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Sunday, February 7, 2010

Amelia Earhart's Courage


Courage Needed?


I recently saw the latest film on Amelia Earhart...






her compelling spirit and life are inspirational. I need that kind of strength for the day to day challenges of life.

Have you seen the film? Hillary Swank seems to embody the character and infuse her with life.

I noticed some omitted aspects of Earhart's life and ponder the decision to leave them out. I read that she had a serious sinus condition that had to be operated on three times. (Antibiotics were not yet discovered.) She sometimes had a drainage tube that was tapped on her face. Also, she had a gap between her front teeth. I read that her husband/promoter advised her to not smile in her up close professional photographs. Why do we need our heroes(heroines?) to be so flawless- and in Earhart's case- so healthy? (The movie left out the illness she experienced in her final flight.) It motivates me more when I see that she overcame her own personal challenges.
(image and biography- http://www.ellensplace.net/ae_lflt.html)
I also wonder if the movie romance details were accurate. I could not find any evidence that she was in an open type marriage- as the film portrayed. I frequently read that she and her husband were devoted to each other. (She has another love interest in the film.) I wonder if this contemporary detail was added to make her seem more independent? Regardless of the fudging of facts, after viewing the film, I find that I am inspired to be courageous and face my own fears.

May you have a vibrant and courageous week!


12 comments:

  1. I'm putting the film on my watch for this list.

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  2. Hi Cynthia! Thanks for that quote. I would love to see this film with my daughter. We need more movies dedicated to the brave women in our history don't we? Hugs!

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  3. Lakeviewer, thanks for stopping by and happy viewing!

    Sheila, I couldn't agree with you more! I enjoyed the scenes where you could see the impact on girls. It's women like Amelia Earheart who broke the boundaries and allowed women to reach higher in their lives. (You're a brave woman too!)xx

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  4. I really want to see this film - she is one of my heroes. Have you heard that lovely Joni Mitchell song 'Amelia'?

    xx

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  5. Thanks, Mrs. FF. I will check out the song. Great to have you visit me! xx

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  6. frankly, i don't think they ever make an "honest" movie anymore, warts and all... so i am not surprised at the discrepancies...interesting about her sinus problems, that wouldn't have been too pleasant for a pilot...

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  7. I just saw this movie too, it really was clear how fearless she had to be. I thought Hillary did a great job. I don't know that many details about AE but I had never heard that she had any affairs before seeing this. Hope you are doing very well!

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  8. I am really looking forward to this film Cynthia and the beauty of a film like this is it does lead us to find out about the real woman. Loved this post, xv.

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  9. We all dream these dreams. Some sustain the courage to live them. It “grants us the release from little things”. How true! Thank you for this inspiring post. I needed to be reminded.

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  10. Thanks for sharing the movie clip. I liked: “There’s more to life than being a passenger.” Have you read Beryl Markham’s West with Night about another female pilot?

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  11. Linda, Do you think movies used to be honest? Hollywood is tilted in the direction of a good story, don't you think? Thanks for dropping by. xx

    ArtistUP, I researched the internet and didn't find anything about AE's open marriage. It may not be true but it's in the movie.
    I hope all is well with you too!

    Hi Vicki,
    it inspires me also. I think courage has to be maintained...even if you have been brave in the past. Thanks for your visit.

    Gabrielle, yes! When I reflect on my own life, I realize that others may think I'm brave. But it's relative because courageous acts can be hidden. Only we know what causes us fear or what challenge we're avoiding. AE's courage was visible.

    Hi Sarah,
    I have read the book. It's autobiographical writing, right? I read it about five years ago. (I just looked it up.) Beryle Markham is portrayed as the Karen Blixen's young/bold and inspired friend, Felicity, in "Out of Africa." (The one who wants to fly with with Denys. (I read that she also was unconventional in marriage.)I enjoyed the book- I think I tucked it in my memory as Amelia Earhart...because both women were pilots who broke records but Markham was English and Earhart is American. Thanks for the connection- when I was writing this post, I was trying to remember the name of that book under Amelia Earhart.

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  12. I always used to read piece of writing in news papers but now as
    I am a user of web so from now I amm using net for content, thanks to web.

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