They made a difference - Emily Pankhurst

cc by BBC Radio 4

15 July 1858 - 14 June 1928, age 69

Born Emmeline Goulden on 15 July 1858 in Moss Side, Manchester, educated in Paris and died, on 14 June 1928, age 69 in London, Emily Pankhurst was a powerhouse, a political activist and the champion of British suffragette's.

The eldest of five girls in a family of eleven children, with her maternal roots in the Isle of Man.  My own paternal roots also find themselves in the Isle of Man so it is amusing to fancy that a little bit of Emily's feistiness might also run through my own veins!

Perhaps not coincidentally, the Isle of Man was one of the earliest countries to grant women the right to vote in national elections, in 1881, albeit only property owners.

Much has already been written about Emily Pankhurst, so my intent is not to rewrite her biography, but rather post my own little tribute to a woman who dared to be different. By today's measures, Emily was a working mother with both a career and children, fighting her cause led to time in Holloway Prison and even hunger strikes in a bid to improve conditions for others, and this, long before Bobby Sands even took his first feed.

cc by Leonard Bentley

Emily's approach to women's suffrage took the movement in a different direction, after years of soft talking she encouraged a more militant approach. Their opposition to the draconian's of the time, including Winston Churchill often led to ridicule and casual references to "those ladies who are sometimes laughed at".....

No doubt her proposal to Richard Pankhurst that they enter into a free union was considered scandalous in their day, perhaps fortunately for Emily, he declined and so they wed in December 1879.

In 1914, Emily put aside her determined efforts and diverted her attention to war efforts, helping to recruit women into supporting roles and factories.  She expressed her desire to be consulted on matters of Government in a letter to the new Prime Minister, Lloyd George.
 
Through the achievements of women like Emily Pankhurst, women of Britain today can take for granted their right to vote. Without women like Mrs Pankhurst even the glass ceiling would be little more than a fantasy, we would still be oppressed, barefoot and chained to the sink, most likely pregnant!

In the United Kingdom in 1918, women over the age of 30 were granted the right to vote but it was another ten years and a little over two weeks after her death before women were granted a franchise equal to that of men when the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928 was finally given Royal assent on 2nd July 1928.

Thank you Emily Pankhurst!  You made a difference....

For more extensive history of related world dates .... Click here..... and for an interesting read about 'the story of Parliament and votes for women', try here....

Useless facts:

• Sun sign (astrology): Cancer
• Myers Briggs           : one can only wonder

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Good Night, and Good Luck

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Last week, quite by accident I came across a really excellent movie.  I had selected a few DVD's for weekend watching and this one, at only 93 minutes long didn't really qualify for a Saturday night blockbuster viewing.  So, Sunday evening, glass of wine in hand, I was ready for what I expected to be a mildly entertaining true story of a 1950's newspaperman calling out a US politician.

What I got was so much more, engaged from the offset I was riveted!  Initially, the dialogue was hard to follow, typical newsroom chaos, but after a few minutes you see the hero and the bad guy emerge.... as the story unfolds you recognise how it mirrors today... a story of politicians exaggerating a perceived threat, using it to generate paranoia, hysteria and fear and ultimately, becoming all powerful and eventually all but untouchable.  This is the story of a man who risked all, daring to challenge, sadly a man apparently without equal in today's modern era.

The name of the film?  Good Night, and Good Luck, directed by and starring George Clooney.  The movie tells the story of Ed Murrow challenging Senator Joe McCarthy, an anti-communist crusader, in a cold war era.  The man who's name coined the term McCarthyism, used today to describe the practice of making accusations of political disloyalty without evidence.

I won't spoil the storyline for you, but I will tell you, Ed Murrow will inspire.  An employee of CBS, his wartime broadcasts still famous today, his signature opening memorable, "This is London," and his closing catchphrase "good night, and good luck" not only the name used for this film but also adapted by a young Princess Elizabeth, making a radio broadcast in the time of the London blitz and signing off with "good night, and good luck to you all".

A life long chain smoker who died of lung cancer when only 57, his life story was captivating and his legacy, one of honesty and integrity, and one would hope, inspirational for journalists today.

There are many speeches and quotes attributed to Ed Murrow, for me, one of his best is as apt today as it was yesterday.... perhaps more so.....

"We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men – not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were, for the moment, unpopular....

......... We proclaim ourselves, as indeed we are, the defenders of freedom, wherever it continues to exist in the world, but we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. The actions of the junior Senator from Wisconsin have caused alarm and dismay amongst our allies abroad, and given considerable comfort to our enemies. And whose fault is that? Not really his. He didn't create this situation of fear; he merely exploited it—and rather successfully."

An awe inspiring WWII story

So many WWII stories are sad, shocking and appalling beyond words, but alongside the tragedy there are many tales of bravery, heroics and heart warming reports.  Rarely are these stories of "good Germans" perhaps with the exception of one of the most famous Oskar Schindler......

Every now and again however, a tale comes to light that is inspirational.... I recently came across one such tale and hope you are as moved by this story as I was.....

Wartime chivalry

or maybe this version ....

photo credit: Armchair Aviator cc

This is the story of an allied aircraft beaten so badly in an air fight, the crew so devastated by injury or death, that they were unlikely to make it home, the 21 year old American pilot, Lt Charlie Brown, on his first combat mission, alone over Germany in 1943 when a German Messerschmitt fighter plane, piloted by Luftwaffe veteran Franz Stigler, flew alongside them.... at a time when they thought they were sitting ducks, they witnessed an incredible act of chivalry....

photo credit: Jerry Gunner cc

A German fighter pilot, one strike away from winning Germany's highest honour for valour "The Knights Cross" had the allied aircraft in his sights.  A man who risked death for dishonour if the Nazi SS discovered his deed, flew alongside the ailing aircraft and honoured his humanity instead.  His respect for the code of honour and integrity of soldiers and fighting men through the ages... Not only did he not fire on them, he helped them avoid anti aircraft batteries lining the coast as he directed them towards neutral Sweden......

The bond between soldiers, even on opposing sides is a special one, [fortunately] not experienced by many of us.....

So wonderful that these two pilots of WWII were reunited post war in 1989 and went on to travel together, taking their story to others... dying only 8 months apart in 2008, may they rest in peace and may Hollywood make a movie that respects the sentiment, the integrity and the honour!

They made a difference - Nelson Mandela

18 July 1918 – present, age 95

photo credit: Archives de la Ville de Montréal  cc

So sad, if the news media is to be believed, Nelson Mandela is fading and likely to move on to another dimension soon.   Now if you care at all, you have to agree, here is a man who made a difference....

Described by Maggie Thatcher as a terrorist and indeed in technical terms, precisely that, he served many years in prison for leading attempts to overthrow white supremacy in South Africa.

He didn't just make a difference, he is a hero to so many, his forgiveness, his compassion, his humility, his commitment to ending racism, his diplomacy, his bravery, his intelligence..... so much...... never has a man earned the right to global respect and reverence as Nelson Mandela has.

Born of illiterate parents descended from African royalty, intelligent and well educated his rebel tendencies began to develop at university where he was suspended for his part in a boycott against the quality of food and subsequently left without a degree.

Everything about his life set him on the path to becoming this man.  His interest in politics, the timing of his birth, his teaming up with the African National Congress, once condemned as a terrorist organisation and now the governing political party of South Africa, and his own decisions to lead the ANC down a more radical and revolutionary path.  How different is perception when looked at through different eyes and in different times.

The expansion of apartheid by the extremist Government, Herenigde Nasionale Party and their unexpected 1948 (white only) election win, all led to making this man.

His arrest in 1962 and subsequent conviction in 1964, all led to making this man.

His, now famous, time incarcerated on Robben Island in a tiny cell, where his vision became impaired due to sunlight reflecting off lime in the quarry where he was assigned to work, his encouragement of others, his religious, Afrikaans and legal studies, even his prisoner number 46664 all served to make this man.

His correspondence with people such as Desmond Tutu, his influence on the political arena, the respect for this man, locked away from the world and yet still inspiring anti apartheid sanctions and rock concerts in his name, his eventual release on 11 February 1990, leading to a final end to apartheid in South Africa, his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and his election to President in 1994 all served to make this man.

Let's not forget F W de Klerk's role in negotiating an end to apartheid and freeing Nelson Mandela, enabling him to continue with his destiny, he too made a difference.

Would Nelson Mandela have made such a difference if he hadn't been imprisoned in the way he was?  Would he have been inspired to make a difference with a different lifestyle?  With different people?  If you are looking, Nelson Mandela is an example of somebody who was truly put on this earth to make a difference with all roads leading to the inevitable outcome. 

 photo credit: p_c_w cc

A man of many names, Mandela his "English" name given to him by his school teacher Miss Mdingane, Rolihlahla his birth name meaning "troublemaker" given to him by his father, well he certainly lived up to that one... Madiba, his very polite clan name, Dalibhunga his grown up name given to him aged 16 after his traditional rite of passage, meaning 'founder of the council' or 'convenor of the dialogue' and unquestionably a name he took to heart, then there is Khulu, meaning "Great One" and possibly the one he may value most is Tata, meaning 'father' and used as a term of endearment by so many South Africans.

In a perfect world, Mandela's commitment to reconciliation will become his legacy, however, sadly we live in an imperfect world and already there is dissension as his family fight over where he will be buried and that's before he is even dead!  Let's hope they reconcile before the inevitable end.

Long live Nelson Mandela!

Inspirational Quotes

To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world

A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger.  You don't have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial and uninformed

Read more here

Useless Facts

• Sun sign (astrology): Cancer
• Myers Briggs           : INFJ

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