SHORT STORY: CELEBRATE THE GOAT: Cristiano Ronaldo by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

 

In 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo became 

the first active team-sport athlete 

to surpass $1 billion in career earnings. 

He is the first person to surpass 500 million followers across the major social media platforms.

 

As we anticipate the retirement of CR7 from the beautiful game that brought him fame and fortune, he will not only draw tears from many eyes; it will also be the end of sheer dominance from the man the universe blessed.

 

He fought many battles on the football field. Most of which he won. I believe Ronaldo must have at some point wondered how he made it this far. It is beyond class and talent to be at the peak of your powers for many years. I strongly believe that providence was at the root of everything. The gods, in their wisdom made Cristiano Ronaldo a champion. An assignment he had accomplished here on earth!

 

The star has given everything to football. He has won everything and may probably retire after the 2022 world cup in Qatar. At 37, Cristiano Ronaldo has nothing to prove. He has scored great goals and his individual awards speak volume about the man.

 

Collectively, Ronaldo has won 32 senior trophies in his career. He has also attained one title from youth and at least five titles from friendly competitions. All in all he had won over 300 trophies and medals by January 2021, with some of them dating back to his childhood.

 

What a player! He’s been a top professional throughout his career. The question now is, “Will there be another Cristiano Ronaldo?” This is a straightforward answer. There will be several talents coming through the ranks. Great players in their own right but there will never be another Cristiano Ronaldo! We are fortunate to witness the creature in our lifetime!

 

Someday, he will draw the curtain on his illustrious career and the round leather game will sorely miss the sheer talent from Madeira, Portugal. In fact, the world is already missing him.

 

At 37 years old, the body is no longer the same. It can no longer cope with the rigor and challenge of football.

We will miss the biggest personality to come out of Portugal.

 

 

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Hope Raisers

Rosen

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Fake news around the dinner table

Beyond the father

First Assignment

Where the Lilacs Bloom once again

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Fake news around the dinner table by Erin Steuter

 

The spread of misinformation has become a pervasive and worrisome problem. Increasingly, politicians, social media platforms, and organizations with agendas are boosting misleading information, making it all too easy for people to fall for fake news.

 

Why do people fall for fake news?

In society today, we’re feeling unsettled by doubts about the economy, the government, and the gap between the elite and the rest of the population. In these spaces, misinformation can grow. And as we get more of our news online, it’s even easier to be steered away from evidence-based information. 

 

How can we talk to friends and family about fake news?

Everyone knows someone who believes in something false—but it is possible to shift their thinking. 

1. Resist the urge to argue—but don’t completely disengage. 

When friends or family express an opinion different from yours, don’t tell them they’re wrong. This often exacerbates the situation, putting the other person on the defensive and increasing the divide between you.

While you want to avoid an argument, you don’t want to walk away from the issue. Differing points of view don’t mean the end of a relationship, and you want your loved ones to feel heard and supported. Instead of changing the subject, open a constructive conversation about what they believe and why.

2. Build a bridge between their beliefs and yours.

Seek to understand their perspective, as well as what’s informed it. When your friend or loved one expresses an opinion that may be misinformed, ask, “What is it that makes you think that?” and find out where they’ve sourced their information.

The systems and algorithms in place today to promote potentially misleading information are unbelievably elaborate and sophisticated. It’s easy for a simple internet search to send someone down a rabbit hole of misinformation. Many of the results populated from a well-intentioned search will be paid placements from outlets with an agenda, making it difficult even for informed users to differentiate between fact and fiction.

3. Validate their concerns.

When someone is passionate about a topic, acknowledge the issue and validate their desire for a solution. Recognizing their values and beliefs, experiences and emotions will show you’re not “taking sides” or out to prove them wrong. Rather, you want to support their quest for answers by helping them gain a more thorough and reliable understanding of the topic.

Remember, your friends’ and families’ concerns are genuine and their feelings are real, even if the evidence supporting them is not.  

4. Turn the momentum around.

Lead your friends and loved ones to more legitimate ways of interacting with their concerns. Let them know they’re not alone in their beliefs and show them legitimate organizations or groups that are tackling the topic.

People with a passion for an issue are often eager to act, but if their beliefs are shaped by a mob with motives, their action can be misdirected. Help them direct their energy in more productive ways. For example, inviting them to crowd-source credible information can be a fun way to help them shift their thinking.  Or introducing them to a community group that has a track record in creating equitable social change.

 

Fighting fake news

Concerns about misinformation are growing, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to separate fact from opinion. The most effective way to fight the spread may be media literacy. Increase your friends’ and family’s awareness and ability to identify trustworthy information. Encourage them to think critically, ask questions about who benefits from fake news, and seek a greater diversity of voices across credible sources.  

 

Erin Steuter is professor of sociology with a focus on critical media studies and ideological representations in news and popular culture. She has won multiple awards for her teaching and research and is the author of three books about the media and the war on terror including Pop Culture Goes to War: Enlisting and Resisting Militarism in the War on Terror. She regularly offers workshops for schools and community groups that engage the public in contemporary media literacy issues.

New books to read:

Hope Raisers

Rosen

Authors earn more 

when you buy direct

Fake news around the dinner table

Beyond the father

First Assignment

Where the Lilacs Bloom once again