Rihanna is right to forgive Chris Brown

I usually don’t write about celebrities on this blog but I felt compelled to make an exception.


This is after the flack Ms Robyn Rihanna Fenty is receiving over her public declaration of forgiveness towards fellow celebrity Chris Brown, who attacked her in February 2009.

I have to ask, do you want to be forgiven for any mistakes you’ve made? That includes the ones you’ve managed to hide from others.

If the answer is yes, then you too have to forgive.

The majority of us know that living by an eye for an eye rules do nothing but keep the pain alive.

The dark days of what used to happen in Northern Ireland, during the years of The Troubles, speak for itself.

That too was about retaliation and look at what has since been achieved, now The Troubles are over, thanks to the ceasefire in 1996 and 1998.

It all comes down to the same thing: revenge, that’s what it seems those who attack Rihanna want her to seek against Chris Brown at every opportunity.

But this negative emotion never fails to consume and destroy the person who carries such luggage.

I too have let down people. I have also been let down by others, so I have the unenviable task of being able to see both sides of the argument.

I choose to forgive because I accept we’re human and makes mistakes – I know I have.

I’m also prepared to say publically, two wrongs will never make a right.

Having a go at Rihanna for forgiving Mr Brown only shows her to be a stronger woman than those who clearly want her to do the opposite.

It’s not only the New Testament that’s talking sense on this, it’s Mr George Foreman, a man whose now noted as the man behind the Lean Mean Grilling Machine.

He was also a boxing two-time heavyweight world champion.

As he stated in one of his books, he’s won many matches during his time but the match many remember him for was the one he lost; the Rumble in the Jungle against Muhamed Ali.

After losing that match, in October 1974, a lesser man would of lived a lifetime of bitterness and hatred.

Instead, he went on to be the great success he’s today.

It was when I read about how he overcame this humiliating defeat - he was the one expected to win - and dealt with other bodyblows that came his way.

This included being double-crossed by various so-called friends and business associates. I learned from him, the only way to deal with such anger is to let go by forgiving the people who have caused the misery.

Forgiveness isn’t excusing the wrong or forgetting it but it’s the only way to put the pain, misery and heartache behind you.

It also allows you to have a positive outlook on life.

That alone is attractive and will ensure you will enjoy the rest of your life, instead of beliving life is unfair on you – thinking like that will condem you to a life unfulfilled.

Rather than hear me drone on abut forgiveness and why this is the best thing, please purchase a copy of this book by George Foreman, called Going The Extra Smile, who explains it better than me.

I can assure you, once you’ve read this amazing book, you’ll realise why Rihanna is right to forgive and you’ll realise why you should too.

To find out more about this book by the brillliant Mr Foreman, click here.

Light and Peace

Andria

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PS don’t forget to visit my other site by clicking here.

It’s not long now!

In a few weeks, the greatest football league on earth, the English and Welsh Premier league, will begin.

Yes, the 21st Premier league kicks off this month and it could prove to be its best.

Just think, it was back in 1992 when Brian Deane scored the first goal in the in the newly formed Premier league – for Sheffield United in a 2-1 victory against Manchester United.

Believe it or not, it was a French attacking midfielder, with Spanish ancestry, who changed the way we see race and racism in football.

The man in question was Eric Cantona, who scored the first hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road – not for Manchester United but Leeds United.

How much has changed, as out of all the football clubs I’ve just mentioned, it’s only Man U who still remain in this league.

Back then, foreign players were a rarity as it was Italy’s Serie A who monopolised football’s greatest talents.

That’s no longer true as England is doing the business.

That’s why Chelsea’s owner is from Russia and another football club is owned by the American Glazer brothers, despite many Manchester United supporters wanting them to go!

Many in this country will insist the British style of football has been undermined by the sheer volume of foreign players over here.

But it’s likely those same fans will probably admit seeing the likes of Gianfranco Zola, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Peter Schmeichel over here, playing the beautiful game has illuminated English football.

It’s also important to note not all foreign players come here with massive fees and big reputations.

Christiano Ronaldo was only known in football circles when this gawky 19 year-old came to join Manchester United for a fee of £12.24 million. Liverpool’s then manager, Gérard Houllier, had the opportunity before Sir Alex of having him but felt Christiano was too young to come to our shores.

One of the reasons it must have hurt Roman Ibramovich to let go of manager Andre Villa-Boas was due to the £13.2 million compensation they paid Portuguese team Porto for his short-lived services.

Now Spurs have him, they should be worried as its clear their London neighbours are saying: ‘hello boys, not only are we here to stay in top-flight football and we’re going to remain playing in Europe too.’

That is the only reason I can conclude in getting rid of popular manager Mr Harry Redknapp; he was able to turn Tottenham Hotspur around from regulation when he took over in October 2008 but an early exist from the Champions League last year showed his one weakness: strategy.

A Premier league manager needs to have this as well as be a good motivator.

So all the best to the new manager of Spurs as I’m sure he realises he’s got big shoes to fill - as soon as anything goes wrong, the Spurs faithful will be screaming for the return of Mr Redknap - that’s just the way it is.

Unlike 1992, football in the here and now is big business – just look at how quick another American, in the shape of a company, ESPN have joined the party, immediately after the collapse of Sentana Sports.

My sneaky fancy came true last season, which is why some of my mates felt I was mad not to put money – unlike the rest of them, who did and promptly lost it – on the Red Devils winning the Premier league.

I always felt the if Manchester City establish a potent strike force which they did with Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tévez and if their manager, Roberto Mancini, discovered more attacking ambition at key moments in games – as they displayed in their home demolition of Chelsea in March, when Chelsea’s Fernando Torres failed to score, despite having an open goal - they would and did, become the noisy neighbours from Eastlands who won the title since 1968.

The warnings about Man City’s emergence were there when they got Tevéz in July 2009.

So be warned Chelsea over Spurs getting AVB!

So who do I think will win the league in 2012-13 – tune in for that one later!

Light and Love

Andria

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PS, don’t hesitate to view my other site by clicking here.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

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The views, opinions and belifs I express are mine and not in league of Chelsea FC or of any football club, either within the UK or overseas.

Here’s what I feel to be a great picture of what Chelsea FC really stand for. The man in the centre of this picture is Frank Lampard, being embraced by Brazil’s Ramires (Santos do Nascimento) and Spain’s Fernando Torres.

This happened after Ramires scored his second goal in the UEFA Champions League semi final, second leg match between FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC at Camp Nou.

It was on April 24, this year, in Barcelona, Spain.

The right to play logo on Mr Lampard’s shirt is about encouraging youngsters to play, rather than bear arms and be child soilders.

To find out more about them and what their UK branch is up to, which includes looking at the power of sport and why every child has a right to access this, click here. 

Raimires is a midfielder who can play in the centre or the right of midfield.

Lampard is an attacking midfielder. He is considered to be one of the best English footballers of his time.

Mr Lampard is also widely regarded to be one of the best midfield players of his generation.

Fernando Torres is a striker, who can play with another striker or by himself and is blessed with expert technique.

He summed up the match that evening by stating the best team doesn’t always win.

The man on the left of this picture, showing clear relief and happiness at realising his team is going through to the final, is Ashley Cole.

He is of mixed Black Carribean and White English parentage.

Primary a left back, he is considered to one of the best defenders of his generation.

When looking at this picture, note that all these men, of different nationalities/races, played as one entity and expressed great joy as one team, in the goal scored, again by Ramires.

It was an earlier away goal, by Didlier Drogba, from the Ivory Coast, that meant Chelsea went off to the final.

The away goal rule means the team that has scored more goals overall wins so the full (aggregate) score was 2-3 to Chelsea.

As for their captain, John Terry, he was given a red card (disqualified from playing) eight minutes before half time, for a senseless tackle.

It also meant he was banned from playing the next match.

Credit where credit is due, as he appologised for his actions on that day, in various Chelsea FC booklets, which is the least he could do.

The reason I put this picture up is this: 

Chelsea FC and sport in the UK can bring people of different races, backgrounds and nationalities together and express joy at what men and women, when they put their minds together, can achieve.

The three men together shows unity and strength. Ashley Cole, although he’s out of focus, his relief and happiness is evident.

This is why I call this picture BROTHERS IN ARMS, which does make me think of the excellent, timeless song by Dire Straights.

This picture was taken by Chelsea FC's official photographer, Darren Walsh.

There’s a lot more I can say about this match but I think we all would prefer to see the video of the song I’m talking about, by clicking here.

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I have to say this: GIVE DANNY BOYLE A KNIGHTHOOD!

After the spectacular opening of the Olympics in London, I for one would dearly like to see him receive such an honour.

Mr Boyle, who won an Oscar for directing the 2009 smash hit Slumdog Millionaire, even made Her Majesty a bond girl – don’t we women secretly wish for that one moment in time - I certainly do!

There are so many takes of this event on youtube, I’m sure that if you want to watch this wonderful event again, just go onto that particular site.

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If you haven’t seen this picture of the British Ladies volleyball tean, clich here!

They’re sure to perk up anyone’s day, regardless of your sex or preference.

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Don’t hesitate to check out other work I’ve done by clicking here.

Light, Peace and hair grease

Andria

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He ain’t heavy!

He’s my brother, so on we go.

His welfare is my concern…

Yes this is Jeffrey Greaves, who’s done us (me and our family) proud by holding the wonderful Olympic torch at his place of work – I don’t think he’ll be happy if I disclose where and when he held it, so I won’t say!

But I’m very proud of him – the Olympics, I believe, is a true and ultimate test of body and mind in union with each other, so here’s to you Jeffrey – I’m pleased you caught this moment on camera.

Enjoy!

*******

Although a good amount of time has gone by, I’m very proud of both boxers David Haye and David Chisora.

The way they behaved after the Haymaker’s triumph, shows what boxers can do, which is finally letting people know boxers can be role models, a remark I wouldn’t of made until this match, held on Saturday July 14th.

Anyway, here’s the pic below of my bro Jeffrey below.

Light and peace

Andria

X

PS, to see some of my work, click here.

What did you expect?

Multimillionaire footballer, England and Chelsea football captain, John Terry is now sunning himself in south Portugal.

As everyone knows, he's been cleared of a racially aggravated Public Order offence against the Queens Park Rangers star Anton Ferdinand, last week at Westminster Magistrates Court.

Under no circumstances can it be deemed as acceptable, to use the words, “f****** black c***” or to call another footballer, a “f****** k***head” regardless of their race.

All stewards at various football clubs, who don’t get even a third of the salary the players at these football clubs get - whether it be Premier or Third division - have worked long and hard to follow the law and changes in society, to deal with both racism and other offensive language.

For instance, if anybody was to now throw bananas on the pitch, or make monkey chants when a black or mixed-race player gets the ball, they will be removed from the premises.

The police will also be notified as who he - or she - is, regardless of their age, as when a person enters a football club's territory, they also agree to obey to that club's rules and regulations.

Nevertheless two wrongs don’t make a right – whatever the situation, it is wrong for anyone else who’s not directly involved to make judgments about Mr Terry’s affair with his former team-mate’s ex-girlfriend.

Take a leaf out of the newspaper that broke this story in the first place.

When The Sun managed to prevent Mr Terry from using the European Union Human Rights Act and was victorious in printing his name and further details of the affair, it was this newspaper’s legal team who gave their views and opinions on the judge ruling in their favour.

Even now, I remember Mr ­Justice Tugendhat stating in the High Court, two years ago in January:

"The law is here to protect people, not sponsorship deals.”

Both Anton Ferdinand and John Terry met later that same day in the Chelsea changing room at Loftus Road (QPR’s home turf) and shook hands, claiming what had happened earlier was ‘handbags’ and ‘on-pitch banter’.

But what happened afterwards showed just how much society has changed as those on-pitch 35 seconds of madness was clearly acted on by an off-duty police officer (was he a QPR fan?) who did report it to the relevant authorities.

It’s not surprising Mr Terry isn’t out of the woods yet, as the chief magistrate, Mr Howard Riddle stated: “Mr Terry’s explanation is unlikely…it is not the most obvious response…I found Anton Ferdinand a believable witness on the central issue…Ashley Cole’s evidence was far from compelling.”

Don’t forget, Mr Terry now faces another charge, on the same issue, by the Football Association (FA).

Mr Riddle, the chief magistrate originally dealing with the case, stated that although the prosecution had failed to make its case against Terry beyond reasonable doubt, noted that FA tribunals have a far lower burden of proof, based on the balance of probabilities.

At the same time, I feel for Mr Ashley Cole, a man who had to decide on two important issues: to stand up for what’s right regarding his own health and safety or stand by his principles.

Don’t forget, he is the one who has to train and play alongside John Terry - a man who has immense support from fans and others at Chelsea. After the way things ended for him at Arsenal, it’s not as if Mr A Cole has the option of going back to them!

It’s ironic that the boat Mr Terry, his wife Toni and her parents are on is called Aaliyah, after the beautiful black singer (who also had Native American heritage) who tragically died on 25th August 2001.

Retired top-flight player and former Professional Footballers Association (PFA) chairman Garth Crooks summed it up the best, by saying: “For John Terry, this is only half-time. It’s not over.”

Considering Mr Terry has paid more than £250,000.00 in legal cost, perhaps it’s not a complete let off, as having to cough up such an eye-watering amount must have hurt him.

At this moment, it may seem a small price for him to pay but I assure you, Mr Terry won't be a football player forever!

To find out more about Aaliyah, click here.

To know more about the PFA, click here.


Light, Love and Peace

Andria

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Oh yes, not forgetting, to find out some more about me, click here.

IN LOVING TRIBUTE OF MR MAYO CHARLES MARRIOTT, BSC (HONS)

I’m very saddened to hear of his death today.

I was informed by Ms Jyoti Patel, one of the two welfare rights workers at the Brent Association of Disabled People (BADP) of his sad passing.

He was a good man who despite being left confined to a wheelchair with breathing apparatus - he had muscular dystrophy - he loved life and held regular workshops on positive thinking.

He was the London Borough of Brent’s representative regarding multiple sclerosis (MS).

When I had my first noted attack of demyelinating disease and realised this was going to lead to MS, I have to admit I panicked and simply couldn’t understand why.

But when I attended his last workshop, aimed at people who had muscular dystrophy and MS, held on a Sunday at the Willesden Centre for Health and Care, I realised the power of positive thinking.

It was then I also realised that remaining in a self-imposed exile in my home wasn’t helping anyone, especially me, myself and I.

It was then that, despite the nasty remarks and comments my family and I had received over the years, from neighbours, children and other adults who should of known better; I was ready to come of my parents’ home and seize life again, as I did before.

This picture below of Mayo; his smile isn’t just for the camera.

He really had a fixed smile on his face, every time he came to work at the BADP.

I assure you Mayo, everyone at the BADP misses you and hopes through us, your wonderful nectarine drops of and about life goes on.

So here’s to you Mayo, still wishing you the very best, now that your spirit is taking you to another place.

Love, light and peace

Andria

For more information about muscular dystrophy, click here.

PS, don’t hesitate to see some of my work by clicking here.

THIS IS DISGRACEFUL.

Like the Football Association in this country, I am shocked and appalled at the racist remarks said by some so-called fans of English Football.

Both Ashley Cole and Ashley Young must be as devastated as me when England crashed out of Euro 2012.

The one thing all three of us share is to be proud to call ourselves English and to have a passport saying we are members of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The FA is right to attack the racist remarks by these so-called fans, which is being displayed on Twitter.

Gone are the days when black footballers have to put up with bananas being thrown on the pitch when playing, thanks to diligent stewards, cameras and CRB safety officials who will spot such despicable people at English football matches.

But whether we want to admit it or not, this bad behaviour will only stop when we accept it is our responsibility to put our foot down and make it clear we will not associate ourselves with people who behave like this.

It’s unpatriotic, idiotic, crude and downright wrong to attack the Ashleys like this, especially since the tournament has moved on to the next stage – congratulations to Italy for getting through to the semi-finals as they were the better team.

We know England have never been good at penalties. There is Gareth Southgate, a man whose penalty was saved against Germany during the Euro 96, yet he is clearly doing well for himself.

There wasn’t any racist remarks said against him, only women willing to give their shoulder for him to cry on and no doubt more than that!

For anyone else who is foolish enough to believe what has been said against Mr Cole and Mr Young was harmless banter, here’s what sections 17, 18 and 19 of the UK's Public Order Act 1996 has to say about this:



Section 17. Meaning of racial hatred.

In this Part racial hatred means hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins.

This explains acts intended or likely to stir up racial hatred


Section 18. Use of words or behaviour or display of written material.

(1 ) A person who uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, is guilty of an offence if—

(a) he intends thereby to stir up racial hatred, or

(b) having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby.

(2) An offence under this section may be committed in a public or a private place, except that no offence is committed where the words or behaviour are used, or the written material is displayed, by a person inside a dwelling and are not heard or seen except by other persons in that or another dwelling.

(3) A constable may arrest without warrant anyone he reasonably suspects is committing an offence under this section.

(4) In proceedings for an offence under this section it is a defence for the accused to prove that he was inside a dwelling and had no reason to believe that the words or behaviour used, or the written material displayed, would be heard or seen by a person outside that or any other dwelling.


Section 19. Publishing or distributing written material.

(1) A person who publishes or distributes written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting is guilty of an offence if—

(a) he intends thereby to stir up racial hatred, or

(b) having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby.



Don’t forget to visit my other site by clicking here.

Light, Peace and Hairgrease (otherwise my hair would fall out, even when wearing extensions).

Andria

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