Latest news with #GoldenDreams
Otago Daily Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
A week of golden dreams, broken nights
Ali Mostolizadeh offers a personal reflection on the Israel–Iran war. A few nights ago, after 12 days of open war between Israel and Iran, I finally heard back from my sister in Iran. Though I had been in touch with my family in Isfahan during the early days, I hadn't been able to speak with them at all in the last three or four days due to internet blackouts. When her message came through, she had attached a short video of her 13-year-old son, Mohammad Hossein, playing Golden Dreams , a bittersweet and quietly powerful piece by the late Iranian composer Javad Maroufi. "We are OK," she wrote. That night, Mohammad Hossein, visibly shaken, kept biting his nails and told my sister he didn't want to die. He didn't cry. He just sat there, tense and silent. Since then, he hasn't been sleeping well. The piano has become his sanctuary — a place of calm between the daytime echoes of drone and anti-aircraft fire and the nightmare-soaked nights. Like millions of children across the Middle East — in Palestine, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria — he now knows the sound of war not from a history book, but from the vibration of windows and the scream of missiles overhead. I watched all of this unfold from Dunedin, where I live now, feeling both disconnected and consumed. Like many in the Iranian diaspora, I spent those days endlessly refreshing news sites, switching between different applications to contact relatives, and wondering whether to let my 6-year-old son see my fear. Even my Iranian-Kiwi friend Sal, who had travelled to Iran for a short family visit, became stranded when international flights were suspended. Ironically, I was able to stay in touch with him more easily than with my own family. It reflected the Iranian government's chronic use of internet blackouts to control the flow of information during crises. Sal kept insisting things were calm, but even over the phone, I could hear the unmistakable sound of anti-aircraft fire in the background. The ceasefire was announced on June 23 — brokered by Qatar and, ironically, proposed by Donald Trump, the same man who had helped escalate the war by authorising strikes on Iran just days before. It was quickly framed as a victory by all sides. Netanyahu called it a "historic win" for Israel. Trump claimed it as a diplomatic success for "everyone involved." Even Iran's vice-president declared it proof that Iran had "broken the West's dominance". But what does victory look like when 49 women, including two pregnant women, and 13 children — one only 2 months old — lie among the dead? When more than 4000 people are injured, hospitals are overwhelmed, and the only certainty left for many is fear? In Israel, 28 people were killed by retaliatory strikes from Iran, including a 7-year-old child. Yet political rhetoric quickly drowned out these losses. As always, it is civilians who pay the price, not the men who give the orders. What makes this moment even more painful is the timing. Before the war, the Iranian people had been reclaiming a sense of collective voice through the Woman, Life, Freedom movement — a powerful push for justice sparked by the killing of Mahsa (Jina) Amini in 2022. The movement had cracked open decades of silence and fear. It brought together young people across ethnic and class lines. But war is the enemy of movements. Iran began cracking down on dissent during the war — jailing activists, executing protesters and silencing critics under the banner of "defending the homeland." Now, several days into the ceasefire, repression continues with renewed force. The voices that had begun to demand change — women, students, ethnic minorities — are being pushed further into the shadows. Meanwhile, some in the Iranian diaspora welcomed the war. Tired of 47 years of dictatorship, they viewed the Israeli and American strikes as a potential opportunity to topple the regime. Among them were monarchists and supporters of exiled figures like Reza Pahlavi, who called on Iranians to rise up and "finish the job". Some waved Israeli and American flags at rallies abroad, framing the conflict not as a national tragedy but as a necessary step towards regime change. I understand the anger. I understand the longing for justice. But I don't believe liberation comes on the wings of foreign missiles. As a sociologist and someone deeply engaged in the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, I believe meaningful change must come from the people — not be imposed from the skies. Iran has lived this before. In 1953, the US and UK orchestrated a coup that removed Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and shifted the country's political trajectory for decades. That moment, and what followed, played a role in shaping the upheaval of the 1979 revolution — a legacy that still echoes through Iran's political consciousness today. Any change not rooted in the people's will is doomed to repeat the cycle of violence, repression and betrayal. That's why I return to Mohammad Hossein. His music, played in fear and defiance, is not just a melody. It is a reminder of what we must protect: the right of a child to sleep, to dream, to play music — without fearing that tomorrow will bring another missile, another lie, another "victory." • Ali Mostolizadeh is a Dunedin-based sociologist and former researcher at the University of Otago.
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Riverdale woman, 85, gets to achieve 'golden dream' of dancing after loss of her leg
Shirley Johnson, 85, with a new prosthetic leg, never imagined she'd dance again. She hadn't danced since the 1980s, yet her love of dance never faded. Her home had always been filled with music and movement. She recalled dancing with her husband of 54 years in their kitchen, and nights out on the town, twirling under the lights. Her passion extended to her family. Her three daughters grew up immersed in dance, taking ballet and jazz classes through childhood. '[Dance] means everything to me,' Johnson said. 'I always kept it part of my life. My husband and I just dance around the house, going out to events and dancing. We were always there. There was a dance going on — we were there.' On Wednesday, July 2, RiverSpring Living in Riverdale, where Johnson has lived since 2019, gave her another shot at the dance floor in White Plains. A Golden Dream proves to be 'Unforgettable' Johnson has faced a lot in recent years. For nearly a decade, while living on Manhattan's Upper West Side, she endured surgeries, medications and countless medical appointments in an effort to manage blood dyscrasia, a condition that causes abnormal blood clotting. In June 2019, after exhausting all other options, she underwent a life-altering surgery that led to the amputation of her left leg below the knee. Though devastating, it was her only option. Dancing looked to be a memory. But RiverSpring Living has a new program called "Golden Dreams," the goal of which is to help residents achieve long-delayed dreams — 'bucket list' experiences. One resident recently got to attend college at the age of 97, while another got to meet New York Rangers goaltending legend Mike Richter. Johnson's dream was to regain her strength and return to the dance floor. Johnson was only recently fitted with a prosthetic leg. Thanks to the dedication of her physical therapist, Trini Pateno, Johnson spent two weeks practicing balance, rhythm, and movement, all aimed at the moment she could dance again. That moment arrived on Wednesday at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in White Plains. Wearing a floral top and flowing white pants, Johnson beamed with joy. Studio owner Michael Powers-Innocenzi, dressed in a sharp suit, took her hand and led her in a ballroom slow dance to the classics 'Unforgettable' by Nat King Cole and 'Chances Are' by Johnny Mathis. 'They showed me I can dance again," Johnson said. "The physical therapy there helped me tremendously. "So now, I'm gonna start dancing all over the place." Johnson's husband, William Jackson, died in April 2021, but she said she felt his presence as she danced. RiverSpring Living helps residents achieve bucket list goals Wendy Steinberg, chief communication officer of RiverSpring Living, which offers several forms of senior living, described the Golden Dreams program as an opportunity for residents to prioritize themselves in pursuit of a dream. 'We've created this program to grant their bucket list wish items, because there's so many things that they never had the chance to do,' she said. 'We found that each golden dream is as unique as the person.' David Pomeranz, the CEO of RiverSpring Living, said many of their residents spent their lives providing for their families and not focusing on their own desires and goals. He said that Golden Dreams opens a door for them to put themselves first. 'Sometimes people have sacrificed a lot of their life to raise their children, and they haven't always taken care of their own needs,' he said. 'This gives them a chance at the end of their life to be able to fulfill wishes that they always had that they sacrificed to raise their children.' Powers-Innocenzi expressed deep gratitude for the chance to help fulfill Johnson's dream. He admitted he felt emotional during their dance. Johnson told him, 'I'll never forget you ever in my life.' When he asked if she was tired from dancing, she simply smiled and said, 'I'm dreaming.' 'Our mission is to help people find their joy through dance, one step at a time,' Powers-Innocenzi said. 'They come to the studio and use dance as a vehicle to get something they want, whether it's to find community, to get over the loss of a loved one or to build confidence.' Following their performance, Johnson had one more request: a dance with Pomeranz. Powers-Innocenzi offered him a quick lesson. Then Johnson danced again but this time with the leader of the place she calls home. She grinned ear to ear, grateful for the community that made her dream come true. Pomeranz said his dance with Johnson reaffirmed his purpose in elder care. "To see that there is so much that they can still do and fulfill so many of their dreams, it's a blessing,' he said.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Riverdale woman, 85, gets to achieve 'golden dream' of dancing after loss of her leg
Shirley Johnson, 85, with a new prosthetic leg, never imagined she'd dance again. She hadn't danced since the 1980s, yet her love of dance never faded. Her home had always been filled with music and movement. She recalled dancing with her husband of 54 years in their kitchen, and nights out on the town, twirling under the lights. Her passion extended to her family. Her three daughters grew up immersed in dance, taking ballet and jazz classes through childhood. '[Dance] means everything to me,' Johnson said. 'I always kept it part of my life. My husband and I just dance around the house, going out to events and dancing. We were always there. There was a dance going on — we were there.' On Wednesday, July 2, RiverSpring Living in Riverdale, where Johnson has lived since 2019, gave her another shot at the dance floor in White Plains. Johnson has faced a lot in recent years. For nearly a decade, while living on Manhattan's Upper West Side, she endured surgeries, medications and countless medical appointments in an effort to manage blood dyscrasia, a condition that causes abnormal blood clotting. In June 2019, after exhausting all other options, she underwent a life-altering surgery that led to the amputation of her left leg below the knee. Though devastating, it was her only option. Dancing looked to be a memory. But RiverSpring Living has a new program called "Golden Dreams," the goal of which is to help residents achieve long-delayed dreams — 'bucket list' experiences. One resident recently got to attend college at the age of 97, while another got to meet New York Rangers goaltending legend Mike Richter. Johnson's dream was to regain her strength and return to the dance floor. Johnson was only recently fitted with a prosthetic leg. Thanks to the dedication of her physical therapist, Trini Pateno, Johnson spent two weeks practicing balance, rhythm, and movement, all aimed at the moment she could dance again. That moment arrived on Wednesday at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in White Plains. Wearing a floral top and flowing white pants, Johnson beamed with joy. Studio owner Michael Powers-Innocenzi, dressed in a sharp suit, took her hand and led her in a ballroom slow dance to the classics 'Unforgettable' by Nat King Cole and 'Chances Are' by Johnny Mathis. 'They showed me I can dance again," Johnson said. "The physical therapy there helped me tremendously. "So now, I'm gonna start dancing all over the place." Johnson's husband, William Jackson, died in April 2021, but she said she felt his presence as she danced. Wendy Steinberg, chief communication officer of RiverSpring Living, which offers several forms of senior living, described the Golden Dreams program as an opportunity for residents to prioritize themselves in pursuit of a dream. 'We've created this program to grant their bucket list wish items, because there's so many things that they never had the chance to do,' she said. 'We found that each golden dream is as unique as the person.' David Pomeranz, the CEO of RiverSpring Living, said many of their residents spent their lives providing for their families and not focusing on their own desires and goals. He said that Golden Dreams opens a door for them to put themselves first. 'Sometimes people have sacrificed a lot of their life to raise their children, and they haven't always taken care of their own needs,' he said. 'This gives them a chance at the end of their life to be able to fulfill wishes that they always had that they sacrificed to raise their children.' Powers-Innocenzi expressed deep gratitude for the chance to help fulfill Johnson's dream. He admitted he felt emotional during their dance. Johnson told him, 'I'll never forget you ever in my life.' When he asked if she was tired from dancing, she simply smiled and said, 'I'm dreaming.' 'Our mission is to help people find their joy through dance, one step at a time,' Powers-Innocenzi said. 'They come to the studio and use dance as a vehicle to get something they want, whether it's to find community, to get over the loss of a loved one or to build confidence.' Following their performance, Johnson had one more request: a dance with Pomeranz. Powers-Innocenzi offered him a quick lesson. Then Johnson danced again but this time with the leader of the place she calls home. She grinned ear to ear, grateful for the community that made her dream come true. Pomeranz said his dance with Johnson reaffirmed his purpose in elder care. "To see that there is so much that they can still do and fulfill so many of their dreams, it's a blessing,' he said. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Riverdale NY woman, 85, gets to dance again after loss of her leg
