Honesty Is Mostly What I Need From You – Billy Joel

 

Songwriters and musicians frequently release music with lyrics that evoke strong emotions because they relate to the everyday experiences of life. I often say that even though “the truth is not a commodity sold at the market, many people can’t afford it.” Speaking the truth can cause one to lose all of their friends and turn into an adversary right away. The song "Honesty, such a lonely word, yet everyone is so untrue" by the legendary Bill Joel evokes similar emotions in me.

 

People are not accustomed to discussing how honesty and its derivative, truth, can impact our satisfaction in interpersonal interactions. Few people consider how honesty affects their lives and how their personalities are shaped. Since honesty involves suffering, separation, agony, criticism, and hatred, most individuals would rather lie than be honest. From Biblical times to today’s modern world, speaking the truth can cost your head on a silver platter; therefore, people prefer to live on lies.

 

The concept of honesty is highly complex, since no one can tell if you're lying or not, we are all honest to some extent. Nonetheless, there are times when you alone is responsible for your words and deeds with dignity, and only you can judge if you are being truthful or not. Why should one be afraid to speak the truth because it will hurt you or others? There are instances when people think that lying has no serious negative consequences, but it does, because whatever a man sows, the same he shall reap.

 

Being dishonest causes one to become disoriented and confused. What is the primary risk associated with dishonesty? A person will be dishonest in another area if they are dishonest in the first. People gradually build up a network of underworld clans and deceitful organizations that can have major repercussions on humanity. Not only is it unpleasant to be caught in a lie, but it also damages our reputation and credibility. The true risk, though, is losing your integrity and dignity.

 

The training we received from our parents as kids included teaching us to be honest and truthful. They constantly warn us that lying is wrong and that we will be penalized for it each time we violate this rule. Adults, however, lie more than children in today's society in every industry, including the military, pharmaceutical, and political sectors. Governments everywhere, but particularly in wealthy nations, are to blame for needless conflicts that continue to claim the lives of defenseless children.

The great Billy Joel sings "Honesty."

There can’t be peace when there is no understanding because there is no honesty. Since honesty is essential to our survival, particularly in this turbulent environment, people can cultivate it where it is lacking. Being honest is difficult, but it is crucial to do it consistently; this is what I mean when I talk about cultivation. Billy Joel's song "Honesty” served as the basis for today’s outstanding article from Joel Savage. 

JAMAICA STANDS FIRM AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS

Jamaica stands firm against the coronavirus

In March, the Ministry of Health of Jamaica reported that the country has recorded the first death from a new type of coronavirus COVID-19. The total cases then registered in the country were  15.

The press service of the Jamaican Ministry of Health reports that a 79-year-old resident reportedly died of COVID-19. Shortly before his death, he visited the United States. 

A few days later, when the number of cases began to increase, on the island, the authorities announced the cancellation of schooling as a measure of prevention of the spread of the disease.

At the end of December 2019, Chinese authorities reported an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Experts previously established that the causative agent of the disease was a new type of coronavirus - 2019-nCoV. 

On March 11, the World Health Organization announced the outbreak of the new coronavirus COVID-19 as a pandemic. 

By then, more than 200 thousand people have been infected in about 160 countries worldwide, killing over 8 thousand people.

The global infection today stands at 3,152,573, with 218,491 deaths, taking its toll heavily on the United States of America and some European countries, such as Spain and Italy.

Like many African countries, the sun-shine Caribbean tourist country has a low rate of infections. As of today, Jamaica has registered only 381 cases,  with 7 deaths and 29 recovered cases.

On Sunday, April 12, 2020, a mixture of Jamaican celebrities made up of talented-famous musicians and athletes organized a COVID – 19 Relief Reggae Concert, under the theme “Jamaica Together We Stand,” to raise funds towards the fight against the coronavirus.

The Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt, who won eight Olympic gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4 × 100m, promised 500,000 Jamaican dollars, about £ 3,000 or $ 3,700, at an event supported by the Ministry of Health and Wellness of the nation

The 'Jamaica Together We Stand,' concert poster

Among other athletes and reggae stars, including Shaggy, Freddie Mcgregor, Usain Bolt made a donation to the “Jamaica Together We Stand” telethon to help combat the spread of COVID-19 in his home country.

Jamaica is looking to raise $ 10.5 million (£ 8.4 million / € 9.6 million) to purchase supplies to combat the spread of coronavirus, with a fifth of the total earmarked for face masks and nearly half to purchase of 200 fans.

Other high costs derive from the purchase of anesthesia machines, biohazard bags, glasses and face protectors.

UNICEF SHOULD APPOINT DECENT FEMALE CELEBRITIES AS GOODWILL AMBASSADORS

UNICEF has been appointing many celebrities as goodwill ambassadors. Some of the celebrities are musicians, film stars, actresses, and those with a wide range of talents and achievements. In this case, UNICEF depends on the fame and achievement of people to appoint them goodwill ambassadors.

According to UNICEF, “celebrities attract attention, so they are in the position to focus the world’s eye on the needs of children, both in their own countries and by visiting field projects and emergency programs abroad. 

That means celebrities play an important role in helping, catering and shaping the lives of children in unpleasant situations.

Unfortunately, UNICEF has failed to run background checks on many female celebrities, whether they are qualified to be appointed as goodwill ambassadors or not. 

These are people working because of children; in this case, it is the responsibility of UNICEF to appoint decent people that worth leading children, not porn stars, not celebrities with naked photos all over the internet.

When one checks the background of some of the female celebrities appointed as goodwill ambassadors on the internet, it is shocking to see them naked. Playing nude in a movie is totally different from those who had openly advertised their nudity on the internet. 

Children learn very fast. They are the leaders of tomorrow. They need good teachers and leaders to follow, not celebrities who have polluted the internet with immorality. 

UNICEF is doing a very good job, throughout the whole world, especially in Third World Countries, by fighting against sicknesses and giving vaccinations to children against diseases. In fact, their task is enormous. 

But for the children to become good leaders and decent people in society, UNICEF must choose respected people, not soiled and dented celebrities.  

SFINKS FESTIVAL (2011) : CRISS-CROSS RHYTHM THAT EXPLODES WITH HAPPINESS

The best of the Sfinks festival


Sfinks Festival is one of the numerous summer festivals in Belgium, yearly hosted in Boechout, a community on the outskirts of Antwerp. The festival has been running continuously for over three decades.

What has made the festival famous is the idea of pulling musicians from different countries all over the world to bring them under one roof in Antwerp to entertain the people, hence the term "Mixed Sfinks Festival".

Sfinks festival is a wonderful place to have fun during the summer holidays. With different melodies and a criss-cross rhythm, which explodes with happiness, the festival has been one of the best summer festivals in Belgium.

This year's festival (2011), as usual, is made up of musicians from all walks of life. But one musician who is not a stranger to this festival, and keeps on appearing many times, is the Ivorian reggae star Alpha Blondy and The Solar System. It's like history repeating itself. Alpha plays again this year.

The program for this year's Mixed Sfinks Festival is as follows. The festival opens on July 29 and closes on July 31, 2011.

Vrijdag 29 Juli
Cabaña
19.30: Muzika Agresija
Clubterrein
18.00: Awza
Concerttent
17.00: Robert Soko
19.30: Stereo Partizan
21.00: Emir Kusturica & The no smoking Orchestra
23.00: Robert Soko

Open Air
19.00, 21.00: Fasocirque

Zaterdag 30 Juli
Cabaña
15.00: Soulshakers
15.00: Bugalu Sound

Clubtent
14.00: Awza
16.00: Ayarkhaan
18.00: Sooeun Kwak
20.00: Ghalia Benali - Romeo & Leila
22.30: Les Etoiles du Ballet Royal du Cambodge

Clubterrein
19.00: Awza
Concerttent
13.00: Maguaré
15.00: Ayfer Düzdas
17.00: Lëk Sèn
19.00: Rubén Blades
21.00: Alpha Blondy
23.30: Systema Solar
o1.00: Rebel Up!
o2.30: DJ Munchi & VJ M

Kidz
14.00: Les Gotipuas
Open Air
12.30, 15.30, 18.00: Dhols of Jaipur
14.30, 16.30, 20.30: Fasocirque
18.30: Les Gotipuas

Zondag 31 Juli

Cabaña
15.00: DJ MPS Pilot
15:00: DJ Polyesta
Clubtent
14.00: Trio Windstreken & Kamal Hors
16.00: Mamer
18.00: Dikanda
20.00: Faiz Ali Faiz
Clubterrein
12.30, 17.00: Awza
Concerttent
13.00: Joaquin Diaz
15.00: Khaira Arby
17.00: Bomba Estéreo
19.00: Hindi Zahra
21.00: AfroCubism
Kidz
14.00: Les Gotipuas
Open Air
12.00, 14.30, 20.30: Fasocirque
16.30: Awza
18.30: Les Gotipuas