We Love to Make Heroes – Columbus, Reagan, and FDR



Right now, I am teaching about Columbus in my U.S. History Class. We are discussing the difference between the true story of Columbus (one filled with slavery, murder, and oppression) and the heroified version that he has often been presented as in both U.S. History and Latin American History overall. Columbus is somewhat of an extreme example; however, the problem of heroification does not stop with such a clear contradiction like Columbus, but extends to many other historical heroes as well.

If you are a conservative than Ronald Reagan is probably one of your heroes. However, in the midst of applauding his famous speech at the Berlin Wall and his strong leadership, people may overlook the direct dishonesty of the Iran-Contra Scandal, how he brought the U.S. into a huge deficit, and his support of very undemocratic regimes in Latin America. On the other hand, liberals may have a tendency to make a hero out of someone like FDR. While FDR did do some great things in the nation and helped many Americans during the time of Great Depression, we cannot forget about the Japanese internment camps or his attempts to undermine the separation of powers by trying to add seats to the Supreme Court. It is important that we don’t even deify men like Gandhi or Martin Luther King. While they were amazing men, and their non-violence resistance should be applauded by all, we have to remember the shortcomings of Gandhi in his relationship with his own wife and Dr. King’s adulterous actions.

Why is heroifying leaders so dangerous? For one, it does not give us a true view of history. Making Columbus a hero mocks the plight of the Native Americans who were enslaved and killed under his rule. Making Reagan or Roosevelt blameless undermines the stories of the people that were hurt by their administration’s decisions. Understanding the faults of our heroes, even great men like Martin Luther King, is extremely important. We realize that all are human and that we all put up a façade at times. When we make these men out to be saints, we put them on a different plane than us; therefore, undermining our own potential to do great things. When anyone talks about the greatness of anyone, it always needs to be taken with a grain salt. There are great examples we can look up to, but let’s not fall into the trap of heroifying people whether they are like Columbus and don’t deserve the honor at all, FDR and Reagan which deserve praise to an extent, or are like Gandhi and Dr. King which we can learn extraordinary things from without deifying them as individuals. In the end, the great heroes are people like us- a mixture of right and wrong, good and evil.

Hiring a Secretary – What Steps You Should Take



Hiring a secretary is a huge step for a business because it often is the first employee they hire. A secretary also is the face of the company for outsiders and insiders of your company. They need to represent the company in a professional manner and be knowledgeable in all facets of the company. Because all of this needs to come from one individual, many companies struggle finding the right secretary. They get nervous that they won’t find one so some companies hire the first person they interview. Although they could end up being the right person for the job, this isn’t typically the case. If you follow a few rules, you can hire the best secretary for your company.

Before you can even starting looking into hiring a secretary, you need a business plan listed everything you expect that person to do. This may take a while because it is more extensive than answering the phone and greeting visitors. Do you want the individual to have specific skills or are you going to train them in their duties? Are you looking for a person who can do what is expected of them without being told? This plan also should include information about your company and yourself. They need to know for whom they are working in case people ask them about the company. It also needs to include all the skills they must possess.

The skills section of the business plan is the most important section of hiring a secretary. You might really click with an individual, but if they can’t perform one of the major skills required, they will not work out in the position. For instance, if someone can’t properly use a computer, you can’t hire them just because you liked their personality. When you create the skills list, you have to include every possible task they could perform. Even if you think it is highly unlikely they will have to do something, put it down if there is a small chance they could.

After you have the skills figured out, you have to discuss hiring a secretary with your accountant or bookkeeper. You need to know how much you can afford to pay them before you even post the job opening. That usually is the first thing people check, so you need it. There are employment and industrial relations departments in every state, so it is a good idea to check with them as to what is the minimum amount you legally can pay someone. After you have the legal minimum, look around your area for the average pay for that position. You don’t want to miss out on talent because you offered the minimum while your competitors offered more.

If you figure out all this necessary information before you start your search for hiring a secretary, the search will be easier. The individual will know what is expected of them, so you won’t have to deal with the first few weeks being chaotic. Instead, you will have a new employee who can act seasoned because they will know exactly what to do.

How To Direct Actors – A Few Tips



So you want to know how to direct actors? Directing actors is not an easy task. It requires having a lot of patience and being able to listen. You have to understand where your actor is coming from and why. It’s all about creating an environment where actors can feel secure and do their best work. Remember that a lot of them, even the most experienced ones, still feel nervous and unconfident when they are in front of the camera.

Here is what you can do to play with your actors’ emotions:

1. Learn what makes them emotionally charged, are they angry, are they sad, excited? What’s going on in their life? Do they have family? Talk to them and LISTEN to what they have to say.

2. Use what you learned about your actors to make up an imaginary situation which will make them feel what the character should be feeling in the story. For example, if you want the character to be angry, tell him to act as if someone killed his sister last night.

3. Set an emotion for the scene, but it doesn’t need to be what you think it should be. For example, suppose we have a dinner scene with a first date and the mood is calm. Maybe a good idea is to have the actor say “You are beautiful” while thinking of his most frightening experience. It can add an interesting twist. Try different ideas.

If you want to get in the mind of your actors and know how to direct them, a good idea is to do some acting yourself. This will give you a taste of what it’s really like. Directing without knowing anything about acting is like coaching a football team without knowing the game.

Finally, be honest with your actors. Don’t lie to them or you will lose their trust. Don’t be afraid to tell them when a performance isn’t good but do this in a positive way that won’t denigrate them. Say hi in the morning and thank everyone at the end of the day. Treat everyone with respect.

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