All time holiday favorites

JESSICA MARRELLA FEATURES EDITOR

JRM722@CABRINI EDU

With winter break quickly approaching, students and faculty are anticipating their free time to enjoy the holiday. One way to kickoff the holiday spirit is by sitting down in front of the television, cozy under warm blankets to watch Christmas movies. Whether they’re oldies but goodies or new releases, everyone has a favorite Christmas flick.

David Teagle, manager of the Blockbuster on Lancaster Ave., said that certain movies are always in high demand this season. Among these movies are “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas” and “The Grinch.”

These coveted rentals are just a few of the favorite movies of people here at Cabrini.

Michelle Murray, senior graphic design and studio work major, couldn’t pick just one favorite. “‘The Santa Clause’is one of my favorites because Tim Allen reminds me of my dad,” Murray said. Her other favorite Christmas movie is “Home Alone” because Kevin McAllister is hysterical.

Sebastian Dronski, junior political science major, has to agree that “Home Alone” is the all time best Christmas movie because “it’s so amazing.”

Kharisma McIlwaine, junior English and communication major, thinks that “It’s a Wonderful Life” is the best Christmas movie. “I watch it every year with my family,” McIlwaine said. Lauren Walker junior special and elementary education major, also feels that “A Wonderful Life” is “the best movie ever” because it is a good family movie.

Mary Oschell, junior elementary education major, says that “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is her favorite holiday movie because it has great quotable lines.

Another favorite at Cabrini is “A Christmas Story.” Chris Loringer sophomore graphic design major, has watched the movie ever since he was little. Maura Gertz, sophomore English and communication major, looks forward to the 24-hour marathon of the movie.

Saleem Brown, admissions counselor, says, “My favorite part is at the end of the movie when the kid gets his tongue stuck to a pole.”

Just the thought of the scene alone sends Brown into uncontrollable laughter.

Maggie Cassidy, senior special and elementary education major, enjoys the more recent movie “Elf.” “I like ‘Elf’because it is so funny, and I love Will Ferrell,” Cassidy said.

‘Tis the season to watch festive holiday movies such as “Eight Crazy Nights,” “The Nightmare Before Christams” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”

Cabrini’s top 5 Christmas Movies (in no particular order)

1. “It’s a Wonderful Life”

2. “AChristmas Story”

3. “The Santa Clause”

4. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”

5. “Home Alone”

KYLE ROUGEAU STAFFWRITER KCR723@CABRINI EDU

Bob Marley is a permanent staple for college students nationwide. Cabrini College is no exception as dorm room after dorm is equipped with at least one or more references to Marley whether it be a poster or full out shrine.

Bob Marley is popular, but is it for the right reasons? Initially when people mention his name it will reference something between marijuana and reggae music. This is all true but this is not all that he stands for and it is about time for people to understand the legacy behind the legend.

Robert Nesta Marley was born in a settlement know as Nine Miles, in the parish of St. Ann’s in northern Jamaica on Feb. 6, 1945.

Marley’s mother was 19-yearold Cadella Malcolm from Jamaica and his father in his 50s was Norval Marley, a white Jamaican and British navel officer.

As a teenager Marley lived in Trenchtown, a section of Kingston, Jamaica’s capital. There he met Bunny Livingston and Peter Mackintosh, who later on would form the group “The Wailers” along with Carlton Barrett, Al Anderson, Judith Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths and Rita Marley.

In 1965 the Wailers had five songs on the top-10 list in Jamaica but earned them little money.

Not too far from Cabrini Marley lived in Wilmington, Del. where he worked as a welder for a Chrysler car factory to make money after mar rying Rita Anderson in 1966. He did not stay long and headed back to Jamaica with enough money to start his own record label.

Everybody knows that Marley was an advocate for the Rastafarian faith. He actually never practiced it until 1966 when Haile Selassie I, the God of the Rastafarians from Ethiopia, ar rived in Jamaica in April to preach his faith. After the arrival of Selassie I Marley the Wailers and many others embraced this religion throughout Jamaica.

Around this time Marley started up his own label known as Wail ‘n Soul ‘m records but was unable to get ahead financially in order for the label to continue.

In 1971 the Wailers started another label titled Tuff Gong after a nickname that Marley was given by his ghetto brethren. After huge success throughout Britain the Wailers signed to Chris Blackwell’s label known as Island Records.

The album “Natty Dread” became the Wailer’s breakthrough in 1974 and was received with rave responses.

Soon after reports of Haile Selassie’s death the Wailers record “Jah Live,” a musical denial of this report, and “War,” a version of a speech Selassie gave to the United Nations. These tracks helped Marley transform from a rock star to a Canaan-like figure of great morale whose words became more politically charged.

The only album to reach the top10 in America was “Rastaman Vibration,” which sold millions worldwide.

Around this time it was made clear that Marley was a huge influence not only musically but also politically.

In Jamaica’s worsening political situation Marley decided to approach the socialist Prime Minister Michael Manley in efforts to perform a free concert for his countrymen with the condition that there be no political connotations.

The concert was announced to take place on Dec. 5, 1976 at Kingston’s Heroes Park Circle along with the announcement that national elections would be held shortly after.

Immediately, Marley received death threats from the opposition party of the right-winged candidate Edward Seaga. On Dec. 3, several gunmen broke into Marley’s compound at 56 Hope Rd. in Kingston where an assassination attempt was made on Bob, Rita and Don Taylor, his manager

Two nights later Marley played an emotional set before 80,000 people in which he displayed his wounds to the crowd. After the concert he left Jamaica for a 14month exile.

During this time the two albums, “Exodus” and “Kaya,” are produced. Marley decided to embark on the largest reggae tour in history but ends the tour early due to the discovery of melanoma cancer in his right foot. Doctors remove part of his big toe in hopes that the disease would no longer spread.

One of the most important concerts Marley and the Wailers perfor med at was “The One Love Peace Concert.” Rival gunmen from Jamaica’s two leading political parties approached Marley to headline the eight-hour concert at the National Stadium on April 22, 1978, the 12th anniversary of Selassie’s visit to Jamaica.

After Marley played the last triumphant performance of the night he called on stage Prime Minister Manley and his political enemy Edward Seaga to shake hands in front of 100,000 people.

For this feat Marley received the United Nations’Peace Medal in New York for his devotion to world unity and his constant struggle against oppression.

The following year Marley went on tour after releasing the album “Uprising.” In Milan Marley played at a soccer stadium to over 100,000 fans, where the week before the Pope had made an appearance. Marley outdrew the Pope in the number of people attended.

In September Marley began the American part of his tour. There he was the opening act for the Commodores for the two sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden. The next day Marley collapsed in Central Park while jogging.

Doctors told Marley that cancer had spread to his lungs and brain and he did not have much time left.

However, Marley flew to Pittsburgh to perform what would ultimately become his final concert at the Stanley Theater on Sept. 23, 1980.

After several months of battling cancer Marley was told by Doctors that there was nothing else they could do. Marley decided to head back to Jamaica but only made it as far as Miami where his mother lived.

On May 11, 1981 Bob Marley passed in the company of his family. His final words to his son Ziggy were “money can’t buy life.”

Jamaica went into a state of shock with the news of Marley’s passing. Parliament went into recess for the next ten days. On May 21, a state funeral was held with Edward Seaga, the newly elected prime minister, who ironically presented Marley’s eulogy.

Marley’s body is laid to rest at his home and birthplace at Nine Miles. Marley’s old compound at 56 Hope Rd. in Kingston was tur ned into the Bob Marley Museum.

Marley was much more than some pot smoking Rasta who played reggae music. He is a legend because he moved people and continues even till this day.

Listen to his lyrics and have a greater appreciation. The song “War” is a great example of what Marley stood for and still stands for as even these lyric’s still apply to today’s political situations.

“That until the day the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship rule of international morality will remain in but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained, everywhere is war, war.”

Most importantly never forget Marley’s constant struggle of liberation as in “Redemption Song” his lyrics could not come off any more powerful. “Emancipate yourself from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.”