This week opens with the sad news that more British soldiers have lost their lives in the run-up to the elections in Afghanistan and the political hot potato/soccer ball which is the US healthcare reforms bill. The contrast between honorable men dying for their countries and in protection of the principles of democracy with dishonorable ones campaigning with smear and fear tactics about “evil and Orwellian NHS” could not be starker.

So here are the inspirational people for this week.

(1.) NHS workers

According to the NHS Information Service, as at September 2008 there were 1,368,200 staff which represents a 28 percent increase compared with 1998. That’s a positive sign that investment and employment opportunities continue to be made in the NHS. Yes, it’s unfortunate the system isn’t as efficient as it could be and that resources get stretched to what seems to be breaking point before recovering back to shape (or at least flexing to accommodate the additional increase in patient care). Importantly,

THE NHS DEMOCRATIZES HEALTHCARE FOR THE HAVES AND HAVE NOTS.

It’s not Orwell that that certain strata of US politicians should educate themselves about. It’s JK Galbraith, David Lloyd George and Aneurin Bevan.

The fact is that not all of us can afford to fly to the best specialist clinics around the world. Likewise, not all of us have access to a Harley Street doctor who charges GBP150 per hour for a consultation or a private dentist who costs GBP100 for a simple routine check-up. The majority of people cope with average annual household income of around GBP30,000. With this, they have to pay towards the education and raising of children, weekly bills (rent, food, electricity/gas) and other expenditure (home, travel and the odd vacation). At the extreme ends of the superrich-poverty line there are those who have to survive on less than GBP5,000 a year. That does not leave much space for private medical insurance or healthcare.

We’re also talking about elderly and infirm people who may not have relatives who can afford to take care of them or pay for their health services.

Instead of wasting US$1 million of voters’ money to produce an advert attacking the UK’s NHS, those American politicians would have spent it more wisely donating it to their local cancer hospital to pay for staff, equipment and patient care.

(2.) Usain Bolt

A different athlete from Roger Federer (a showman more than a gentleman), yet Usain Bolt is just so inspiring with that showmanship and audacity!

A phenomenal sprint to break the 100m world record at 9.58 seconds and we’re all waiting to see him smash the 9.50 barrier next!

What a day ahead……..

This is the morning of THE final where we’ll find out whether Roger Federer will beat Pete Sampras’s current record of 14 Grand Slams. I write will instead of can because there’s no doubt he can do it, it’s just a matter of whether he can will himself to. He’s playing against the big-serving Andy Roddick who put out Andy Murray, much to the upset and consternation of the Brits who were hoping Murray would be the first British player to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. Roddick has the fastest and most powerful first serve of the modern era (155mph) and is tenacious in chasing down balls, so it’s not a foregone conclusion that Federer will win even though the scoreline of their previous encounters is 18-2 in favor of Federer.

Now, I know this is going to be a controversial comment but during the Murray vs. Wawrinka match I thought, “He’s not going to make the final. His footwork’s flat. He’s not tactically smart enough — why isn’t he slicing it short to wrong foot Wawrinka? — and if he meets a big server……..bye-bye.” Of course, I wanted Murray to win and make it through to play Federer in the final; what an occasion that would have been! Nonetheless, I tend to differentiate between what a country wants and the realities of a player’s strengths and limitations.

The Swiss Federer has more outstanding play than he does poor play. Here are some examples:

As I noted before Federer and Steffi Graf are my two all-time favorite players. In substance and in style they’re the male and female equivalents of each other and move in very feline ways: panther and leopardess, respectively.

Mostly, I love watching Federer play because he’s graceful, smart and gracious as much as competitive and powerful. His timing on-and-off the ball is incredible and just watch how he really COMMITS to every single point of play; he consistently follows through and positions his body parts (feet, hips, shoulders, head) to anticipate the next shot(s).

P-H-E-N-O-M-E-N-A-L.

My prediction for the Federer vs. Roddick score line is: 6-4, 7-6, 6-7 and 6-3.

Go, go, Roger!!! Bonne chance!

The political hullabaloo in the UK continues with blanket media coverage on the imminent / improbable (depending on whether you’re in the “for” or “against” camp) demise of Gordon Brown as Leader of the Labor Party and as Prime Minister, particularly in the light of Labor’s abysmal results in the local council and European Parliament elections; one example being their loss of Derbyshire council which they’d controlled since 1981 and the Conservatives beating them in Wales in a national-scale election for the first time since 1918. Numerologists may observe some symmetry in the figures involved: 81 and 18 are chiral (or mirror) images of each other. 1 plus 8 also adds up to 9 which in Chinese is the homophone for “dog” so perhaps the country is “going to the dogs” which is this quaint English turn of phrase to say it’s failing.

The plotters who seek to depose the Prime Minister are painting him as weak, indecisive, sexist, cliquey and out of touch whilst his supporters are presenting him as strong, resilient, committed, determined and even heroic in his tenacity to fight on another day.

In fact there are much better examples of genuine heroism and inspirations beyond the Westminster bubble.

(1.) D-Day veterans

Although my family’s roots of reference regarding WWII are different from Europeans and North Americans, I completely appreciate why it’s right to pay tribute and honor to those who lost their lives during the conflicts as well as to the war veterans who survived. Death and loss of loved ones is a grief that’s universal as are the concepts of patriotism, humility and paying respects to those who’ve passed away. Only the rituals and etiquettes are different, btw.

Reading and listening to the recollections of D-Day survivors as well as those who provided them with help and shelter, it’s clear how lucky this generation is that we live in relatively peaceful times and how it’s our collective responsibility to ensure that peace prevails and takes precedence.

(2.) The Puttick family

Some people may wonder why the Putticks’ story is a lesson in inspiration, but it is one nonetheless. On 2^nd June it was reported that Neil Puttick (34) and his Japanese wife Kazumi (44) had committed suicide by jumping off the notorious spot at Beachy Head in East Sussex. In a rucksack found nearby was the body of their son, Sam (5), who’d passed away peacefully in his sleep the Friday night before, from pneumococcal meningitis. This brave little boy had also been suffering from spinal chord injuries as a result of a car accident when he was only 18 months old.

Why and how is this family inspirational even though their passing is also immensely sad and moving?

Please take a look at their photo. What’s noticeable in all the photos of Sam Puttick is that, despite his injuries, this lovely child had a bright joyful spirit that shone through in his ready smile and in his alert eyes. What’s also evident is that his parents, despite his injuries, didn’t feel sorry for themselves but were committed to making their family memories as rich and as wondrous as possible.

If you click on the picture you’ll be directed to a blog, stuff4sam, and you’ll be able to see how Sam’s parents ensured that he lived his short life to the full and also how they got involved with spinal research charities.

http://stuff4sam.wordpress.com/

http://www.spinal-research.org/

http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.ddJFKRNoFiG/b.4048063/k.BDDB/Home.htm

In a world where we read about child neglect and cruelty, social failures and family breakdowns, and the ego explosion of “me, me again and more me” here is one family’s example of love, devotion and care. Their final days were unfortunate, but hopefully they’ll be remembered for how they lived: with joy in the company of each other.

May they all rest in peace and have safe journeys in their reincarnations.

(3.) Roger Federer

On Sunday 7^th June, Roger Federer won his first French Open and matched the record of 14 Grand Slams by Pete Sampras; Federer has won 5 US Opens, 5 Wimbledons, 3 Australian Opens and this French Open.

He is, unequivocally, my favorite male tennis player of all time; my favorite female player is Steffi Graff, btw. Both play in a broadly similar way: highly intelligent, powerful, graceful, tenacious and with great sportsmanship. Their trademark topspin backhands down the line are unparalleled as is the fluidity with which they get into the net and volley early.

Phenomenal players are simply a wonder to watch.

Federer is also my favorite male player because……..well……..he looks so amazing in tennis whites in full flight, doesn’t he?

Only a fortnight before Wimbledon, hurrah!