I just watched, the search for the Afghan girl. You know the photo that was the cover of the national geographic in 1984?! I don't remeber it from then, but it remains one of the most poignant pictures my era. The picture is incredible I have one in a geographic pictorial that I should frame and put next to my replica of the Mona Lisa. I love the Mona Lisa because of her cheeky smirk, the symbolism and the story behind the name Mona Lisa. Fascinating...I'm going thru loads of essays inspired by the 'Da Vinci Code' which unlock some of the truths behind the story. A great book which feeds our natural desire to be part of something bigger, to discover more about about our roots and connection to ancient civilisations. As a white guy with no real religious denomination the urge to discover more about 'our' heritage and past is more important now, particularly with Mum gone. I found the most important parts were womens role in religion (the sacred femine) and the hoax that is modern church.
I DIGRESS.
Get the doco out its only bout 40 mins and traces that young girl at 10/11 in a refugee camp at school, to today with three kids, the fourth on the way and still that incredible burning sadness in her eyes. Imagine being the poster-child for your disenfranchised cultures plight?! She had no idea, she lost her parent in the Soviet bombings in Afghanistan and then escaped across the snowy peaks to Pakistan, avoiding choppers targetting anything they could find to satisfy their voracious appetite for cannon fodder. Suddenly puts everything into perspective, and furhters my desire to get to Africa and make a documentary on the changes South African blacks have experienced in the last 10 years, from pre arpatheid to today. Soweto has changed very little yet still the same community lives there but are free to go. Both sides of the story intrigue me, as my family live in Johannesburg as white South Africans, with very strong views on what has happened to 'their' country. Look at Rhodesia (sorry I have momentarily forgotten its new name). A few diversions there! Certainly got my mind ticking now...might have to get this down without unfocussed ramblings online. Its possible no-one will read this or care, but I quite like that.
I DIGRESS.
Get the doco out its only bout 40 mins and traces that young girl at 10/11 in a refugee camp at school, to today with three kids, the fourth on the way and still that incredible burning sadness in her eyes. Imagine being the poster-child for your disenfranchised cultures plight?! She had no idea, she lost her parent in the Soviet bombings in Afghanistan and then escaped across the snowy peaks to Pakistan, avoiding choppers targetting anything they could find to satisfy their voracious appetite for cannon fodder. Suddenly puts everything into perspective, and furhters my desire to get to Africa and make a documentary on the changes South African blacks have experienced in the last 10 years, from pre arpatheid to today. Soweto has changed very little yet still the same community lives there but are free to go. Both sides of the story intrigue me, as my family live in Johannesburg as white South Africans, with very strong views on what has happened to 'their' country. Look at Rhodesia (sorry I have momentarily forgotten its new name). A few diversions there! Certainly got my mind ticking now...might have to get this down without unfocussed ramblings online. Its possible no-one will read this or care, but I quite like that.