Tag: History

HOW TO BECOME A HISTORIC PERSON— Which side are you on?

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Ugochi Guchy Kalu (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Arizona and I have been friends for over ten years. All the while, I assumed she was named for the state of Arizona until recently when she told me she was named for the battleship USS Arizona that capsized when her grandfather served as a marine chef. Her grandfather single-handedly rescued about 20 soldiers before the ship finally sank. She was named in honor of her grandfather’s bravery and selfless human act and till this day, an image of her grandfather is being saluted at the marine corps base of the state of Arizona. As fascinating and mind-blowing as this story was, I couldn’t help but wonder if he planned on being famous all his life or just stumbled on the chance to write his name in the history of his state. It must have been an ordinary day and one act changed the cause of his life and made his name legendary. 

 

Anyone whose reputation precedes them, who lived in the past and whose deeds exerted a significant impact on other people’s lives and consciousness is well considered a historic person. There are positive and negative historic people, now whether or not these people have the premeditation of putting themselves on the side of history they ended up on is yet to be read from their autobiography or personal task lists. From time immemorial, many heroes have risen, impacted, and made inventions that were extraordinary and continue to thrive in human history. These inventions continue to evolve so that their purposes are still relevant in today’s society. As William Shakespeare rightly said, “[s]ome are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”  In order to become historic, either of these pathways can lead you easily into the book of times. 

 

Let’s take a little memory trip to the people whose inventions, actions and inactions brought great light to the society of their time and have continued to live on many years after they are gone. People like Thomas Edison, Graham Bell, Henry Ford, Johannes Gutenberg, Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Nikola Tesla, Madam C. J. Walker, the Wright brothers, Ann Tsukamoto, etc. All these great people invented technologies that have continued to be relevant to the development of the world today. These people were going about their business, diligently working on projects they were passionate about without knowing how much change their work would bring to the entire world. Today we drive cars, fly airplanes, print on paper, use light bulbs, and have access to stem cell technology courtesy of these great people who had dreams, worked hard and ended up on the right side of history. 

 

There are also people who consciously rose up to make changes, stop oppression, called for amendments to be made, demanded good governance and got prosecuted for seeking justice. These are historical people who were forerunners and abolitionists. Let’s consider Nelson Mandela of South Africa who rose up to fight against apartheid, genocide and selective racism. He was fighting for freedom and ended up becoming the first Black president who unified the many races in South Africa where freedom and equality is now a basic right for every citizen. Martin Luther King Jr was known as the king of civil disobedience who used his voice to change minds, fight racism in his effort to unify the human race. He ended up in history and he was even more celebrated when President Obama ascended to the revered seat of the United States of America as the first Black president. There are abolitionist like Mary Slessor who stopped the illegal killing of twins, Frederick Douglas who stopped Black slavery, Lucretia Mott, who was the pionneer reformer for women’s rights. These are people who ended up in history by being the first to accomplish certain things that were considered mundane or gender specific.  

 

Consider people like Ferdinand Magellan who was credited with masterminding the first expedition to circumnavigate the world, Neil Armstrong who was the first human to walk on the moon, Sputnik 1 being the first from the Soviet union to launch into space, Amelia Earhart who was the first woman to fly an airplane, Marie Sklododowska who was the first woman to win two Nobel prizes for discovering uranium and polonium while studying chemistry, and Bertha Von Suttner who was the first to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for being a leading figure in a nascent pacifist movement in Europe. These people were following their dreams, being humane, being brave in their pursuit while ending up in history years later. It is also true that while people hope to be famous, enjoy being famous, there is no set time or steps to take in becoming a historical person; only records of acts, achievements, involvements can guarantee that. 

 

The world has seen tragedy in many forms. Wars, genocides, riots, killings, famine, etc. The real evil, however, lies within the architects of these inhumane practices: men who advocated for crimes to a level no one else could fathom. Their decisions wreaked havoc on humanity and all that comes with it.  The one person at the fore would be Adolf Hitler, the Nazi white supremacist who was responsible for the Holocaust and World War II. Vlad the Impaler, who reigned terror on the people of wallachia by roasting children and feeding them to their mothers, Pol Pot, the only Cambodian ruler who ordered a genocide on his own people between the years 1976 and 1979, killing 25% of his country’s population, Heinrich Himmler, who ordered the extermination of all Jews in Europe during World War II, Saddam Hussein, who killed about two million people between 1937 and 2006, Idi Amin of Uganda who was a known cannibal, mutilated his wives and fed millions of humans to his pet crocodiles and sharks, Leopold the 2nd of Belgium, who killed ten million Congolese by starvation in order to gain money and fame, Mao Zedong of China, who killed about 40 to 70 million people though forced labour, executions and starvation in his efforts to mordenize China, Osama Bin Laden, Attila the Hun, Talat Pasha and many others whose actions have left nothing but blood in the pages of history, not forgetting the Catholic priest George Zabelka who blessed the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

 

In our pursuit of fame, legendary actions and hoping to leave our footprints on the sands of time and become people whose names open doors or shut them, it is important to determine on which side of history we want to end up. Knowing that no one particularly wakes up to become historic, neither is there a set rule to becoming historic. However, our actions, inaction, pursuits, crusades, belief systems could just be the one thing that lands us on the pages of history or grants us a statue at the national museum of the people. If achieving recognition for your works is your goal, I would strongly recommend studying the lives of the great men and women who have done so in the past. Anyone who has “the Great Honorable”, “the Ambitious”, “the Diligent”, “the Strong”, “the Inquisitive”, “the Tenacious”, “the Adaptable”, “the Intelligent”, or “the Wise” written  before their names  would be a great person to study in order to become historic.

 

My late great grand uncle Chief Kalu Mbonu was the first to receive the English colonizers into my village, he welcomed them and stopped the attack the villagers launched on them. He learned the English language and was open to a relationship. The colonists built schools, churches and hospitals and paved the way for some of the village’s industrious sons to travel out and engage in commercial activities which in turn brought many developments. My village is now known as “small London” as a result of having similar structures and architectural designs found in the United Kingdom. I never met him, but his statue was molded at the center of my community and till today his story is being shared to anyone who asks.  He became a historic figure by being cautious and encouraging others to embrace the changes that had invaded them rather than fight it. Many would have been killed if they tried fighting colonization, but he saved lives by the choice he made and the influence he exerted. While he didn’t set out to be famous or act in a way that served a selfish purpose, his legacy continues to be positive because of his decision.

 

–

My Name is Ugochi Guchy Kalu, I am a strong advocate of civil society and good governance. While we go about our daily lives, let’s be mindful of our actions and decisions as we might one day end up in history pages. See you at the top! 

Decisions, Decisions

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MacKenzie Chalmers (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Often we look back at our lives and remember all of the good and bad memories. We think of the accomplishments we achieved or the friends we’ve made and lost. We remember the adventures we went on and the feelings we had during these adventures. 

 

What if we sat back and considered all of the decisions we have made up until this point? Were they the right ones? The wrong ones? Could things have been done differently to achieve a different result? Should things have been done differently?

 

When I look back on my past I can remember many decisions I made that have impacted my life. I remember the struggle or nervousness I had for some and the confidence or excitement I had with others. There are many decisions of mine that stick out to me.

 

In high school, I was one of the few recommended for a specialized art program. This is an additional art class taken each year alongside the standard art class and students that are in this advanced class generally audition prior to high school beginning in the ninth grade. There were open spots available for a few students to be able to join for the following year and to remain in it until graduation in the twelfth grade. 

 

It was a big decision for me that, in my eyes, had many positive and negative factors. It was great because I would have a chance to be surrounded by a class with students that all enjoyed art and wanted to learn. I would also get to have two art classes a year rather than one and learn a lot more skills and forms of art. 

 

I was hesitant because the expectations would be higher from the teachers and I may not do as well as I am used to performing in a class. Throughout primary/elementary school I was the student always praised for my art skills, however, in high school when I began taking the standard art class prior to being recommended, I witnessed the talent other students had. It was great, but I felt my confidence reduce and at times I would look at my art and only see the improvement that needed to be made. My hesitation formed with the idea that I would be surrounded by all of these talented students and my teachers would wonder why I was in the program.

 

With all of these factors in mind, I knew I still wanted to try it out and I could change my mind after the following year if I really wanted to. If I had not made the decision to join the program, many parts of my life would have changed. I would not have gained the confidence I needed and I would not have developed and improved my existing skill set. My love for art began as a child, but my love for digital media was found in high school. There is a chance I would not have heard about the two digital-based art classes that were available to take if I had not taken on the program. 

 

Traditional forms of art to digital-based art possess the same principles. We always have to consider colour, line, shape and many more principles in our work. A photographer would not just pull out their camera and snap a photo. They would pull out that camera, look at their surroundings and look at the subject of their photo. They would consider all components that would be in the photo. The composition of the subject and the background and how everything comes together with the colours, shapes, lines and other principles to make the photograph complete. 

 

Trying new things can be scary. It is hard to go out of your comfort zone and not know what the outcome of the decision you make will have. It can be hard to admit you may have been wrong and change the decision, or hard to admit you were right and deal with the resulting changes in your life. 

 

Thinking about my decision to join the advanced art program in high school, I do not regret it. I cannot imagine what career path I would have pursued if I had not joined the program and later discovered digital art. I would not have discovered the talent I had for digital art and not have discovered all of the possibilities available in life and career. 

 

—

 

MacKenzie is a digital media enthusiast with interests in various aspects of media. She takes part in novel hunting, photo and video creating, and creative writing.

Breaking Out of Your Comfort Zone

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Eri Ikezawa (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Have you ever stood on the edge of a cliff? 

 

Toes curled right over the lip, hearing the whispers of the breeze, felt it skimming across your arms like skipping stones, as you peered over the precipice? A landscape of sea stacks lies below, like the maws of an undiscovered beast, the seafoam frothing around the tallest rock pillars, the pointed canines in its endless mouth. The current is torrential, lapping violently at the cliffs, eroding the surface grain by grain. You wonder how deep it is, thinking if it’s possible to break the surface once you enter its yawning depths. 

 

So, do you take a leap of faith? Or do you stay, right at the edge, precarious but still safe? 

 

That’s how I feel sometimes, navigating my way through uncertainty, right before I make a concrete decision that has the potential to change the course of my life as I know it. 

 

Now, as a quick interjection, I must confess I am not an adrenaline junkie. I don’t like heights, I don’t like extreme sports, and I am easily frightened. Honestly, the moments before I make a life-altering decision may, perhaps, be the only times where I will voluntarily endure an adrenaline spike—moments that feel as if, for example, I am going cliff jumping. 

 

I remember when I entered my first year of university, I was riddled with crippling depression. My sleep schedule was non-existent, my moods were erratic, and my mind was fraying into infinitesimal pieces that I felt I couldn’t glue back together—and my grades reflected the dismal condition of my internal state. 

 

I remember I would spend time either staring blankly at my load of homework, knowing I should start, or I would sleep at random hours of the day. The homework would stay mostly unfinished until I was scrambling mere hours before it was due and whatever minimal material I would try to study before tests was out as quickly as it went in.  

 

I felt lost. 

 

I was uncertain about my chosen area of study, I had minimal confidence in my social skills, and I was panicking about my future. Even as I type this, I feel a phantom veil of anxiety, frighteningly reminiscent of those times. Eventually, my mom asked me if I wanted to live in Japan with my relatives for a semester. 

 

In that moment, I felt as though my mom—with the best of intentions—had lured me onto the cusp of a cliff dive, pushing me gently until my toes were hanging off the edge. My heart had been racing, and my breathing became short, my vision narrowed until all I saw was the endless abyss of…the unknown. 

 

All I could think about were the cons in that moment. If I deferred a semester, then I would be behind everyone else—a pariah in the eyes of society’s tacit expectations of students. I had never lived with anyone besides my parents—much less in a different country with a vastly different culture. I didn’t know if my knowledge of the language was enough to get me by and I didn’t know if I was brave enough to take the plunge. 

 

There were so many reasons not to, so many reasons to sit securely away from the edge, tucked away safely in the lush field of my comfort zone. 

 

But against all odds, and to my own surprise, I decided to go for it. 

 

Long story short, although I experienced difficulties and hardships while I was overseas, the plethora of knowledge, valuable experiences, and introspection I was able to indulge in was wholly irreplaceable. 

 

During that time, I was able to garner appreciation for spending time on my own. I would take long walks by myself, relish in the aloneness, sculpt burgeoning half-formed thoughts about myself into something more concrete. I also discovered my love and aptitude for language, ardent and passionate. As I was immersed headfirst into Japanese society, it was easier to discern the immediate differences between Western and Eastern cultures—from there, it was easy to derive what I appreciated most about each one and what attributes I think could stand to improve. 

 

When I returned to Canada, I felt refreshed and composed. 

 

It is like breaking the surface of the water below after that initial rush of adrenaline as you finally take the leap off the edge—the winding roaring past your ears on the drop, a fragile entity hurtling towards the dark abyss. But then, you break the surface and all you feel is the immediate biting sensation of the cold water surrounding you. 

 

And once you get accustomed to it, it feels nice—it’s refreshing. 

 

Once you take that first inhale in, it feels euphoric, a victory after a long struggle standing at the precipice—now a pinprick in the distance above you. 

 

That’s how I feel retrospectively looking back at my decision to go to Japan. 

 

Although, it took me great fortitude and commitment to decide to be alone after feeling alone, a prisoner in solitary confinement of my mind and my depression—it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. 

 

I came back to Canada with a new determination to focus on my academics—switching my major from psychology to linguistics, a product of my newfound love for languages. I had a greater appreciation than ever for my parents, for my home, for the country I live in. I had a better knowledge of how big the world really is, and as a result, my mind vastly opened up. 

 

It taught me that life is a gamble at times, that I must juggle between the risks and benefits of a situation, before ultimately coming to a decision. I realized that the comfort zone is merely a temporary solution to ward off future anxieties and fears, but that I would not experience self-actualization or progress if I voluntarily chose to stay stagnant. 

 

—

 

My name is Eri Ikezawa and I have an extended minor in psychology and a major in linguistics. I’m still on the path to quelling questions about myself and the direction I want to head in, but in the meantime, I have always wanted to find a way to help others and contribute to a community dedicated to personal development and self-love.

How Traditions Shaped Family Life

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Grace Cheng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

What are Family Traditions?

Family traditions are activities or experiences passed down from one generation to the next. A sense of belonging and identity can be provided by traditions within a family. It can inspire positive feelings and memories that can be shared between family members. Traditions within families also serve as a means of continuity across generations. It is a way of passing the family’s values, history and culture on to the next generation.

 

Family traditions may consist of a variety of stories, rituals, beliefs and customs handed down from one generation to the next. The purpose of these rituals is to mark a particular celebration or to signify an occasion of importance. Through these actions, children can feel included and safe as well as bond with one another and gain a sense of group identity. Children crave warmth, joy, and a clear understanding of what is expected and what will happen next. A tradition fulfills all these purposes and more, making it a consistent, predictable and joyous method of interacting with your family. It is comforting and soothing to see routine and rhythm in a child’s life, particularly when life can be so unpredictable elsewhere.

 

 

Why are Family Traditions Important to Children?


Children can benefit from family traditions by becoming more aware of who they are and what is important to their families. The value of traditions lies in the sense of belonging that children experience because they will feel a part of something unique and extraordinary. The establishment of family traditions may even enhance the well-being of a child by boosting his or her self-esteem.

 

 

Benefits of Having Family Traditions

 

  1. Strong Family Bond

 

Family members who participate regularly in rituals report a stronger sense of unity and connection. Keeping traditions provides the opportunity for face-to-face interaction, fosters deep relationships between family members and creates bonds formed when one feels part of something special and unique.

 

 

  1. A Sense of Belonging

The tradition of a family can serve to strengthen loose ties as well as to bring members together and heal broken bonds. Children go through the same rituals and customs throughout their lives. It is possible that these traditions may not appear as exciting to them at times, especially during their teenage years.

 

  1. A Sense of Identity

Traditions provide family members with the opportunity to share stories and experiences, which allow them to strengthen their sense of identity. Furthermore, they can reinforce certain family values, such as closeness, kindness and compassion.

 

  1. Shaped Children’s Personality

Children are influenced by their families. When children are young, their minds can be molded and significantly influenced. As a parent, it is your responsibility to guide them in the right direction. With the help of a simple practice, children can develop an understanding of humility that will serve them for the rest of their lives. Through family values, parents can assist their children in becoming better individuals.

 

  1. Teach Practical Skills

We can pass on important skills to the next generation through traditions. Holiday cooking, setting formal tables and practicing hospitality are some of the skills children are taught during these occasions.

  1. Connection to Family History

Family traditions may include food, music, festivities, and more, which are rooted in previous generations. You can enhance your children’s sense of connection to their history by establishing traditions rooted in the past.

 

  1. Create Lasting Memories

We can nurture beautiful memories in our families through traditions that will last a lifetime. Creating memorable moments with your children shapes them and gives them a fond memory of their childhood.

 

  1. Provide Comfort and Security

A family’s traditions and rituals provide a natural antidote to the stress associated with our fast-paced, ever-changing world. You can find comfort in having a few constants in your life. During times of change and grief, traditions can be particularly useful. Children may find comfort and security in family traditions, even if the main source of their stress originates within their own families.

 

  1. Connect Generations

Families can gather and participate in these traditions together, creating connections between older and younger generations. It is through these connections that members of the family can gain a better understanding of their family history while feeling loved and appreciated. Having these traditions as a family will create memories that will last a lifetime, as future generations might incorporate them into their family traditions.

 

  1. Helping Families Stay Connected

There are many demands on our time, but traditions allow us to reconnect with our families during a time when we are away from each other. Despite the difficulties of our lives, these periodic opportunities for family reunions help our families remain close.

 

There is no doubt that family traditions are important. All of them have had a significant impact on our childhoods.

 

—

 

Grace has an accounting and finance background. She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, watching movies and playing sports.

Forgotten Women in Science

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Daniel Mejía (he/him/his), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Science has been a remarkable tool for the development of our societies since its inception. It has led us to understand the reason for rare phenomena observed in the universe, to find answers to complex questions, and, more importantly, to propound many more questions that inspire us to investigate and to be curious. Science has no preference for gender or ethnicity; however, our society has been responsible for distorting this perspective. For instance, since its origin in 1901, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to 59 women (7%), and only 23 in the scientific areas.

 

Certainly, you relate the names Einstein, Hawking, or Newton as references of science, while, probably, the names of Rosalind Franklin or Lise Meitner do not even go back to your memories; this prospect, while discouraging, is common. These women made crucial discoveries and advances in their fields that are nowadays being applied; without their contributions, the understanding of complex concepts such as the structure of DNA (by Franklin) or the nuclear fission (by Meitner) these branches of science could not have been precisely understood at that time. Unfortunately, the merits of these great contributions to science were not only not rewarded with the Nobel Prize, but given to male scientists, who although were related to the development of the discoveries, the leading role was associated with these female scientists.

 

English scientist expert in crystallography Rosalind Franklin, was born on July 25 in 1920. She acquired her doctorate from the University of Cambridge in 1945, an experience that took her to King’s College London. There, she conducted key experiments for the description of the structure of DNA, a molecule that contains the genetic instructions of all organisms, responsible for hereditary transmission. In 1951, Franklin, with her vast knowledge of X-ray diffraction, obtained images that allowed us to observe the double helix structure of DNA: The photograph 51. Unfortunately, Franklin died on April 16, 1958, due to ovarian cancer, which is believed to be related to her exposure to X-rays.

 

In 1962, Francis Crick, James Watson and Maurice Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their descriptive work on the structure of DNA, which was based on Franklin’s photograph 51; she did not receive any mention. The academy justified its decision by relying on Franklin’s death, although, at that time, no rule prohibited posthumous awards. Twenty-five years later, Watson released The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA, where his attempt to acknowledge Franklin’s influence on his Nobel-winning work was harshly criticised for overtones of sexism. However, Rosalind Franklin has been recognized with more than 25 posthumous awards for her contribution to science; the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is named after her.

 

Lise Meitner, on the other hand, was an extraordinary Austrian physicist who widely contributed to the understanding of nuclear fission. Born in Vienna on November 7, 1878, in the extinct Austro-Hungarian empire and in a highly sexist society, Lise Meitner was the first woman to obtain a doctorate from the University of Vienna, and the second to acquire a doctorate in physics in the world. In 1938 she fled to Sweden due to the Nazi regime and its Nuremberg racial laws. From the Manne Siegbahn Institute at the University of Stockholm, Meitner led the creation of the theoretical model that explained, for the first time, the nuclear fission concept, a process in which chemical elements divide into lighter ones. These discoveries gave rise to the atomic age, which would achieve great advances in the field of energy, but also in the field of war, precisely for the development of nuclear weapons. On this subject, Meitner expressed a resounding rejection, leading her to deny an offer from the Manhattan project with her phrase “I will have nothing to do with a bomb!”.

 

In 1944, Otto Hahn, Meitner’s “perfect duo”, received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry alone for his discovery of “the fission of heavy nuclei” in one of the most controversial editions for injustice due to sexism, in addition to the then open relationship between Hahn and his collaborators with the Nazi regime. Among the Nobel laureates in Chemistry and Physics, Lise Meitner was nominated a total of 49 times; she never won. She died in Cambridge on October 27, 1968.

 

Although Lise Meitner did not win the Nobel Prize, she was awarded many other prizes and acknowledgments. The biggest of which was in 1982, when German researchers Peter Armbruster and Gottfried Münzenberg, in an attempt to honour Meitner, gave the name meitnerium to the chemical element they synthesised intending to do justice to a victim of German racism and give due credit to her scientific life and work.

 

Thus, female representation in science has been manipulated by gender stereotypes for many years, harming the recognition of many talented figures. Franklin and Meitner are just a few who have suffered it, and it is the job of each one of us to recognize their legacies and the benefit that their work brought to society.

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Mexican biotechnologist specialised in the reuse of natural compounds from agro-industrial waste. Passionate about science and the creation of inclusive spaces. From Mexico, he collaborates with Low Entropy as he seeks to migrate to Canada in the coming months.

A Time Of Accessibility

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Cristina Crescenzo (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

I would like to think of the few things universally acknowledged, one of them is that there is a certain set of questions you are bound to be asked at one point in your life, for instance, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” and “what is your favorite colour?” or “if you could reside in another period of time what would it be?”’ This is a question I have tried to answer for myself. Moreover, it is through my own personal experiences that I understand the answers are subject to change for most people because we are seldom the same people we were yesterday. We can shed our opinions as easily as a snake can shed its own skin and whether we want to admit it or not the world influences us in everything, even in the most minute aspects of our personalities. 

 

Therefore, I have realized that because of the way I came into this world, I don’t have the luxury of thinking I could belong in any particular place in time without considering the consequences and limitations of my disability. Yet, since time travel is unlikely to happen in my lifetime, this is a mere fantasy so that I could imagine being able-bodied in any era if I wished it. However, with a question like this I can’t help but want to think logically and ponder how I could live as I am in a time that is not my own. However, if I didn’t have Cerebral Palsy my answer would be the 1950s.

 

Ever since I was 12 years old I have been obsessed with that entire decade, granted I wasn’t thinking about the ramifications of being a woman let alone a disabled one. As a preteen I could only imagine the glossed over version of the 1950s like suburbia and the Old Hollywood film systems. I always thought it would be wonderful to be an actress like Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn but again, I was only viewing it through a glittered lens so when I used to watch those films I saw only perfection and I believed that I had to follow a certain path in order to find true happiness. In my mind, I had two choices: I could be married, have kids, and live the rest of my days as a housewife or choose stardom and despite being constantly in the public eye I would have all the riches and comforts life could offer. I thought if I got to be a young woman in the 50s my life would be so simple, but then reality set in and I understood if I was living back then as a disabled woman my days would be filled with nothing but chaos and hardship. 

 

Once I decided I couldn’t answer this question as no one but my current and authentic self, I did some research and I was overcome with emotion reading about the harsh experiences of people like me in the 1950s. I would have most likely been ostracized from the community, put in a poorly funded asylum, and I would have been physically/verbally harmed on a daily basis if not worse. To put it plainly, the world during the 1950s wouldn’t be accessible to me. 

 

As a result, I have mourned for the older generations and accepted that this is how I was created and I can’t pretend to be someone I am not even if I didn’t actually exist in the 50s because if I did those would be the obstacles I’d have to endure. In conclusion, it has made me truly believe in the statement “there is no better time to live than right now” because even if there are still traces of the old ideals of the past you cannot deny humanity has made tremendous strides to make the world more inclusive and accessible to individuals with disabilities. Therefore, I could live in no better time than the present because 2022 is where I can live my best life just the way I am and constantly working towards making the world an even kinder and more accessible place for the future disabled population.

 

–

My name is Cristina Crescenzo and I am an English major and aspiring writer just hoping that my words can help someone in some way, and that I can always strive to increase awareness for mental health and the disabled community.

 

Extract from a Young Girl’s Diary from the Island of Capri

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Susan Turi (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

The ground trembled ever so slightly today. This morning to be precise, but no one else noticed. I asked Marcus if he’d felt the same thing and he said no.  He told me I’d imagined it, saying that if it trembled, it was likely a little sign from the Gods in anticipation of the festivities next week. The town hums with visitors like a hive in preparation of honey. I thought I heard Venetian at the market yesterday.                                        -XVII Augustus 

 

I can write freely here. It’s of more use than learning about the Empire’s conquests to the south. 

Learning Hie-ro-gly-phics with Arista today.

I wonder if they have trees in Egypt other than date palms? That’s all I want to know. 

The summer drags on- Arista makes the classes dull, and boring with her monotone voice. I learn geometry for what purpose? I’ll never be Titus’ civil engineer let alone his wife…

Ah yes, I learn to read and write to show off my privilege while the slaves live their authentic lives. Learn, learn, learn.                                                                                                                                                                               -XVIII

 

I spoke to Callista today, in secret of course. Callista’s real name I can’t pronounce, but she told me she felt the ground shake as well the other day. She says it’s an omen. Where she’s from their Gods are different: a mountain can be a divinity but not in human form!  On the contrary, they have little gremlins that steal things from their mud huts- tiny humanoid creatures who are just bothersome but have sharp teeth nonetheless.

She told me a curious story a short while ago- that she saw a flock of songbirds fall out of the sky this morning. Just like that- dropped dead out the sky and into the fishpond. You can’t eat those bad omens, they’ll never taste good.

 IV p.m.

Am so nauseated by the constant stench of fish. It permeates everything. Per-me-ates. Learned a new word in botany class today. 

The days continue to be feverish with the buildup to the XXIV Augustus. The masons have been putting the finishing touches on Pa’s commission in the atrium to promote his fish sauce. Yuk, never liked fish sauce. His mosaic is rather monochromatic. Black and white. He could’ve asked for my artistic opinion or better still, chosen a commerce that stinks less.                                                                                                – IXX Augustus

 

XX-

We acquired a new slave today. His name I can just about pronounce: “Eutyches”. He’s from Mesopotamia (is this Persia?) Eager to chat with him about his country and his Gods- if they have any. I hear they believe in only one God out east like they do in Palestine. The Empire will take care of that insolence soon.

 

XXII-

The ground shook again this evening. Quite violently this time. Arista had a headache so classes were cancelled. Pa left for Spain. 

I wonder if you can feel the ground shake from Spain? Tiberius came to me soon after- put his paw on my knee, looked at me with his big droopy eyes. He knows the Gods are up to something- A storm?

…

Spoke earlier with Callista about the festivities. She seemed sad and had this far-away look. She had been dusting an elephant tusk on the wall in the foyer that Ma received as a gift. She told me how much she missed the savannah, the wisdom of the elders, the value of animals- nothing wasted for entertainment or decoration. She’s right. Luckily she’ll never get to visit the arena and watch the games. Cruel, revolting- turns my stomach. Am I the only one in Pompeii who thinks so?

(Do admire Hector though. He’s so strong, handsome. He can slay a minotaur with his bare hands!)

 

XXIII- 

Marcus came to me this morning. He looked worried. He said there’s a ribbon of smoke coming out of Vesuvio. He’s never seen that before. He asked me if I wanted to take the boat down to Capri and I said I’d think about it. A bit far -a day’s trip or two- but the smell from Pa’s precious vats revolts me. Certainly, not my delicacy. I said yes only if I can take Callista with me. And Tiberius too. Went out on the veranda to see what Marcus was talking about- a pale wisp in the distance like a brushstroke drawn up from Vesuvio’s summit to the heavens- maybe a wildfire burning out. The dead songbirds have already been fished out of the pond.

 

V p.m.

How to write this on a boat while seasick. Callista gave me a sprig of sage from a secret fold in her tunic to chew on. Poseidon is at peace today- the ocean is quite calm though our boat rocks from an occasional rippling when idling. Some oarsmen sleep or play checkers, while others toil under the hot sun.

VIII p.m.

The swells have become stronger, the currents have changed with the wind. I still see Vesuvio clearly from the boat 2 hours into our sail. It’s puffing rapid little plumes of smoke like an overgrown, temperamental child. Marcus had to stay behind- take care of inventory, trapped in his hot toga. Poor Marcus. I fell asleep to Callista’s humming- an old African parable. She clicks her tongue for dramatic effect which wakes me up. The moon has risen. Apollo guides us with sure hands over a silver sea.

 

XXIV Augustus

XI a.m. 

Have arrived on Capri- good to be on stable ground. No need to powder my face or put on rouge and wear my heavy palla here. 

Dined on some figs and olives then went to the baths. I was the only one there so invited Callista to join me. Tiberius barked at us with excitement from the side. Why don’t I come here more often? Ah yes, I need Marcus’ permission.

 

I p.m.

A deafening explosion a few moments ago- the sky has split open! A thousand thunderbolts are stabbing the air! Lighting up a night that was a day, a short while ago- coal-black clouds are devouring the blue sky! The sea bubbles and sizzles with some sort of molten rock raining down! The sun is now a pinpoint of light- Is Apollo fighting Zeus?!!

Can see Vesuvio in the distance- cracked open- seeping liquid fire- its summit- headless- engulfed in smoke billowing out- furiously rushing across the bay towards us. There’s a loud roar coming from the town- is it from Vesuvio? or from those screaming- running for their lives?? What horrors have befallen us!!

Callista and I have found the nearest cellar with Tiberius close on our heels. The air is hot- suffocating- searing our throats- boiling our eyes in their sockets.

 We’ll stay here in the cool damp of the cellar until daybreak- if it ever comes- difficult to write now- my hand shakes- the thought of poor Marcus and Ma trapped in an inferno with only Pa’s vats of fish sauce for solace. 

By the light of the wrath of the angry Gods- mercy upon us!

…

Don’t know the time- a deathly silence has fallen upon us. Callista and I found an urn beneath the stairs filled with stale wine. We dare not go outside yet. Callista chants: “metis quod seminas” over and over.

The taste of soot is strong in my mouth. We hold each other’s hands so tightly- they’ve become bone white.

 

  Cassia,      XXV Augustus LXXIX [79 AD]

 

*****

 

References: Scaurus- Fish Merchant of Pompeii:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aulus_Umbricius_Scaurus

 

Eruption of Mount Vesuvius

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eruption_of_Mount_Vesuvius_in_79_AD

 

Summary

 

Diary extract of “Cassia” the teenage daughter of the rich, fish sauce merchant Scaurus, in Pompeii, Italy. This extract is from the period leading up to and including the eruption of Vesuvius, which buried the city of Pompeii in hot ash, killing 2 000 townspeople (79 A.D.) and 16 000-20 000 in the region. Although Scaurus the fish sauce merchant, his family, and their slave “Eutyches” existed, “Cassia ” is a fictional character – S.T.

 

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Susan Turi is a writer, illustrator and painter living in Montreal, Canada with a degree in fine arts. She began her career as a production artist for design studios and ad agencies, before deciding to devote herself purely to self-expression through writing and painting. She is currently at Concordia University majoring in creative writing and English literature.