Sunday, April 6, 2008

Slavery

I mentioned about George Washington Carver in my previous post and would like to touch probably a little more about this.

I don't know if my peers remember when we were little, there was this Brazilian show on TV about slavery. Then I didn't understand what slaves were but was shocked to watch in the show the harsh life; whipping etc.. they get. But then, I thought it was just a drama not real-life experiences so it didn't matter to me.
Now, I write about slaves and to be fair, one day, I shall touch on the holocaust and not forgetting (my grandma will be scolding me in her niche) how our forefathers went through the brutality during the Sino rule. This is not a racial entry, it is one that reminds us how our forefathers went through in suffering, how the perpetrators were fought with civil war, and to what our world is today. Don't you think the people now are more tolerant towards other races? Why? Because of the lessons we have learnt at the expense of other peoples' lives. (ps. I hope nobody takes offence at this entry. If you do, let me know and I shall delete this post)

It was only when I was doing To Kill A MockingBird by Harper Lee that made me partially what I am today, the rests are teachings from my mother - bulk of credit goes to her and SQ did mould me to what I am today. I hated Literature in school coz' you need to have good written english to do well and yours truly's english isn't that good at all. But this book, changed my attitude towards Literature that year. I love the book and I still keep the book with me - hoping to pass it on to my children (my heirloom to them. Hahaha!).
In the book, the plot involves a man Tom Robinson accused of raping a white woman and how Atticus fought for him. This simple story teaches us about tolerance and compassion for people; people who are just like us with 2 eyes, 2 ears, 1 mouth.
And the story is set in Alabama. Umm.. yes Southern US (Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina , Georgia and Louisiana, which I'm trying to figure out why, maybe it was the weather that permitted agriculture there = more slaves there. I don't know maybe someone can enlighten me on this.)

My favourite quote from the book, "you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." Which did make me to be more sympathetic towards people who were outcast by others in my school.

Tons of interesting reads on slavery which I'll just link in here.

http://www.besthistorysites.net/USHistory_SouthSlavery.shtml
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/slavery/history-slavery.htm
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAslavery.htm

To end this entry, take time to reflect on the lyrics of this song :

History - Michael Jackson
He got kicked in the back
He say that he needed that
He hot willed in the face
Keep daring to motivate
He say one day you will see
His place in world history
He dares to be recognized
The fires deep in his eyes

How many victims must there be
Slaughtered in vain across the land
And how many struggles must there be
Before we choose to live the prophet's plan
Everybody sing...

Every day create your history
Every path you take you're leaving your legacy
Every soldier dies in his glory
Every legend tells of conquest and liberty

Don't let no one get you down
Keep movin' on higher ground
Keep flying until
You are the king of the hill
No force of nature can break
Your will to self motivate
She say this face that you see
Is destined for history

How many people have to cry
The song of pain and grief across the land
And how many children have to die
Before we stand to lend a healing hand
Everybody sing...

Every day create your history
Every path you take you're leaving your legacy
Every soldier dies in his glory
Every legend tells of conquest and liberty
Every day create your history
Every page you turn you're writing your legacy
Every hero dreams of chivalry
Every child should sing together in harmony

All nations sing
Let's harmonize all around the world

How many victims must there be
Slaughtered in vain across the land
And how many children must we see
Before we learn to live as brothers
And leave one family oh...

Every day create your history
Every path you take you're leaving your legacy
Every soldier dies in his glory
Every legend tells of conquest and liberty
Every day create your history
Every page you turn you're writing your legacy
Every hero dreams of chivalry
Every child should sing together in harmony

A soldier dies
A mother cries
The promised child shines in a baby's eyes
All nations sing
Let's harmonize all around the world

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