Three immediate topics hit me today: the late Whitney Houston, slavery and Valentine's day. They are NOT related, you understand, or we could end up with a rather ridiculous and inappropriate story on our hands!
I'll keep it brief about Ms Houston: like Ms Winehouse, what a tragedy. A life of astronomical success entirely deserved when judged on her supreme talent, but plagued by addiction and sorrow. Drugs and alcohol stripping away yet another celebrity's dignity, in death. No, I hate the celebrity tag here; I mean another human being.
I am currently studying the Trans-Atlantic slave trade for my degree. I have studied slavery and the slave trade before, but perhaps, not so much in context. Of course, the trade was appalling. The scale was appalling. The morality was appalling. But, how can any of us really, ever, comprehend what happened. Standing in the barracks and ruins of Auschwitz I & II, I found the enormity of the crimes committed there, during the Holocaust, incomprehensible. Looking at the 'Stowage of the British slave ship "Brookes" under the Regulated Slave Trade Act 1788' c.1790 (Library of Congress), I can only begin to understand the horror and inhumanity of the trade. Imagine lying, shoulder to shoulder, head to wall, feet to wall, only 2 feet above you, for three months. You may as well picture yourself in a coffin. Add to that human bodies: sweat, bodily functions, rats, disease, corpses. And this is only your journey; if you make it alive. The journey to 18 hours a day hard labour in the blistering heat, not enough sustenance, whippings, beatings, mutilations, sexual assault, families torn apart. No, we cannot begin to comprehend the life of one slave, let alone the plight of millions.
On a lighter note today, and even typing it after my previous musings seems inappropriate; Valentine's day. What a lovely idea when you are 14 years old and a mystery card comes through your door on February 14th, or is snuck into your schoolbag by an unknown party! If you're that lucky! But come one, when you're 27 and desperately in love, must we rely on Saint Valentine, or more appropriately Clinton Cards, to tell us when to celebrate our fortunate situation?! I think not. I'm not averse to a little romance, a nice dinner, some wine and choccies, flowers! But I wouldn't want to restrict myself to one day a year, when the prices of all five little treats treble. Happy Valentine's day Clintons, you're getting the best present of all. I bet your shareholders are googly eyed with love for you every February 14th! You wouldn't sell that ridiculous, pointless tat any other time of year!
Happy Monday!
Excellent blogs Chrissy & superbly written!👍
ReplyDelete