Angelina Jolie traveled to Greece yesterday, following her UNHCR trip to Lebanon, where she met with Syrian refugees and made a major speech on the five-year anniversary of the start of the Syrian Civil War. The trip to Greece had a major point: tens of thousands of Syrian refugees are trying to seek asylum in European countries, and many of those refugees are going through – or are trapped in – Greece. 85% of Syrian refugees are coming in through Greece, most through Greece’s port of Piraeus.
So, Angelina met with refugees trying to move through Greece, many of them children. She also met with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the Presidential Palace. Apparently, their meeting lasted 90 minutes and Mr. Tsipras looked a bit smitten. While I give Jolie credit for dressing conservatively for a meeting in the presidential palace, I’m not sure about the boots.
Jolie and Tsipras spoke about the pressure on Greece’s emergency response systems, and how Greece can provide support for the overwhelming refugee crisis. Jolie also issued another statement, saying: “I am here to reinforce efforts by UNHCR and the Greek government to step up the emergency response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation. I look forward to meeting authorities, partners and volunteers working on the ground to improve conditions and ensure the vulnerable are protected.”
She was also swarmed by media people when she was trying to speak to refugee children.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Not generally a Jolie fan, but kudos to her for shedding light on this issue.
Are people really not aware of what a huge humanitarian crisis this is? I’m not trying to be an a-hole but here in Europe we are very aware. That’s why her trip makes no sense or me unless she’s donating money or going to the countries who are sealing off their borders causing the bottleneck in Greece and meeting with those blowhards. Meeting with tsipras is preaching to the choir. But I guess no one knows what suffering is until Angelina Jolie puts her stamp of approval on it as serious?
Greece needs more help from EU.
If being Angelina Jolie can help, even just a little bit, it’s good.
I think it’s more about personalizing the issue than raising awareness of it.
And we’re absolutely aware of it here, but our news is dominated by the upcoming Presidential election right now.
Yes, definitely go after someone trying to help and insinuate that she’s doing something wrong. That’s going to be much more effective in resolving the problem. It’s nice that you and your friends are so super aware of the problem, but apparently you have fixed it yet, now have you?
She has donated millions to charity so let’s not get into that.
But Angelina is a very powerful and influential woman – every time she brings awareness to a cause, the donations go up and thousands more people become aware.
Why do you think Presidents, Royals and other dignitaries all want to / agree to meet with her and not other celebs? It’s because she is bringing much needed awareness and the media’s eye on the situation.
Angelina is also well educated on the subjects as many many workers have confirmed. Even now she is saying the truth – solve the problems in Syria and these refugees can go home. That’s what everyone wants and that’s what Angelina is trying to get the politicians to agree on.
Greece cannot feed its own people how r they gonna help refugees? Where r the big countries that spend billions on military yet barely on the same people they displaced
she’s there as a UNHCR representative. As in, high council for refugees. Not in a personal capacity. I can’t fathom how or why this offends.
On a side note, her face is a gift. I’m convinced that is what allows her to move from one circle to the next. Men in power just want to get in the same room as That Face.
Maybe the purpose of her trip is to bring awareness to those who are not as informed or aware as you. Maybe people don’t realize how many refugees are in Greece. Perhaps only thinking they are Germany and Sweden. Maybe it’s part of her job to go to these refugees to see how they are doing and to see what more the UNHCR can do for them and the host countries.
@Greenie: never mind men – I am a woman and I want to be in the same room as That Face;)
@Fee The US has spent billions on humanitarian aid for the refugees. We’ve sent more money than the EU and any other country, actually. It’s still never enough, and throwing money at the problem doesn’t help at this point, we need to be taking refugees into our country.
@Regina: I am wondering that too – are people not aware of the situation?
Who is still in the dark on the refugee crisis? Maybe aliens.(not even them!) Europeans are acutely aware and even if they weren’t, they would be forced to because the reality would push them into it. It is not an ‘issue’ anymore, it is a ‘reality’.
Europe is living and trying to handle a reality.
I was watching CNN and I saw Americans are also debating the issue of which state would accept refugee. So, again… which people are not aware of the situation? Maybe the ones that don’t give a shit on it either way and they won’t budge – not even for Angelina Jolie.
All my respect goes out to Greece because I know how they struggled for their own survival and probably still are.
I just don’t get what Angelina and George Clooney (he was also praised for bringing ‘awareness’ to the this issue) are doing. Who is their target audience? What are their solutions? What is their agenda?
@KB: I feel like everyone is throwing around this idea of taking them in our own countries without considering the trauma that is caused by being forced to abandon your native country, your roots, your family and belongings.
Of course, they will be accepted legally, no one will throw them out, but it seems that everyone thinks they will be happy then. They won’t be and many will not adjust to the new culture and the new lifestyle. And we are definitely not gonna be happy but we’ll do it either way.(which will create even more conflict)
It’s about more than taking them in our countries, something needs to be done to build a way for them to go back to safe homes.
Adjusting to a new culture, new food, new weather, new language and places is only preferable if you come from a place of extreme violence (like they do), otherwise, is hell, especially for people that have family-oriented backgrounds.
Staying in Europe or America only means physical survival for many refugees but the trauma of being dislocated from their homeland remains.
Don’t get so annoyed with Regina Phelange, guys. I think she’s just responding to the tone of Kaiser’s post, which is kinda informing people with the assumption they know little-to-nothing about this issue. And, if you are European, it *is* quite shocking that Americans might not know that much about it. You just assume that an issue that has had saturating media coverage for over a year in every single European country will have had a significant impact stateside, too. We really don’t need awareness raising!
This is not to detract from Jolie. She’s doing what she can and if people in the US aren’t awake to the scale of this horror, then I hope she has huge success in awakening them. Good luck to her and anything that helps deserves praise.
KB – actually, not. The US has contributed only 76% of its fair share of aid funds to this crisis (see: https://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/file_attachments/bn-syria-fair-shares-analysis-010216-en.pdf) so has a lot more to do. It’s also only taken a pathetic 7% of its fair share of resettlements. The EU is not a country and its contributions are about 3x the size of those of the US. In addition to EU funds, each separate EU country also makes individual contributions. For example, the UK has contributed 237% of its fair share (though this does not in my book make up for its shameful record in taking in decent numbers of these desperate people at 23% of its fair share). The US could do MUCH BETTER. And I hope Jolie’s work puts pressure on the US to do so.
@Sixer I was referring to the total amount spent, not fair share since the person was asking about the countries spending billions. Fair share is based on what is needed and what each country should give, if I’m reading correctly? Those numbers aren’t surprising. The United States leads in foreign aid every year, but the actual percentage of our income that we give is typically less than 0.2%. How much has the EU donated? I could only find numbers prior to this year.
ETA: These trips she makes are not really reported on the news here. I mean, you’d have to seek it out. So I wouldn’t hold your breath about it making any difference. Now if she went to DC and spoke to politicians (like Amal Clooney did recently), it’d be covered. All focus here is on the candidates right now and occasionally on the fight against ISIS. Last year there were drives and constant coverage of the refugee crisis, but as time went on it just became all Trump and Bernie and Hillary.
Fee, Your accusations are not accurate when it comes to the United States.
Some facts about the U.S.
1. Syrian crisis – U.S. is the single-largest donor of humanitarian aid, providing more than $4.5 billion to date, in addition to development funding for Syria’s neighbors.
2. The United States has provided as much funding for emergency food assistance for Syrians — $1.55 billion — as all other international donors combined.
https://medium.com/usaid-2030/5-years-of-conflict-5-statistics-and-5-stories-becede7a4ec7#.t0e5gbxh4
3. U.S. spends $1.06 billion per year settling refugees in our own country
4. We have had our own recent refugee crisis with adults and unaccompanied minors arriving here from a variety of Latin American countries
5. We have 11.5 million unauthorized immigrants living here. About half are economic migrants from Mexico. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/19/5-facts-about-illegal-immigration-in-the-u-s/
6. The United States remains a popular destination attracting about 20 percent of the world’s international migrants, even as it represents less than 5 percent of the global population.
7. in 2013, approximately 80 million people, or one-quarter of the overall U.S. population, was either of the first or second generation of immigrants
.http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigration-united-states
I hear you, Regina Phelange. Having an opinion on this forum that isn’t 100% favourable toward what Jolie and the Cloonies are doing will lead to some snarky backlash, unfortunately. I’ve been living in Europe for almost a decade now, and the information that news media are willing to share here is very different from what you may find overseas (I’ve lost complete faith in Canada’s CBC due to their unabashedly biased narrative and selective definition of journalism!)
I think far too much pressure and finger wagging has been directed at Europe, and no one seems to be willing to ask why the Gulf nations won’t accept ONE SINGLE refugee, or why Turkey, whilst funding ISIS (yes, its a real thing, look it up if you don’t believe me) keeps manipulating the West into carrying out favours in exchange for pulling its own weight with regards to the refugee issue. I know, I know, some people will argue with that last statement, but I have a grocery list of reasons for thinking that Erdogan’s government has failed big time!
What makes the situation even more troubling is when you have a mass exodus that is not made up entirely of refugees, but also of opportunistic economic migrants who know they can blend in with scared, desperate people, and then pick a European destination like it’s a menu a la carte. It isn’t fair to EU citizens, nor is it fair to the LEGITIMATE refugees, and whether other people on this forum like it or not, a lot of Europeans are finding that their patience is wearing thin, so for celebrities to keep insisting that “more has to be done” feels incredibly condescending, unless they’re prepared to write a big fat cheque and offer constructive solutions.
@MinnFinn Second generation immigrant here! My father was born in Poland.
KB: the EU is so labyrinthine, it’s very hard to get accurate reporting on monies that come from central EU funds rather than are EU efforts but are paid for by separate EU countries from their domestic budgets. I would hate to deceive you by counting monies twice!
But the 2016 allocation solely from central EU funds is at least 3.7 billion euros, so $4.19 billion. The US 2015 contribution was $1.5 billion. There may be other central EU funding but you’d have to dig to find it. Most of this 2016 EU money is going to Turkey for the refugees they are hosting.
I see no point in us all taking pot shots at each other’s countries, however. The fact remains that very few countries can honestly say they are doing enough no matter how many statistics get posted, and the fact also remains that very few countries do not have loud and significant voices saying their governments should be doing less, not more.
In the meantime, people are living in squalor. Women and children are being trafficked by organised criminals taking advantage of the situation. Just last week I read an article by a journalist who BOUGHT four orphaned children because they were about to be sold to traffickers. There are outbreaks of cholera, measles, scabies and god knows what else in the camps. The EU’s border arrangements are collapsing. The far right is rising (it’s not just Trump).
And yes, I am beginning to feel despair fatigue!
@Kat and Regina
Agreed. I can only assume that people thinking Angelina needs to bring awareness to this issues are people who are not European. The whole reason why the right has been gaining more popularity each year is because people do NOT like immigration so with the refugee crisis, it is truly a CRISIS on a political and socio-economic level which affects our daily lives. We don’t live through this by watching TV or following celebs on a gossip blog, we live in the societies that are xenophobic and talking about these people like they are vermin. Stories and comments about refugees ‘taking jobs’, assaulting ‘our’ women and ruining cultures are ubiquitous on the street and on the news sites.
It’s disgusting and while I find Jolie’s actions commendable, we do not need here actually. The media has daily (negative) stories about this, the UK (where I am now) is going to vote to pull out of the EU on 23 JUNE 2016 and the refugee crisis is one of the main issues why the Brits are pushing more and vocalising more to pull out of the EU because they do not want open borders. Citizens are about self-preservation it seems even though it’s based on moral panic and unfounded ‘truths’ (e.g job and language concerns). Look at the video at the top, it comes from an English outlet. I can go on any other major European media outlet and find stories about refugees or linking them stories about crime.
It has been said before on here but some people really do need celebs to give a damn about issues that are not present in their country or to be aware of them should I say, but don’t lump everybody in that category. You can go to the BBC and keep up-to-date with the refugee crisis if you’re an English speaker. Jolie is not necessary but thank you for thinking she is anyway.
That all said: Jolie is sweet to care about these kids because the media were savages. Honestly they care more about taping a celebrity then to think about not harming children??? For shame. And you could tell that she was about to lose it but kept her cool. I would have popped off, imagine a kid got trampled?
@Sixer Okay, the $4.5 billion figure I read was since 2012 http://m.state.gov/md247115.htm
KB– So was your father a refugee? One set of my grandparents were born in Finland, not refugees, just economic migrants.
Sixer – Pointing fingers i.e internet shouting match when no one pays attention to others’ information is not helpful, I agree. But I do get tired of wholesale bashing of the U.S. We have caused problems but have also helped a lot. I think on balance, the world would be worse off if circa 1900 we had gone neutral, insular and stayed out of everything since then.
No people are concerned with Drew selling make up and what is on TV.
HUGS
@MinnFinn Nope, they moved here for the opportunity. His parents, him and his four siblings in a one bedroom apartment in Chicago! They moved out of it pretty quickly though. And all of their kids went on to be middle class-upper middle class. Immigrants make this country great and anyone who says otherwise is just wrong.
What you forget PK, is that the whole world does not only include the USA. I understand that your health system over there is full of inequality. But Angelina’s message was not just targeted at Americans. In Australia we are fortunate enough to not have to pay out of pocket expenses for the majority of medical procedures, and if we do they are usually not as expensive in the US, due to our Medicare rebate system. I know of several women who, as a result of Angelina’s Op-ed had the screening done and found they were carrying the genes in question. I am sorry that for you she seems out of touch, but it seems to me that it is YOU who is out of touch. Fancy thinking that what you stated about the inaccessibility of the test etc applied to every woman in the world who may have been touched by Angelina’s experience!
Oops!! This was meant to be posted on the comment thread below. Sorry…
What you forget PK, is that the whole world does not only include the USA. I understand that your health system over there is full of inequality. But Angelina’s message was not just targeted at Americans. In Australia we are fortunate enough to not have to pay out of pocket expenses for the majority of medical procedures, and if we do they are usually not as expensive in the US, due to our Medicare rebate system. I know of several women who, as a result of Angelina’s Op-ed had the screening done and found they were carrying the genes in question. I am sorry that for you she seems out of touch, but it seems to me that it is YOU who is out of touch. Fancy thinking that what you stated about the inaccessibility of the test etc applied to every woman in the world who may have been touched by Angelina’s experience!
If anyone, such as @Regina, has questions about a plan, or an agenda of the UN on how to mitigate and aid refugees, that Angelina is highlighting – I would ask if you’ve read her remarks in full, and/or visited the UNHCR site on what they propose, that Jolie is surely discussing.
If you haven’t done that – don’t know why you’re here snarking at Angelina, and not on a Kstew page griping about her latest negative Nelly do nothing angst…or the latest Kim K selfie thread.
Also, I’m ‘not generally a fan,’ of any celebrity’s, but I find I’m usually only a fan when they consistently use their time, $ and fame to help people suffering or bringing awareness. She’s been doing it for so long, and trying to focus on things that matter (as opposed to avoiding split ends) – that I can’t help but be a fan.
To the point, I’m always baffled with women who begin any paragraph with, ‘I’m no fan.’ Why the need to state you’re on the other ‘team,’ at the outset? It’s kinda like mean girls, where you have to apologize to the b*itchy head cheerleader when she sees you talking to the cute new girl. ‘OH no- I wasn’t being her friend, she just asked me where gym class was, I swear.’ Lol
At a certain point, saying you’re not the fan of a pretty admirable person, just to get brownie points from say, vindictive shallow girls who get dumped, makes you look like not such a good person.
My personal beef with the “raising awareness” trope that dominates any and every humanitarian issue nowadays is how prone the media are to inflate the value of all this “awareness.”
Being aware of an issue does not equal doing something about it, and a hundred fawning media vanity pieces aren’t likely to change that any time soon.
A perfect example of how meaningless “awareness” can be? Jolie publicly advocating genetic testing for women with a family history of a particularly aggressive strain of breast and reproductive cancer.
A thousand magazine covers can shout “Angelina Jolie Says to Women: Don’t Wait, Get Tested” but that does not and will not change the fact that affluent white people have more and better access to methods of early detection and treatment. Year after year, more white women than black women are diagnosed with breast cancer. And year after year, considerably more black women than white die from it.
What good is “awareness” of genetic testing when many women in this country have to fight tooth and nail for a simple mammogram or pap screening?
Jolie’s advocacy and “awareness” efforts steadfastly refuse to address certain realities in this world, and some people – I think understandably – find that increasingly offensive.
@PK
In all fairness, she does advocate for people of any background. She is well-aware that she has the resources and money to get the best treatments in the world but she is not blind to the situation of other people. She’s been in war-torn countries for over a decade, she doesn’t lack awareness or insight, she lacks the power to actually change the status quo.
Because when all is said and done, people like Jolie or people who are advocates but not as affluent as Jolie can say and do whatever they want, the real power is a collective that does NOT want the status quo to change as it benefits them. They don’t care about poverty, as long as they stay rich. And interestingly enough, Jolie is very much part of that status quo. The system is designed for people like her thus it works perfectly for people like her: white, rich and semi-influential. That she is a woman, doesn’t matter as she is an exquisite beauty with class and grace (albeit reinvented it’s what helped shape her humanitarian image and work) which falls into the norm of how women are supposed to look and she even elevated that norm to even more unattainable measures. Which benefits her more than anything else probably. Evidence of this can be found on this thread (the Face), on other newssites and from journalists. Politicians too have commented on her beauty time and again, even to insult her (‘beautiful face’ said one at a political event after she spoke about her experiences not too long ago and to push for change).
As strong and powerful as she is, she will never truly touch the real powerful and she can never influence individual actions on a mass scale e.g. her advocating for policy that try to stop rape as a tool in war, all the policies in the world cannot change the actions of man.
Oops I posted up above about make up from Drew and TV
To be fair, who knows what “that face” could do in front of a congressional committee, advocating for patients’ rights? Jolie has “been there,” so to speak. Her voice on treatment access could be a powerful one.
Insurance companies make life, death and quality of life healthcare decisions for people every day, regularly exploiting vulnerable populations for profit And our government lets them.
I found Jolie’s letters to the New York Times almost breathtakingly offensive, and I freely admit it very much colors my opinion of her as any sort of champion of the people.
A real fellow soldier in the fight, a true advocate, would know how ridiculous she sounds when she says things like, “I have [a CA-125 blood test] every year because of my family history” when it’s common knowledge within the cancer-fighting community that NOT ONE health insurance company will pay $200+ for a CA-125 until the patient has already been definitively diagnosed.
That’s just one example from her clueless diatribes, sandwiched between other “let them eat cake” gems like “I wanted other women to know about their options” (most women’s options consist of “eventually maim yourself and then die”) and “That same day I went to see a surgeon” (how nice for her; I personally know three women who waited months to consult with surgical oncologists, two of whom are now dead). And my personal favorite, “I called my husband in France, who was on a plane within hours.”
This is not the person to be chiding the rest of the world about the suffering of others.
You’re exactly right that no amount of “I’m pretty so people listen to what i say” advocacy is going to change things in any meaningful way for the people who need it most. So can we stop patting the pretty people on the back by pretending that it does?
*clapping*
Thank you, PK. Very well said, indeed!
@PK – it seems to me that you are resenting Angelina because she is wealthy and that her husband was able to fly from Europe straight away because he could.
You may disagree with the facts but Angelina’s NYTimes letters has saved thousands of women’s lives around the world. For that alone – Angelinashould be praised to bring awareness to the gene testing. As a person with cancer running in the family, I am immensely grateful for her letters. She never asked for sympathy nor praise she simply told her story to raise awareness.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/angelina-jolie-effect-life-saver-6895600
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11491466/Angelina-Jolie-applauded-for-going-public-about-having-ovaries-removed.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2458456/Angelina-Jolies-plastic-surgeon-says-double-mastectomy-saved-dozens-lives.html
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/03/14/Double-mastectomies-for-breast-cancer-tripled-in-last-decade/4651457957446/
@PK
Where to begin. I will respond to both of your screeds, because I think it’s an absolute imperative to not let your Handler-esque irrational and petty rage for a world renowned humanitarian/beautiful Oscar winning movie star, endanger some women’s lives who may be reading your vitriolic lashing out that is devoid of facts.
I’ll start with the first shameful glaring misnomer or lie that could actually kill someone. I will quote you, since you might edit – YOU wrote the following:
_________________________
“a real fellow soldier in the fight, a true advocate, would know how ridiculous she sounds when she says things like, “I have [a CA-125 blood test] every year because of my family history” when it’s common knowledge within the cancer-fighting community that NOT ONE health insurance company will pay $200+ for a CA-125 until the patient has already been definitively diagnosed.” — written by @PK
_______________________________
Ok look- I am not about to let you get away with the inference that Angelina Jolie did not make affordability and access for women a large part of her Op-Ed. She did indeed. So why are you fronting as if she did not. She ALSO brought up the then impending SCOTUS case of corporations owning the human genome and DNA strains which would have further allowed corporations to increase testing at will. A few months after HER Op-Ed those corporations LOST their case. Was it due in large part to her Op-Ed that shook the world, that emphasized how wrong it was and the high price of testing. We’ll never know, but I’m sure glad she did it, it’s not like it hurt.
That said, some FACTS:
1) It is absolutely true that most insurance will not cover routine screening of women without symptoms using the CA125 test, except in the case of women at high risk for the disease. (Which of course, is what Angelina Jolie was discussing – her entire maternal line had been wiped out)
2)Obs/Gyn services site: Since insurance coverage varies so much, not only from policy to policy but in various parts of the country, the author turned to the wonderful women of ACOR’s Ovarian Problems Discussion List to find out what their experiences had been with payment for CA125. Out of the 16 women who responded to questions re insurance coverage, all had had the test ordered by their doctors prior to diagnosis and only one had difficulty with payment. Three had gotten regular CA125 tests (either every 6 months or every year) *** as a result of being judged to be at a high risk for the disease.***
Sean Patrick, ovarian cancer survivor and co-developer of the Johns Hopkins Ovarian Cancer Web Site says that she has found that doctors can generally get tests including the CA125 paid for if submitted as a necessary procedure.
So @pk you are presenting FALSE anecdotes, CA-125 is not meant to be a cancer screening tool like a pap smear. It presents too many false positives. Its use is to track cancer in those already diagnosed AND in the case of Jolie and many women like her, to determine if the markers are there in those who are at high risk.
My question to you then becomes, why are you deliberately putting out false information, and trying to misrepresent the purpose (and VAST positive impact!) of Angelina’s Op-Ed?!
We know already that many women are on record as having had their lives saved after reading her piece, that’s a fact. Yet you would deny it’s impact and the good it’s done? Why? I had no idea about the BRCA1 gene, CA-125, the cost of it, the obstacles to testing for poor or working poor without insurance UNTIL Jolie’s piece. So your answer to women like me is what?? It’s better we never know because we don’t have insurance and don’t have money?
Listen to yourself. I think your posts are truly dangerous, as in your vitriol you would deny poor women INFORMATION which astounds me. Your take seems to be, ‘shut up Angelina, it’s better they not know since they probably can’t afford it out of pocket.’ Wtf?!! That’s probably got to be the most vile and offensive things I’ve ever read.
Congratulations, where Angelina is trying to save lives and educate people in her piece, you want to present false narratives, disinfo and censorship which could directly lead to people dying.
Unreal.
I don’t resent Jolie, not even a little bit. I resent the blissfully out-of-touch cheerleader-y message in the way she tells her story.
It is not a fact that “The Jolie Effect” has saved women’s lives. The only true fact that has emerged to date as a result of her advocacy is that more women are waiting in line to chop off their breasts.
If you find that to be a hope-inspiring statistic, that that’s certainly your prerogative. I just think it’s horrifying.
@PK: what is more horrifying is that you compare having mastectomy to chopping of your breasts.
If you friends were to have mastectomy – would you say the same?
If so then I feel sorry for your friends.
It is an incontrovertible fact that the American health insurance industry despises the CA-125, consistently refuses to pay for it without a prolonged fight, and has pushed for years to have it discredited and abandoned in the practice of medicine.
My insurance company, for instance, would not consider me “high risk,” even after a positive BRCA1/2 test, unless and until I am under the care of an oncologist. General practitioners have been pushed out of the diagnostic loop to the extent that many women do not start monitoring and/or treatment until they’re already symptomatic.
We all know you can’t play catch-up with ovarian cancer, but that is absolutely the accepted standard of care where many insurers are concerned.
Delays caused by insurance company rules and requirements over who has the medical clearance to assess risk, order tests and initiate treatment sentence scores of women to death every single day. Too many just don’t realize that until it’s too late, a disadvantage Jolie doesn’t have to live – or die – by.
My insurance also will not consider family history unless it meets very specific parameters – age of onset, degree of relation and survival time are just a few – and again, this must be established by an oncologist.
The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act established that insurance companies must cover some measure of women’s reconstructive surgery. My sister opted to reduce her healthy breast to minimize obvious lopsidedness after the partial removal of the other breast.
Fourteen months later, she’s STILL trying to get them to pay for it.
My point remains unchallenged that Jolie benefits from a rarefied health care utopia that the vast majority of women do not have access to, and struggle to pay for even when they do.
Yea @Maya I agree, @pk showed her azz/ true colors with that analogy. Vile.
To me, that’s the language of some fundie American Taliban type, who resents women taking control of their lives and healthcare. Most of all, these types seem to resent, almost in a sociopathic way, women continuing to thrive and survive and miss the torturous suffering that cancer would have brought to their door. So they curl their lip, and contort their faces, bringing the ugly to the outside and snarling ‘chop off their breasts,’ as if there’s some other alternative to mastectomy when cancer has decimated your family line.
@pk can’t seem to make up her mind, is she trolling Angelina, Angelina fans, or women with ovarian and breast cancers and the genes that can bring it?
With that last comment of hers, her blind hatred of Jolie has now extended to women’s health issues. Fascinating watching someone’s rage make them gnaw off their own nose to spite their face.
Lastly, it’s really strange reading a post from someone who has imagined a consensus that exists nowhere. For instance @pk’s description of Jolie as ‘blissfully out of touch cheerleader-y message,’ is straight from the planet uranus. No where has this description or semblance ever appeared in type next to anything about or from Angelina. It was more poignant, and full of gravitas – the opposite of what @pk describes.
At a certain point you just have to sit back and marvel at the completely baseless bizarre character assassination coming out of left field that would destroy everything in it’s path with much collateral damage.
..and one nore thing, yes it is a “fact,” that Angelina has saved lives with her decision to share her knowledge, info and story. The ‘fact,’ that you cant accept that reality and worse, want to wish it into never existing, means you’re wishing those women dead.
I’ve never seen such a hateful sentiment, it’s beyond disgusting.
@ Maya
The fact that fear-induced prophylactic mastectomy is the best that medical science has to offer 50% of the world’s population, in the year 2016, should upset you more than semantics.
That’s it @pk please try and pretend I didn’t post actual stats from women’s health sites and a doctor survivor from John Hopkins who had a stay that of 16 patients, only 1 did not have it covered.
If you have crappy insurance or no insurance that’s a terrible burden and I’m sorry about it and the fact that your sister still has a bill.
But what I take issue with is, this grotesque and bitter snarling that because Jolie is wealthy and famous she should keep her trap shut.
To say this even after one acknowledges that women have been educated and sought medical evaluation, treatment, testing and a course of healthcare iniative that saved their lives, prevented illness, or caught it in time *DIRECTLY* because of her.
There was a small rash of these types of angry bitter types after Jolie shared her story, let’s attack Jolie for sharing her story and informing the masses because some women are poor. Wtf? On what planet does that make sense? Even after many women in droves came out to dispute those of your ilk, by saying, ‘Uh hello, I’m not wealthy, i have decent insurance through my job and i got the same treatment, surgical procedures and testing that Jolie did.’
It seems you’re attitude is: as long as there is one woman out there who doesnt have access to affordable healthcare, then they don’t need to hear how another woman saved her own life, the tools with which she did it, process she went through, and cost of testing/treatment. Don’t share that story because it’s of no use, just keep them in the dark.
That’s really your posItion eh?
Here’s the part where I remind you, that had Jolie not talled about her experience, the challenges to affordability, the gene, testing – your sister still has her big bill, and someone still will be turned down for the ca 125 if she isn’t high risk. The only difference is there’s a strong possibility the latter woman wouldnt have known jack to even try to seek the test, if not for Jolie
@Gina – there is zero reasoning with someone who compares life saving operations such as masectomy to chopping off your breasts.
I will never understand how some people can resent others for having money to do something to save their lives.
Don’t they understand that their resentment is bad karma and that it will affect them more? That maybe because they are so bitter and thinks bad about others that that is the reason they haven’t got more money etc?
@PK – in your bitterness towards Angelina and the fact that she had the money to have the masectomy done is just too vile.
This is my last comment to you because in your attack towards Angelina, you are insulting/attacking/hurting women like your sister, friends and thousands of other women who have had masectomy done to give them more years to live with their loved ones.
I lost my mum to cancer, have other family members dying from cancer and it’s just not worth surrounding myself with negative people like you.
Goodbye and I wish the best for your sister and friends you mentioned.
From one woman to another… Thank You, @PK…. *standing ovation*
@Gina, yes, I think you captured why I find all this “oh please, useless Angelina” snark irritating. Especially since most commenters are all about feminism–is this not the feminist ideal? A woman of consequence, who can access the corridors of power but use her influence to draw attention to issues she finds meaningful–without compromising who she is as a person?
I don’t have anything against Angelina shade, per se, if it is at least relevant. It just seems bizarre to sit her and critique her for a crisis that she appears to be playing a positive role in addressing–on her own time, in her own capacity. Somehow that doesn’t mean anything because she’s not next to you handing out clothing? Something about this just comes across as so self-involved and self-indulgent, even. *You’re* witnessing the crisis (probably the first one you have ever witnessed) so you are in a position to tell everyone else they’re doing it wrong? Idk, it irritates.
Also, anyone who thinks a woman who spends time in refugee camps and among the world’s most disenfranchised–and has done so for at least a decade–is “blissfully unaware” of the constraints of poverty or lack of access is out to lunch. You cannot be serious. I can only imagine YOU’VE never spent any time in such places, which is why you think those experiences are inconsequential to individual perspective.
@Maya and @Gina please stop insulting the women trying to have a dialogue in these comments. @PK does not have to agree with you and she doesn’t have to be an Angelina supporter. Those are not requirements for her to be treated respectfully. The level of disdain and number of insulting comments from the two of you is appalling. Try having a polite dialogue. I’ve avoided commenting on these threads until now because of the amount of vitriol but this is truly absurd.
@paleokifaru
*Setting aside this person’s Chelsea handler-esque irrational meangirling of a humanitarian movie star – let’s just address the disrespect the poster has shown all women, including those who do not wish to be mislead on their healthcare options by a vindictive weird angry person who’s just bizarrely jealous of a beautiful movie star.
Apparently you live in opposite world.
I don’t choose to humor misogynistic cruel women who deliberately put out erroneous medical information that could actually due harm and contribute to more illness or kill us.
I will not stay silent while she makes sport of a life saving surgical procedure and refers to it in an obscene manner.
You should be ashamed of yourself with this disingenuous hypocritical posting of yours, and protecting someone so rabidly vile that they think nothing of misleading women about their healthcare options, then making fun of cancer surgeries!
How dare you!
You don’t know what you’re talking about, and are clearly biased towards the most vitriolic misogynistic person on this thread.
How do you have the gall to come at Maya and myself, while not critiquing a woman who obscenely ridicules and attacks our mothers, sisters, daughters and friends who have had mastectomies to save their lives?
Yet you say it’s me and Maya whom it’s OK to go after for deigning to be upset at such a crude, crass ugly nasty person who slurs women everywhere about their own medical choices??
Horrible, and disingenuous for you to pretend Maya and I are reacting in a vacuum and not being confronted with a nasty misogynist who ridicules life saving procedures for women, and posts bogus wrong information on the healthcare options that ARE available to us – as if the former weren’t awful enough.
Shame on you.
@PALEOKIFARU: so it’s okay for PK to insult thousands of women who had masectomy by saying they chopped of their breasts? That rich or women who can afford private medical care don’t know real pain and loss and don’t deserve sympathy?
If you read my comments – I politely pointed out she was wrong in her “facts” and I didn’t call her vile names or anything.
I always find it ironic how people are okay with cruel and false comments to be written but if anyone especially Brangelina fans dare to write back, we are the villains.
Isn’t it time to stop being a hypocrite? That if people are allowed to write what they want then others are also allowed to reply back to those people?
Just WOW. I had to stop reading most of these comments as my blood was starting to boil. PK, I can tell you that I personally was moved to have my genetic testing done for the BRCA genes after Jolie’s op-ed. It was the shove I needed after being pushed by my doctor for many years. Thankfully, I don’t carry the gene and it’s a huge weight off my shoulders. So has she touched thousands with her message? Don’t know. But me and my family can attest that she touched ours, and I feel safer because of it.
And so what if mastectomies are the best we have right now. Are you kidding me?? Is this AJ’s fault too? I’ll tell you right now; had I tested positive I’d be sitting in a hospital bed right now, ripping you a new one. Because I’d remove my breasts in a second if I was at high risk. I’m more than my tits.
Your comments were really disgusting. If you’re so pissed off about women’s cancers, what are YOU doing about it??
I’ve decided to no longer read comments here. They’re getting bitchy, and passive/aggressive. Or I can’t have a dialogue without feeling lectured to by some pseudo Women’s Studies professor – “I’m smarter than you are, nah nah nah nah nah nah”.
Gina and Maya, I appreciate your thoughts on this and applaud your comments.
@PK – The C125 test isn’t very expensive, relatively. I’ve had 2, both paid for by my insurance because my dr. requested them. And no, I had no obvious symptoms.
There are many different types of health insurance available in the US and you get what you pay for. Some companies/policies offer only major medical care beyond a large deductible; some HMOs cover nothing outside their own facilities; if you’re risk-averse, spend more for a policy with lower deductibles & better options.
If people want to buy only bare-bones coverage with large deductibles which don’t cover much lab work or surgery, they’re welcome to do so, but please, don’t criticize those of us who protect ourselves as much as possible from the devastating physical & financial results of insufficient access to good care. I trim my budget for many things, but not health insurance. I learned the hard way a long time ago.
people are animals. how embarrassing. and that poor woman just trying to do her job can’t even do it without almost being squashed.
I admire her and her job.
Those members of the media should be slapped for crowding around her and those poor children that way. Honestly, I think I would start screaming or faint or throw up in that situation. Horrible.
I know – the media were like vultures and didn’t care one bit about the children.
Angelina was the only one who was worried and used her bodyguards to shield the children as well.
PS: do you remember we spoke about Ferritin levels and iron few weeks ago? Did you manage to speak to your doctor and check the ferritin level?
Yes, thank you. My doctor had already checked it – she’s good – and it was low. I seem to remember it was 4? But I could be confusing it with something else. Anyway, I had a blood transfusion and four iron infusions and I’m feeling much better. You are very kind to ask, thank you.
Good Lord GNAT, how awful. I am glad you are feeling better! I recently found out I was low on B12. It’s amazing how this stuff can sneak up on you and lay you low.
@Goodnames: no worries – I am on a personal crusade to make sure women test their ferritin levels.
Many women don’t even know what it is and making sure that your ferritin level is good saves lives, hair loss, body ache etc.
I love that you can tell how worried she is about the children. She’s obviously trying to protect them. Sigh… Love her.
Yep. That was my response to those photos as well.
I love that she’s so commited, but as I said yesterday on the Clooney post, US celebrities should pressure the US into doing more for the refugees, not Greece which can barely economically sustain itself. What is the US doing for the refugees crisis apart from welcoming a very small number of refugees? Don’t tell me that just Europe is responsible for this.
I don’t think anybody can say that Greece or Italy don’t do enough.
I agree with you that the solidarity can’t only take place in Europe.
I can tell u from firsthand experience that the Greeks are doing a TON. For the past two years especially. But ppl love to rag on the Greeks so I’m sure no one cares. Let’s praise Angelina instead.
@Regina Phelange, Let’s praise an actress who doesn’t need the money, the celebrity or the work for taking a personal interest in the world’s poor and lending her face to these causes to raise their profile and shame politicians into doing more? I don’t know why you’re taking this so personally and making it about Greece + how dare Angelina not personally end the crisis. I don’t doubt she is informed as to what Greece can and cannot do and is petitioning in light of that.
Jesus, what more do you want from a celebrity? Everyone cries about how KK is worthless and doesn’t contribute a thing to society. Well, this woman is and she has a record of contributing personally to these causes–not just in time but in money, too.
I’ve said it before, you don’t spend time in Cambodia or SE Asia more broadly without walking away with a strong appreciation for what it’s like to be on the wrong end of US foreign policy. But she works for the UN, not the USG. And for all you know, she may indeed have a visit with Obama coming up.
Regina – the Greeks certainly are doing a ton – I live near Greece and know several people involved in helping and there’s so much work being done there. We’re sending stuff from here like blankets, tents and clothing and so many people are working tirelessly to organise this all.
@Regina, didn’t say you couldn’t have an opinion, just observing that your opinion isn’t particularly coherent.
The Greeks on Lesbos are unbelievable heroes. I take my hat off to them. The coastguards, the people waiting on the beaches with torches in the dark, everyone.
I agree. Plus there should be a lot more pressure to Turkey for solving the problem. Turkish are using EU money to help with this crisis but they are making a lot more money selling hope to people that they will take them safe to Europe when in fact they are putting to many people in small old boats and leave them to drown. Some refugees said that during the winter the tickets on the boats to Greece were on sale due to the bad wheather (high risk for them to die).
I think the people of Lesbos should be nominated collectively for the Nobel Peace prize.
I agree the Greeks are heroes especially in light of the extremely rough time their own economy has had over the last five years. Other countries would have long sealed with their borders with a dismissive, “we have our own problems.”
Isnt it interesting these celebrity diplomats target countries who are already pulling their weight. Remember Clooney in Germany? A photo op is a photo op I guess.
she appears to want Greece to allow them to leave, i.e. a policy change if in Greek capacity…nowhere does it say she’s asking Greece to do more. I think you’re making an assumption.
Idk what Greece’s stake is in the EU but it seems they benefit little from it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idomeni
The people want to leave and move to Northern Europe. The problem is that they want to leave Greece through the Northern borders (F.Y.R.O.M, Abania) and re-enter Europe through Hungary but those countries have closed their borders.
@Regina has now used the denigrating ‘saint,’ so we can assume she has her own personal agenda with regards to Angelina. Probably has for some time (see circa 2005)
Just an fyi: Angelina always praises countries that are doing so much for refugees Ala Greece…I’m sure this trip is no different – so I’m baffled by your sneering. It seems way misplaced and generated by something/someone else entirely.
I think it’s unconscionable when people let their petty personal superficial feelings about a beautiful movie star interfere with discussion about actual real humanitarian crisises in which people are dying and suffering.
That just blows my mind – that someone would use children drowning or dire circumstances as their latest jumping off point to slam an admirable person (someone u snarl at & call “St.Angie”)and get in a decade old dig. #teamso&soYall ugh. How gross.
Great post @greenieweenie.
You do know what assuming does…
Greece is in a crisis themselves, they’re doing what they can already.
Europe is struggling as a whole and not coming together to tackle this which is ludicrous considering the reason why the European Union was formed.
Wish you could like on this site.
I agree wholeheartedly. EU citizen here. Been pro-EU all my life, have benefitted enormously from the rights I enjoy. To work and live throughout the EU.
But I am so DISAPPPOINTED by the weak EU response. Cameron, Hollande and all the rest of them refuse to take responsibility and leave it all to the poorer nations on the edge of the EU. Only Angela Merkel has stepped up and done what she could.
Greece, Macedonia, Hungary, Serbia. All poor countries. And the big, rich nations, France. UK, Denmark. All they will do is accept a few thousand, when there are hundreds of thousands in dire need. It’s shameful.
But also there are other countries besides Lebanon, Jordan, turkey, Egypt and Irak in Asia that can receive them, particularly if they are muslim/closer to Syria/sharing a culture. Even rich countries who help funding do not receive them.
Do the refugees/ migrants want to go to Europe or do the other muslim countries do not want to receive them?
@JK: greece and macedonia are doing amazing job!….. Serbia and Hungary not so much…there are shocking footage easily found on youtube on how the treated these poor poor people, they don’t help at all!!
Denmark have no tolerance for migrants and treat them like cattle: confiscate their belongings, listed them and escorted them again like cattle , fully circled by police and army to another country (Sweden) ;
Sweden and Germany can praise along Greece but out of these 3 countries all the others should be putting their head down, real down!
@JK
Cameron is under pressure to leave the EU, hence the referendum. But it is a strong sentiment in the UK regardless of how Cameron is handling things. It’s sad. I’ll be moving away before the referendum happens and in the future hope to emigrate to Canada as Europe is not politically progressing for the better.
Merkel is having a tough time, she did what she thought was best and is getting crucified for it now. As if people thought that one person could make a difference? It’s not her fault that she took on something that others aren’t willing to take on but of course as the crisis intensifies, people are only focused on the negative side of her decisions.
Look at how European countries reacted when economically weaker countries like Romania entered the EU and the restrictions that they had that weren’t put upon other countries. They want to be rich and powerful, not help others get equally (strong). There is a certain reaction to other member states that illustrated a LONG time ago that the point of the EU was going to be lost and it only took 1 major crisis for the EU to show their asses.
@Ennie
Refugees and migrants are not interchangeable. The former are people fleeing their countries for reasons such as fear of persecution, instability due to war etc. They flee out of necessity not choice as many would prefer to go back to their families and the life they know rather than being treated like dog shit in these so-called ‘rich’ countries. People who are able to obtain asylum and thus have the refugee status so they have indefinite leave to remain, often work hard to save money and send it home so they can return one day or to bring their families over. Migrants are people who move to other countries for economic reason. Hence why most travel via Greece to more affluent EU countries as there is ‘nothing’ in Greece. There is no reason for either a migrant or refugee to move to countries that are equally unstable or where they have no access to human rights.
Also it’s easier to obtain citizenship in some EU countries. I know Belgium had to revise their citizenship laws as people could become Belgian after less or close to 1 year of living there.
@ Truthful
“Serbia and Hungary not so much…there are shocking footage easily found on youtube on how the treated these poor poor people, they don’t help at all!!”
I can’t speak on the behalf of Serbia, but no refugee was ever beaten up by the police or a mob in Hungary. No refugee camp was set to fire, unlike in the western countries. And thousands of Hungarians (civilians and officials) helped them with food, water, blankets, toys for children, baby strollers, clothes, and so on.
@Beregolf:
I am so sorry to have to report otherwise from just a basic search on google:
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/the-battle-for-europes-border-un-condemns-unacceptable-treatment-of-refugees-as-hungary-fires-tear-gas-at-those-seeking-refuge-in-the-eu-31534903.html
http://uk.businessinsider.com/uns-ban-ki-moon-hungarys-treatment-of-refugees-unacceptable-2015-9
http://www.dw.com/en/hungary-completes-anti-refugee-fence-on-serbian-border/a-18681725
Amnesty has several reports on this very specific matters:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/10/hungary-eu-must-formally-warn-hungary-over-refugee-crisis-violations/
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/09/hungary-refugees-blocked-by-forces-criminalized-by-laws/
http://www.myla.org.mk/index.php/en/news/181-amnesty-international-report
I am sure that you mean well and that there several of good people willing to help in Hungary, but I am afraid that its not the most welcoming country for refugees
@Truthful
I say real refugees deserve every help they can get, but economic migrants should not be granted the opportunity to move to Europe on face value, as we Middle European and Eastern European also can’t just move into the western countries on a whim. To decide who’s an economic migrant and who’s a refugee we need background checks. In order to perform background checks we need a well structured refugee/asylum system that doesn’t crumble under the amount of claims it has to inspect. So the tide of asylum seekers must slow down. But the tide won’t slow down until the human traffickers (who scam these desperate people and take their money away while promising them a fantastic life in Germany or Sweden) can get anyone into the European countries and basically they can do whatever they wish.
While Hungary is led by a very arrogant and corrupt government that realized that villifying refugees will make them more popular among the masses, and I detest them for that, I cannot say the fence was a bad idea. Only two months later other European countries also started to build their own walls and fences because they realized they can’t control the situation. They had a very annoying holier-than-thou attitude until it was just Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary that had to deal with too many people who didn’t want to cooperate and basically trashed the villages and cities they went through (for the record: I don’t say all asylum seekers were like this! Many of them cooperated and acted perfectly well.), but when they had to face 5-10 thousand of newcomers Every.Single.Day, they started to sing another song.
Last September Hungarian police used tear gas because the migrants tried to break through the borders. Last time I checked every country had the right to protect its borders. (On the other hand: I agree that the newest Hungarian refugee laws are against the national law and treaties, so they must be changed.) Fast forward to last October: Slovenia did the same. Policemen, tear gas, water canons. Last week it was Macedonia that’s doing the same because the refugees wanted to break through the walls by force. I get it, they are desperate, they paid tons of money so that they can get into the rich countries, and nobody deserves to be stranded in overcrowded refugee camps. However, a line must be drawn.
In 1956, after the unsuccessful revolution against the Soviets almost 200.000 Hungarians had to flee from their homes. Austria let them in, but they had to spend a long time, even years in the Austrian refugee camps until the authorities decided they weren’t a threat and found them homes all around the world (many of them went to the US and Canada).
I’m not the one to judge if I mean well, all I know is that I’m fine with giving a temporary refuge to those who had to flee from Syria/other conflict zones (and a permanent home to those who want to stay and agree to adapt to the European values and laws), but I have very little tolerance towards to fake asylum seekers who are also hurting the real refugees’ position. This didn’t start last year, ruling out fake asylum claims had been a longtime challenge for the American, Canadian, Australian and European refugee systems.
What we all have to accept is that this isn’t a black and white situation. It isn’t about the noble pro-refugees people fighting with the bad close-the-borders-and-let-them-die people. This situation really is unprecedented: this isn’t just a humanitarian catastrophe in which people had to flee from the psychopaths who tore their country apart, but also a huge mass migration in which people from overpopulated and destitute areas are trying to get into richer areas. Their wish is understandable? Absolutely! But at first I’d like to see America opening its borders to Mexicans and South Americans and Middle Easterns and Europeans and Asians, and then we can talk about the European open borders policy again. (I know you aren’t American, I just used an analogy.)
I have always respected Angelina and I’m a big fan. I’m fine with that she’s looking after the suffering people and talking about the absolutely bad conditions the asylum seekers live in. Greece needs help, just like the other countries like Lebanon and Turkey who take care of refugees. She’s right about that.
@Beregorl:
“I say real refugees deserve every help they can get, but economic migrants should not be granted the opportunity to move to Europe on face value, ”
I didn’t talk at all about economical migrants but about REFUGEES, so did ALL the articles I posted before.
“They had a very annoying holier-than-thou attitude until it was just Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary”
Maybe let’s not Forget Italia which is with the Greece and Spain the actual three countries who are getting a massive amount of migrants and dealing directly with them crossing their borders, as they are the first european union borders…… And while they deal with it, oddly… they manage to do it amazingly, with respect, decency and humanity… In fact neither have been called out by the UN or Amnesty International …
Plus refugees just want to cross Hungary not to have a permanent stay in it..
“Last September Hungarian police used tear gas because the migrants tried to break through the borders. Last time I checked every country had the right to protect its borders.”
Well you didn’t check too well… As there is a prominent Treaty called Shengen that explicitly states that once a person has been authorized into the European Union Territory she is free to cross the other countries borders…
So either you didn’t check well or you still want Hungary to handle its borders outside of the European Union laws and in this case being in Union that is based on a free circulation of goods, money, services and PERSONS is maybe not such a good idea…
“this isn’t just a humanitarian catastrophe in which people had to flee from the psychopaths who tore their country apart, but also a huge mass migration in which people from overpopulated and destitute areas are trying to get into richer areas. ”
The UNHCR has listed the nationalities of the migrants coming into Europe:
Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria.
http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20160208-Dec_Nationality_of_arrivals_to_Greece_Italy_and_Spain-Monthly_Jan-Dec_2015.pdf
Guess what? Those are the biggest and deadliest warzone in the world at the moment…I doubt these people walk up someday in Eritrea or Afghanistan thinking “hey lets go risking my life throughout a perilous walk of thousands of kilometers and maybe die in the mediterranean so I can live in the social care of Europe”…
“But at first I’d like to see America opening its borders to Mexicans and South Americans and Middle Easterns and Europeans and Asians”
Incorrect places, incorrect comparison as there is not a common economy, financial structure, money and laws at stake and moreover United States don’t have Treaties binding them regarding borders…..As Shengen is for all the countries that have signed them (same for all countries no exception)
When Hungary entered Europe, it agreed to respect all the treaties… and Shenghen is one them, and as every other country in UEE ,has to abid to it, so protecting borders WITHIN Europe cannot be an option at all.
To sum it up: if you or I don’t have the specific informations I doubt Ban Ki Moon , the UN Secretary don’t… and he didn’t called out Greece, Spain or Italy…
So did the UNHCR and Amnesty International… so there might be something there that is quite close to the truth…
I don’t think @regina is criticizing what Angelina does per se, but more the idea that Angelina or Clooney shining a light on an issue that we’ve been dealing with for years now can make the US take notice. I understand her frustration! I’m Italian, and we’ve been rescuing refugees for 4 years now, way before Germany and other countries intervened. Now the EU doesn’t now what to do anymore and Greece is alone in this situation, so I can understand why reading that Greece should do more is upsetting. That’s why I want to now what the US is doing apart from accepting a very small
number of people and sending money to the EU. I know that Angelina really puts in the work and really care for this issue but it would be even more amazing if she could bring the issue to the Senate. Greece for sure didn’t lead an unrequited war in Iraq.
I love this woman and what she stands for – beautiful, strong, independent, intelligent and compassionate feminist.
Country heads are willing to met with her and listen to her because she is brings awareness to the issues. She is one of the most powerful women in the world who is in the victims side only. She never asks for normal people to help, only the governments to step up – she only focuses on how to keep women and children safe.
On a shallow note – menopause suits her because she is gaining weight, especially her face looks fuller and it takes years off her.
I like her too. I felt like she made it okay for a woman to be a professional–but also have tattoos, and have a sex life, and not toe some corporate line.
she is all what you described but she never used the the word “feminist” to describe herself…
but does she really need to? her actions show that she is, IMO.
@jane
How do you know what Angelina has said or not said – have you read every interview and every quote from her since she was 18 or 19 until now? She’s been giving interviews since she was a teen.
I’m a fan, and I would never state categorically that she’s ‘never used the word feminist to describe herself.’
So unless your real name is Lexis Nexis, how on earth can you unequivocally state something?
“How do you know what Angelina has said or not said – have you read every interview and every quote from her since she was 18 or 19 until now?”
I meeeean… for better or for worse, I’m almost 100% sure I’ve done that. At least all the ones printed in English. And I’ve seen most of her UN speeches. And while I would definitely call her a feminist — going by the definition of the word — I’m pretty confident that she has never used the word to describe herself.
Jane I agree with Doofus – Angelina’s work both professionally and personally shows the world she is a true feminist.
She doesn’t have to call herself that but she has also never denied being a feminist. Can’t remember a time when she was asked if she was one. Maybe because most people are not in doubt that she is one.
I hope she endorses Hillary — she could be a powerful advocate for her.
I think it would be much better if she stayed out of politics.
@GNAT
Angelina, as most people who follow her are aware, does stay out of politics (endorsements). However, she’s a very powerful and effective advocate for her causes and has helped get bills and legislation passed. I thinknwhat makes her effective is that she’s known more as an advocate for causes that need both sides of the aisle to do the right thing, than a politician. Much in the way Princess Diana didn’t join the green party or stump for Bush or politicians in her own country.
Who knows, maybe this year since we might be facing a nightmare with Trump, she could enter into the fray. But I doubt she will.
Trump once derided, and attacked Angelina pretty viciously, much like he’s done with Heidi Klum, megyn Kelly and many other women. It was on Larry king, straight outta the blue, no openings from Larry. it was bizarre. Like he had personal beef without ever having met her in any capacity. Much like Chelsea handler. It was then I knew trump was insane or at least was a 14 yr old meangirl trapped in the body of an aging oompaloompa. Either way, cray. I recalled the reaction from people, it was more of the ‘ooooh, Angelina’s getting slammed!!,’ with all the attention directed at her as if she had done something wrong and as if trump’s ire, meant Angelina was a dirty nasty no account. Waiting breathlessly for her to respond (she famously does not) they’re still waiting….
Makes me wonder that if people had had the appropriate reaction, and dumped on him for attacking her, calling him psycho – maybe we wouldn’t be in this predicament.
I agree that she is a more effective advocate for keeping out of politics. I also agree that this is a “special” as in nightmare election, but I still think she should refrain for endorsing anyone for the reasons you stated.
Endorsing Hillary is likely to result in more refugees, not fewer.
One of the reasons why I know her humanitarian work is authentic and heart-felt is her steadfast refusal to endorse anyone or any party since….. always. I have seen comments on other boards by conservatives attacking her only to have other conservatives defend her and even claim she is “one of theirs”. Of course, I correct them all and tell them she is independent and that all of her “politics” (ALL OF IT) is reserved and directed towards humanitarian issues. If Trump wins (god help us all) she will still have access to any administration of his unlike other declared liberals like Clooney.
also access to Trump via her dad. hope she’ll be able to sort Trump out 🙂
Angie vote independent
Endorsing Hilary, or anyone would be a mistake & distract from her intended message, which is definitely not about US partisan politics.
I read the more idiotic article about how Angelina aND George Clooney have like 10 houses, why aren’t they housing refugees….. as if the could kidnap them, smuggle them into countries, and that would be ok because they’d be living in their houses. Governments would not need to ok it.
Good for her work! Many of these people have been on the run for their lives for years, and are stuck in camps. They can’t go home, they can’t go further into Europe. Wish the fear mongering would stop; making people see these vulnerable people as they are, in need of support.
She is there as a special envoy to the high commissioner in unhcr. What annoys me is that she is pigeonholed as a celebrity on the bandwagon in media and press releases instead of a woman who has put in the time ,energy and funding everyday for the last 15 years. She has the knowledge and experience than most of the politicians and media put together. She knows what she is talking about and what she is doing and I have a lot of respect for that and I can’t fathom why anyone feels the need to tear into her when you can see she is genuine.
Hi @sofie – short answer: it’s because some of us have all the depth of a rain puddle and are still mired in the tabloid ‘triangle,’ almost 12 years after the fact. Misplaced anger, bitterness and envy. (See Chelsea handler) it’s irrational meangirl stuff. Hard to get rid of, like black mold.
The sad fact is it’s only government’s that can resolve this crisis and as always they are sitting back instead of making swift decisions.
Some of the negative comments about Angie above make me shake my head in sadness. So let me parse this a bit (not that AJ needs me to defend her her or anything but we get SO FEW good examples of positive actions from celebs, it irks me to see someone’s dedicated efforts put down.)
1. She is a UN ambassador. Whenever she goes and meets with political leaders or addresses the media talking about this crisis (or any other), she does not speak on her behalf, or that of the US, or the movie industry, or whatever. It is on behalf of the UN. Therefore ragging on her because the US doesn’t do enough is just silly.
2. Comparing Angie and Clooney is also a bit ridiculous. I am completely indifferent to Clooney (although I think he gets a really exaggerate amount of dislike, particularly since he got married). They are different people, with very different lives. What one does has no reflection upon the other. With zero shade to Clooney, Angie is someone who has been deeply involved in humanitarian work for about 15 years now (estimate, don’t shoot because I may be off a bit.) She has three adopted children from three different countries and has made a point about spending time and her own money on charities in the kids’ birth countries. That is very different – a whole other level different – than most celebs’ charity work.
3. Any time a celebrity talks, some people listen and spend money – whether buying the product they shill (face cream, water, diet pills, etc.) or by donating. There is a reason even skanky Z list celebs endorse stuff on Instagram – they get paid; The company makes more money. Now when you get an A-lister like Angie, who as far as I know represents no brands at all at this point, to talk only about serious issues such as this, people pay even more attention. Think about it – she only comes out when she is promoting her own movies, and to do UN work. Please, do name a few other celebs doing this. I am not even snarky. I really want to know.
4. I am not sure how bringing people into one’s home, one at a time, would solve the crisis. The first thing to point out is that the paperwork to bring the refugees anywhere legally is long and complicated. Some of you are suggesting that she does – what exactly? Smuggle them in her purse and then into her house? How ridiculous can one get?? From our experience here in Canada, we have friends who have signed up to sponsor refugees. The government provides housing and the sponsors assist with settling the family in – we have all collected money, clothing, furnishings, etc. for the newcomers. Then they need day-to-day help to navigate the paperwork and daily life in a new country, with a different language and so on. I guess she should also drive them to the grocery store, English classes, and their kids to school (our friends do all that.)
None of us have any idea how much financial help Angie has provided in this particular instance but given the very public record of generous donations they have made in the past I personally don’t need to call them to account for it.
So – I obviously admire her and her work and don’t get the dislike for her. Apparently no matter how much effort and thought, time and money Angie puts into her UN work, some people will still find something negative to say about her. I am having trouble seeing why, because like I said in the beginning she is one of the very few consistently reliable, informed, dedicated celebs to work for so many years on humanitarian aid. She does a lot more than occasional photo ops and if the UN consider her contribution valuable, sending her time and again to meet with world leaders, I just assume they see value in it.
Thank you, vauvert, well said.
Well said!
Thank you, that was thoughtful and simply stated. Much applause⛲
I agree. I much prefer a celebrity using their fame sometimes for causes that they are serious about than using it only for personal gain. She doesn’t have to do this but she does.
Yes, thank you. And I should add, she is not there as a diplomat but as a representative. Upthread I said she is maybe asking for policy change but actually it is more likely that she is just gathering or passing along information–simply making high profile contact on behalf of the UN.
@VAUVERT Thank you. My thoughts exactly.
Kudos to her for shedding light on this issue.
But those boots are disgusting.
The boots??? That’s your takeaway? What Vauvert said above.
Hey guys a Greek here. I usually try to stay away from posts like this on the net because some of the comments are really cruel. Greeks are starving, Greeks are bad people etc. The way the media are portraying us is really humiliating and unfair.
Our economy is not in a good condition but we do the best that we can for the refugees with a little help from the other countries. Refugees want to go to Germany but Fyrom and Albania have closed their boarders and they are stuck here.
We are a small country but we do the best that we can. Do you know how many people Greeks have saved from drowning in the sea? The Turkish sell them hope, take their money in order to sail them to Greece and they let them drown.It’s unbelievable. Every day we gather clothes,blankets,drugs and food for the refugees, toys for the children.We all trying to help. Some people in Lesvos even have taken refugees in their homes. A couple in Lesvos tooke a whole Syrian family, 19people.
On another note Angelina was lovely. Such a simple and kind person.No one says that she will solve the problem but she her work is admirable.
Rainbow, thanks a lot for your comment!
@Anna 😘😘
I like your comment too. It’s such a tragic situation and I love Greece even more for stepping up to the challenge.
Thanks magnoliarorose. Sending you hugs!
Watching her in that video made me wonder how some of our so called leaders and their minders would behave feeling that crush of people. Notice how her first priority is the nearby children?
Angie’s face lends well to Photoshop. It looks stunning here but same photo looks haggard and old in sites where it is left alone
Anyway who cares about her beauty or lack thereof she’s an exemplary humanitarian
Haters are so transparent. Lol
By the way, speaking as someone who’s seen her in person not that long ago, nothing about her looks haggard or old, sorry to disappoint. Her skin is creamy and glowing, her hair is shiny and her bone structure is and will akways be, POW. The lips, still perfection. Not that you want to hear any of this.
I know the longtime haters have been trying to age her since she was 29. As long as she’s drawing breath they will be trying to disassemble and deconstruct her – report on her aging status.
It’s the way of those who are born not that attractive to take great satisfaction in cataloguing stages of growing older for beautiful girls and shining a spotlight on whatever flaw they can detect, and the ones they can’t, they’ll be happy to create out of whole cloth.
Mate, I get that you’re a fan but this is all a bit over the top. You seem way too invested in this woman. Sure her work is admirable and she’s attractive enough but I don’t understand this level of celeb worship.
she brings enormous awareness to a set of audience who probably donot watch refugee related news otherwise…so such a great use of her star power .
On a different note I do hope that the Greek locals are awarded the Nobel prize this year for their enormous, ongoing kindness to the vast amount of refugees and helping save people from drowning. What a wonderful , humane thing!
MV thank you for saying this. I am Greek and I really appreciate it.
I have cried countless times these days. This situation makes me so sad.I saw some days ago a video, a Syrian woman was hungry and a old couple from Lesvos gave her food. She then started hugging them with appreciaton and kissing their hands and they were crying. It was hardbreaking.
I’m still trying to figure out why she generates such love and hatred from people. She IS an extreme personality though.
Another Greek here:
On a serious note it’s unbelievable how much the United Nations have failed in supporting at least the women and children concerned in this situation. They are supposed to exist primarily for such crises. I’m tired of reading about saint Angelina or saint Clooney or whichever saint Hollywood star you may wish to present me, and I fail to see how they help awereness; this is not an action movie, and there ARE people and organisations out there who have the resources to control and improve things, the simple truth os they WON’T. It’s a sad world if people learn about wars and casualties through the papparazzi pages instead of the news section.
On a lighter note, dear world, I apologise for our government’s fashion sense, please believe not all Greeks are such slobs; we actually do take pride in our appearance, especially when representing our country.
Angelina has been working on the Refugee Crisis for over 15 years. She has visited these camps and has been trying to bring awareness. She goes where she is asked to go. She doesn’t wake up in the morning and say HEY let me just pop into a camp. The UN and sometimes the STate Departments ask her to go. She has never claimed to have all the answers. She has never claimed to be a Saint. That is a term her detractors use. And unfair one. When asked about her work she is the first to say that there are far more important people working daily on the front lines that are not acknowledge.
If you want to slam her fine; but have more in your arsenal then “she doesn’t represent me”.. she is not trying to. I saw the faces of the men, women and children when she was at the camps. They were happy and excited to see her there. And if that gave them a moment of happiness in the mist of all that they are suffering.. then she did something of importance.
I’m not from Greece. And if you need to apologize for how people are dressed; maybe you are the one with the major problem.