Is courage the greatest virtue? The musician Sinéad O'Connor has died aged 56. She is remembered for the causes she fought for as well as her music.
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The troubled genius who took on the world
Is courage the greatest virtue? The musician Sinead O'Connor has died aged 56. She is remembered for the causes she fought for as well as her music.
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Two tears and a heavenly voice. Sad and strong. Sinead O'Connor's amazing song Nothing Compares 2 U made her famous.
The Irish musician died last week, aged 56. Friends and fans remember a singer with a unique voice, who always said what she thought.
O'Connor also struggled with her mental healthThe part of your health that has to do with your mind, your thoughts and feelings.. She spoke about how hard life was during her childhood. And her youth in IrelandAn island off the coast of England and Wales. Much of Ireland is the Republic of Ireland, but Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. changed her life forever. She spent time in a place run by the Catholic ChurchThe word Catholic means "universal". A Christian denomination with over a billion followers worldwide, led by the Pope. . Women and girls were often mistreated in similar places.
One nunA member of a religious community of women. They take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. gave O'Connor a guitar. It started her careerA person's progress through different jobs over their lifetime. in music.
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Doing good things takes courageBravery. Strength in the face of difficult situations. , said the writer Maya Angelou. O'Connor showed courage in her activismCampaigning for social change. . For her, music was a means of improving the world.
In 1992 she tore up the popeThe bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church. 's photo live on television. It was a protest against child abuse. She was booed and it ended her pop career.
But her spirit lived on. She did not hide away but risked insults and attacks in the media.
In 2018, the pope said sorry for the "crimes" of the Catholic Church in Ireland. O'Connor had been right. "She was decades before her time," wrote journalist Caitlin Moran.
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Is courage the greatest virtue?
Yes! You need courage to change the world. Sinead O'Connor used her music and her actions to change the world, even though she lost her career.
No! You can be brave and still be wrong. People with lots of courage also need to be wise and kind - otherwise the things they do could be harmful, not helpful.
Keywords
Mental health - The part of your health that has to do with your mind, your thoughts and feelings.
Ireland - An island off the coast of England and Wales. Much of Ireland is the Republic of Ireland, but Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.
Catholic Church - The word Catholic means "universal". A Christian denomination with over a billion followers worldwide, led by the Pope.
Nun - A member of a religious community of women. They take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Career - A person's progress through different jobs over their lifetime.
Courage - Bravery. Strength in the face of difficult situations.
Activism - Campaigning for social change.
Pope - The bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church.
The troubled genius who took on the world
Before her time: In later years, O'Connor changed her name to Shudada' Sadaqat. Glossary
Mental health - The part of your health that has to do with your mind, your thoughts and feelings.
Ireland - An island off the coast of England and Wales. Much of Ireland is the Republic of Ireland, but Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.
Catholic Church - The word Catholic means "universal". A Christian denomination with over a billion followers worldwide, led by the Pope.
Nun - A member of a religious community of women. They take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Career - A person's progress through different jobs over their lifetime.
Courage - Bravery. Strength in the face of difficult situations.
Activism - Campaigning for social change.
Pope - The bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church.