Only one of them could speak English.Ī woman sat next to them on the plan, and, reminded of her own daughters, was moved by their frightening plight. The sisters didn’t have a penny to their name-they left behind everything they knew. The Republic of Yugoslavia had been continuously bombed by NATO for three months during the Kosovo War, in an attempt to thwart widespread ethnic cleansing of Albanian civilians. In 1999, two sisters boarded a plane from Amsterdam to the United States, fleeing their home in the former Yugoslavia. But still, have you ever done something kind for a stranger, and wondered, whatever happened to that person? Our kindness simply goes into the ether, maybe to return as good karma, who knows? And most of the time that’s fine, considering that the act was probably done to help someone else, not for recognition.
Often, we have little awareness of how our actions might affect the lives of others. It’s the truly magical gift of motherhood that we believe is worth championing and celebrating. The amazing thing about these moms is that they just keep going and doing, assuring a safe environment and giving their love unconditionally, even when they feel like they have nothing more to give. This Mother’s Day, Lowe’s invites you to check out their new #HomeMaker series, which highlights all the incredible moms who bring a world of possibilities and joy to their homes every day, just like Johnson Lane. Although for moms like her, the day-to-day can be a slog, and the days turn into weeks and turn into months and years, reflecting back provides an opportunity to celebrate the incredible achievements and own them. In 2020, there were approximately 15.49 million families in the United States with a female head of the household and no spouse present. Johnson Lane’s situation is far from unique. We may not have control over what life throws at us, but we always have control over how we handle it. “I have had to wear more hats than I did before, but I've learned that it is just an opportunity to learn new things and to be an example to my kids in a way I hadn't planned on. “A sudden detour into single motherhood was a long way from the journey I thought I was on,” said Johnson Lane. And it doesn’t look like they’re backing down. Nawaf Alsabhan, Saudi Arabia’s general supervisor of cinema classification, told the Guardian that the cuts would amount to “barely 12 seconds” and include America referring to her “two moms,” but noted even that arguably-minute portion of the film would be “very tough to pass” according to the kingdom’s standards.
Egypt and Kuwait have already prohibited the movie. The Guardian reported that Saudi Arabia, which regards homosexuality as a capital offense, has asked Disney to cut “LGBTQ references” before screening. In addition to being able to punch holes through the multiverse (nifty power), America is openly gay in the comics and will be represented similarly in the film. Marvel’s follow-up to their 2016 hit starring Benedict Cumberbatch is set to introduce a new character named America Chavez, played by Xochitl Gomez. Strange might find himself in multiple universes, but probably not in Saudi Arabia. The company has yet to issue a statement on the new law, which would take effect on June 1, 2023.Dr. When Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education bill into law on March 28, Disney issued a statement saying it “should never have passed” and said that it should be repealed.ĭisney’s public condemnation opened a new front in the nation’s culture wars, with DeSantis signing a bill on April 22 that would strip the company of its self-governing authority at its Orlando-area parks in apparent retaliation. He later voiced disappointment with the measure and apologized to the company’s LGBTQ employees for failing to be a “stronger ally in the fight for equal rights.” The company said it worked behind the scenes to influence the legislation, an approach Chapek admitted had failed. Government relations and global public policy will be led by Disney’s general counsel, Horacio Gutierrez.ĭisney became the focus of criticism for initially failing to speak out publicly against the Florida legislation, which critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Her 30-plus years of experience include heading up President Joe Biden’s vaccine education program, as well as communications for Instagram and work in the Obama administration. Kristina Schake will lead the company’s communications efforts, Chapek said in the email.