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Apr-12-2013 23:45printcommentsVideo

Ode to One of Our Fathers

Last week I learned from my friend Agron Belica that his father Selamin wasn't well. I decided yesterday to play an Astor Piazzolla's Libertango here in the street of Buenos Aires for Selamin Belica and his three sons. -Gilad Atzmon

Selamin, his wife Didar, and their three sons
Selamin, his wife Didar, and their three sons

(SACRAMENTO, CA) - News that the father of one of our team members was diagnosed with a serious illness this week, stirred the Salem-News.com family into action. Selamin Belica, father of Agron Belica, is a well-loved man, but we can never offer too much love, respect and support to one of our own in a time of need.

Gilad Atzmon, who has been writing with Salem-News.com since 2009, is one of London's top jazz saxophonists. Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble are presently on a world tour, but that didn't stop Gilad from taking time out in Buenos Aires to play a song for Selamin Belica.

Gilad wrote:

    Last week I learned from my friend Agron Belica that his father Selamin wasn't well. I decided yesterday to play an Astor Piazzolla's Libertango here in the street of Buenos Aires for Selamin Belica and his three sons. I pray for his health and for the family.

    With love and care
    -Gilad Atzmon

In a recent article about Selamin Belica, Jay R. Crook Ph.D, explained how Selamin's family was victimized by a redistribution system in Yugoslavia that dramatically changed the future:

    "The son of a prosperous landowner in southern Yugoslavia, after completing his secondary education, Selamin was sent to the University of Belgrade where he began to study Philology. Two years into his studies, disaster struck in the form of the socialist government's program of land confiscation and redistribution. The Belica family holdings were reduced to sustenance level and Selamin's father, Shukri Belica, could no longer afford to pay for his son's higher education. As a result, Selamin left his homeland for the United States in 1968.

    "After getting settled in Waterbury, Connecticut, he was soon able to send them regular remittances, enabling his parents and his siblings to live more comfortably. In 1972, he married Didar, also from Yugoslavia and arguably the most beloved member of the clan."

Ken O'Keefe shared these touching words after learning of Selamin's illness:

My perspective is that there is no such thing as "death" per se, we all move on one way
or the other, but I wish you brother Agron and all your family the love and wisdom to deal
with whatever comes your way. I hope to meet you and your father if at all possible, know
that I send my love to you all.

TJP -Ken O'Keefe

Siraj Davis, Salem-News.com writer based in Jerusalem, offered these thoughts:

The beautiful sounds from his saxophone are a beautiful composition of EGBDF notes. Most
importantly, they symbolize that the smallest of condolences or acts can have a larger meaning
for many. We thank him for inspiring us constantly with his courage and reminding us that we
may find the beauty of humanity in everything we do.

Wanda Duncan, a strong supporter of Salem-News on Facebook, wrote:

"What a beautiful song!! Bravo Gilad Atzmon! I was so moved that Gilad took the time, while in
Argentina touring, to play this song for Selamin Belica! Brought me to tears, it was so touching!
Awesome! My thoughts and prayers for Selamin and the entire Belica family! Agron did such a
brilliant job producing this video for his father! A work of love for sure! Excellent job! Word! Much
love and respect to Selamin, Gilad and Agron!"

Wanda Duncan and Agron Belica also want to send prayers out to Julian Faccini in Australia whose father is also ill and needs our support. Agron also extends many thanks to Lisa Spaulding for all her support.

Agron Belica, Bonnie and Tim King in Baltimore.

Wanda's father, JD Duncan, is also battling ill health at the time of this writing. Our regular readers know that our Publisher Bonnie King, lost her father Alan Ehry in a terrible accident several weeks ago. My parents died on the same day almost six years ago. All of this information was published on Salem-News.com for our readers. Fortunately, JD and Selamin are still here with us and with treatment, many things are possible.

I was touched by the input of our readers when my parents passed, when Bonnie's dad died unexpectedly, and again now as our team, located all over the world, responds with open hearts and sincere support.

The value of this is, simply priceless.

Our 114 or so writers, our thousands of daily readers, at the end of the day, are one big family. We fight for the human rights of people all over the world and are the guardians of the abused. We hail whistleblowers and back those who fight and resist tyranny.

Gilad Atzmon is one of our most outspoken writers, and is uniquely qualified to advocate for the Palestinian cause.

Gilad was born in Israel the same year I was, in 1963. He received his musical training at the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem (Composition and Jazz). As a multi-instrumentalist he plays Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxes, Clarinet and Flutes. His album Exile was the BBC jazz album of the year in 2003. John Lewis of the Guardian described Gilad as the "hardest-gigging man in British jazz". He founded the Orient House Ensemble in London in 2000 and started re-defining his own roots in the light of his emerging political awareness. Since then the Orient House Ensemble, which includes Eddie Hick on Drums, Yaron Stavi on Bass and Frank Harrison on piano & electronics has toured all over the world, just as they are doing right now.

A past member of the Blockheads, Gilad has recorded and performed with Ian Dury, Robbie Williams, Sinead O'Connor and Paul McCartney. Gilad has also recorded with Robert Wyatt, the Water Boys and many others. In 2007 Gilad extended his role as a Producer, working with outstanding singer-songwriter Sarah Gillespie to produce her debut album released in September 2009.

Also a prolific writer, Atzmon's essays are widely published. His novels 'Guide to the perplexed' and 'My One And Only Love' have been translated into 24 languages. Gilad's latest book, The Wandering Who? is a study of Jewish Identity political identity. It was published in English in October 2011.

In 2009, BBC Music Magazine wrote:

    "One of the finest alto players around, Gilad pays his respects to Bird i...It's striking how similar Gilad's sweet, open-throated sound is to Parker's, but as you'd expect from the fiery philosopher-turned-Blockhead, this is no tribute album."

Gilad Atzmon's Official Page: http://www.gilad.co.uk

_____________________________________

Gilad Atzmon feat. on Salem-News.com's Newsic Album Commissioned by award winning journalist Tim King:

Truth Justice & Peace by Agron Belica/Ken O'Keefe Tribute:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfeSVi...

Lions of Palestine by Ace:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1syAmj...

It's Big What You Did by Ace:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1syAmj...

One For The People by Aldin Entertainment Music Group:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HESBET...

Beautiful Hope by Agron Belica/Tim King Tribute:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWt0zJ...
_______________________________________
Aldin Entertainment Music Group:
www.AldinEntertainment.com
www.AgronBelica.com

Agron's book:
http://www.harvard.com/book/the_cruci...

Salem-News.com/Real News:
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/se...

Aldin Entertainment Music Group Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/AldinEnterta...

______________________________

View Tim's articles published on Salem-News.com chronologically

______________________________________________________

Tim King: Salem-News.com Editor and Writer

You can write to Tim at this address: tim@salem-news.com.

Visit Tim's Facebook page (facebook.com/TimKing.Reporter)

With almost 25 years of experience on the west coast and worldwide as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor, Tim King is Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. His background includes covering the war in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, and reporting from the Iraq war in 2008. Tim is a former U.S. Marine who follows stories of Marines and Marine Veterans; he's covered British Royal Marines and in Iraq, Tim embedded with the same unit he served with in the 1980's.

Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing from traditional mainstream news agencies like The Associated Press and Electronic Media Association; he also holds awards from the National Coalition of Motorcyclists, the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs; and was presented with a 'Good Neighbor Award' for his reporting, by the The Red Cross.

Tim King reporting from the war in Iraq

Tim's years as a Human Rights reporter have taken on many dimensions; he has rallied for a long list of cultures and populations and continues to every day, with a strong and direct concentration on the 2009 Genocide of Tamil Hindus and Christians in Sri Lanka. As a result of his long list of reports exposing war crimes against Tamil people, Tim was invited to be the keynote speaker at the FeTNA (Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America) Conference in Baltimore, in July 2012. This is the largest annual gathering of North American Tamils; Tim addressed more than 3000 people and was presented with a traditional Sri Lanka ‘blessed garland’ and a shawl as per the tradition and custom of Tamil Nadu

In a personal capacity, Tim has written 2,026 articles as of March 2012 for Salem-News.com since the new format designed by Matt Lintz was launched in December, 2005. Serving readers with news from all over the globe, Tim's life is literally encircled by the endless news flow published by Salem-News.com, where more than 100 writers contribute stories from 23+ countries and regions.

Tim specializes in writing about political and military developments worldwide; and maintains that the label 'terrorist' is ill placed in many cases; specifically with the LTTE Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, where it was used as an excuse to slaughter people by the tens of thousands; and in Gaza, where a trapped population lives at the mercy of Israel's destructive military war crime grinder. At the center of all of this, Tim pays extremely close attention to the safety and welfare of journalists worldwide.

_________________________________________




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Gp April 13, 2013 5:26 pm (Pacific time)

GA, come on out to el Bolson, our guest cabin is nearly completed. Any fiend of Bonnie and Tim is a friend of ours. Gp and EZ


Siraj Davis April 13, 2013 12:03 am (Pacific time)

This was beautifully written and touching. Very good article!

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©2024 Salem-News.com. All opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Salem-News.com.


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