despite the fact it’s been a month since the US election, “Obamania” is still in full swing. Obama has become something of a popular culture icon, on the par of Madonna, Batman and rock stars. It has then occurred to me that Obama’s image and story can be compared to Joseph Campbell’s myth of the Hero, which Campbell called the “monomyth” (1). Whether consciously or unconsciously, people – and sometimes Obama himself – tend to project this image upon him. As early as 2006, he was called star and legend (2), and recently I have even read an online blog where the writer called him ‘savior’! (3) Mind you, I’m not laying a claim of profound originality on this –  I discovered then that George Lucas has already made note of Obama following the Hero’s Journey (4) and there are two bloggers that talked about it, albeit sketchily (5, 6). However, I would like to look at this more in detail than the others I have read - and this article will be lengthier than most others!

Let’s start with the beginning. For those that don’t know, Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) was one of the foremost mythologists of his age (7). He is primarily remembered for his groundbreaking book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces. It is in this one that he articulated the myth of the hero’s journey, which directly influenced George Lucas’ Star Wars, Disney’s The Lion King, and countless movies and books ever since (8). The book ‘deconstructs’ the journey of the hero in three parts. It is my intention here to compare these with the story of Obama’s rise to power and Presidency.

Preliminary:

As per Campbell’s analysis, the hero is someone naturally special, singled out in some manner amongst his peers. Born of an African father and white mother, Obama’s mixed heritage has marked him out as a ‘special’ person right from the start. Furthermore, a characteristic of the Campbellian hero is that he is often cast aside by his family as in the story of Moses. This is an archetype Obama fits very well: he was abandoned, only two years old, by his Kenyan father Barack Obama Sr, whom he met only once more in his lifetime. This has had a major impact on him, according to his best-selling autobiography Dreams from My Father (9).

Part I: Departure

1. The Call to Adventure: the hero receives a beacon call, often from another person (called a ‘herald’)

Obama describes a moment of self-awakening in his book Dreams from My Father, when he realizes, following one-year work with a corporate firm, that his calling was to work for the poor (10).

2. Refusal of the Call – sometimes, the hero initially refuses the call for action.

This is an optional element in Campbell’s book that does not apply to Obama, who comes across as a positive and ambitious person.

3. Supernatural Aid – the hero is helped by a protective figure that gives him support

In youth, Obama’s main support seem to have been his mother, Stanley Ann Durnham, and his grandfather Stanley Durnham, who acted as a surrogate father (11). In politics, an important figure was Illinois State Senator Emil Jones, the leader of the Democrats. His wife, whom Obama has called his ‘rock’ also had an important influence on his political career. 

4. The Crossing of the First Threshold – the hero must pass a first test to enter into the new world of heroic action

There were some key decisive moments in Obama’s life that shaped his future career as a politician. One was his decision after two years of attending Occidental College in California to transfer to Columbia University, where he graduated in political science. Another, to seek a low-paid job as a community organizer in Chicago. Thirdly, his decision after two years of working in Chicago to go to Harvard Law School.

5. The Belly of the Whale – the hero must pass through an initiatory trial that involves a descent into a dark or dangerous realm

In Dreams of My Father, Obama presented his darkest moments as the heavy consumption of drugs and alcohol both at  Punahou high school and at the Occidental College. Obama confessed to becoming a “pothead” in order to “push questions of who I was out of my mind” (12). Eventually, however, he got his life in order by moving from Occidental College to Columbia University.



Part II: Initiation

1. Road of Trials – succession of obstacles

Barack Obama has encountered a number of obstacles that he has surpassed in political ascendancy. The first was the candidature for the Illinois State Senate in 1996, when he had to eliminate better titled candidates. He succeeded, albeit using what some critics said as being unfair tactics – he successfully challenged the voting campaign of both candidates who were hence legally suspended from the contest (13).

The second obstacle was his failed candidacy to US House of Representatives in 2000, when he was defeated by incumbent Bobby Rush by two to one. This was a sore defeat, the only time when he considered giving up politics altogether (14). He didn’t, and Obama learned many useful aspects of campaigning from this attempt.

In 2004, he successfully run his candidacy for US Senate. Finally, in 2007, he obtained the endorsement of the Democrats for Presidency against the better titled Hillary Clinton.

2. The Meeting with the Goddess –  marriage between the hero and a queenlike or mother-like figure

In 1988, Obama met Michelle Robinson, a fellow Harvard Law graduate,  while he was doing a summer internship at law firm Sidley Austin. He married her in 1992. Obama is deeply admirative of his wife, whom he called “his rock”. He speaks of her, “There’s something about her that projects such honesty and strength. It’s what makes her such an unbelievable professional, and partner, and mother, and wife” (15).

3. Woman as the Temptress – rejection of a powerful female figure

A read of Obama’s life shows that he seems to respect or even admire female figures. First was his mother Stanley Ann; then there was Michelle Obama. Finally there were other political mentors like Alice Palmer (16). If there was one woman whom Obama had to ‘reject’ it was Hillary Clinton, his Democrat counter-candidate for Presidency. Nevertheless, Obama did not seem to harbor bad feelings toward Hillary, neither did she act in a ‘corruptive’ sort of manner toward Obama.

4. Atonement with the Father – reconciliation with the tyrant and merciful aspects of a father-like authority figure

As Dreams of My Father shows, Obama was affected by the absence of his father, Barack Obama Sr (17). An important part of young Obama’s life was taken by his effort to reconcile his father’s absence with his ever-present racial heritage.

5. Apotheosis – the hero’s expansion of the self, or profound alteration of the perception of reality

Obama’s first apotheosis was his famed 2004 speech at the Democratic National Convention, that would bring him into the spotlight and change the course of his career. Obama’s final apotheosis was his candidacy and success to the bid for the Democratic nomination in 2007.

6. Ultimate Boon – the hero obtains a key item or victory

His first major victory was his landslide win in the US Senate in 2004; next, his Democratic nomination in 2007 and finally, his election as President in 2008.

Part III: Return

1. Refusal of the Return – having attained enlightenment or bliss, the hero may not want to return to the ordinary world

This is not the case in Obama’s case, since his victory was attained in the ‘ordinary’ world, not some otherwordly or mythical land. Furthermore, he has always been an ambitious figure, who would not settle in one place but aim higher (18), (19).

2. Magic Flight – the hero may have to wrestle the ‘boon’

Obama had to pull all his stops in the Democratic presidential nomination of 2007, which had to be wrestled from much better-titled Hillary Clinton.

3. Rescue from Without – the hero may need supernatural support to bring the boon into the ordinary world

There were several moments when Obama’s ‘lucky streak’ played in.  It isn’t a coincidence that Washington Post, in an article from August 2007, called his ascent to US Senate as “A Series of Fortunate Events” (20). They recorded how in 2004 his win for US Senate was helped by the decision of Peter Fitzgerald, the incumbent Senator, not to run for his own seat again, by the domestic abuse charges brought against Democrat counter candidate Blair Hull, who was the favorite for the seat just one month before the election and by Republican counter candidate Jack Ryan’s domestic *** scandal. Obama eventually came in to win the Senate seat by a landslide victory: 70% (21).

4. Crossing the Return Threshold – the hero returns to the ordinary world

The ‘return threshold’ is undoubtedly the win of the American Presidency, which was both a challenge and a given – following his win of the Democrat nomination over Hillary Clinton.

5. Master of the Two Worlds – the hero pertains both the divine and human worlds

Following his political ascendancy and experience, Obama is now seen as fit to run the USA and able to share his vision to the American people.

6. Freedom to Live – the hero bestows the boon to his fellows.

Once he has won the Presidency, Obama is now in the position of contributing to the betterment of American life and of improving America’s tarnished image abroad.

Conclusions: Barack Obama’s story and image fits quite well with Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” pattern, even if it does not flow in a linear fashion as Campbell designed it. This is, after all, natural: Campbell was disecting single-story fairy tales and books, but Obama is real-life figure and his life goes beyond the imaginary. 

On the other hand, one aspect worth noting is that Campbell’s pattern does not go beyond point 6 where the hero is in the position of bestowing the ‘boon’ to the other people. Obama must go beyond the Campbellian heroic journey into the actual work of sharing the boon. Currently, Obama is a hero because of his past, and the symbol of change, youth and racial unity that he symbolizes. However,  it is his long-run work that will define him as a true hero.

References:

(1) Campbell, J. (1949). The Hero with a Thousand Faces. New York: Pantheon Books.

(6) Cocca, C. (2008). Barack Obama and the Hero’s Journey. Online. Available at: http://christophercocca.wordpress.com/2008/11/08/barack-obama-and-the-heros-journey/. Accessed on 11 Nov 2008.

(3) Edinger, R. (2008). Obama Rocks: America and the Planet. Online. Available at: http://www.obamabook.org/obama_book_introduction.html. Accessed on 09 Nov 2008.

(2) Graff, G. (2006). The Legend of Barack Obama. The Washingtonian, 1 Nov. Available at: http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/1836.html. Accessed on 09 Nov 2008.

(11) Jones, T. (2004). Barack Obama: Mother Not Just a Girl from Kansas. Chicago Herald Tribune, 27 Mar. Online. Available at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-0703270151mar27-archive,0,2623808.story?page=1. Accessed on 09 Nov 2008.

(9), (10), (12), (17) Obama, B. (2004). Dreams from My Father. New York: Three Rivers Press.

(5) Snapp, M. (2008). Obama Walks the Hero’s Journey… Contra Costa Times. Online. Available at: http://obamamessiah.blogspot.com/2008/03/obama-walks-heros-journey.html. Accessed on 09 Nov 2008. ]

(4) The Huffington Post. (2008). George Lucas on Obama: A Hero in the Making. Online. Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/04/george-lucas-on-obama-a-h_n_105102.html/ Accessed on 09 Nov 2008.

(7), (8) Wikipedia. (2008). Joseph Campbell. Online. Available at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Campbell . Accessed on 10 Nov 2008.

(13), (16)  Jackson, D & Long, R. (2007). Barack Obama: Showing His Bare Knuckles. Chicago Herald Tribune, 4 Apr. Online. Available at: www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-0704030881apr04-archive,0,5507395.story. Accessed on 09 Nov 2008.

(14), (20), (21) Mundy, L. (2007). A Series of Fortunate Events. Washington Post, 12 Aug. Online. Available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR… Accessed on 10 Nov 2008.

(15)  Parsons, C., Japsen, B. & Secter, B. Barack’s Rock: Michelle Obama. (2007). Chicago Herald Tribune, 22 Apr. Online. Available at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-070422michelle-story-archive,0,56722.story?page=1 . Accessed on 09 Nov 2008.

(18) Pearson, R. & Long, R. (2007)Barack Obama: Careful Steps, Looking Ahead. Chicago Herald Tribune, 3 May. Available at: www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0705030101may03-archive,0,2521558.story . Accessed on 10 Nov 2008.

(19) Dorning, M. & Parsons, C. (2007). Carefully Crafting the Barack Obama Brand. Chicago Herald Tribune, 12 Jun. Online. Available at:www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-obama_senate_recordjun12-archive,0,3195588.story . Accessed on 10 Nov. 2008.



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