About Me

As an aquaphile I am mesmerized by sea and tide. As a traveler I am enlivened by new sights, sounds, and smells. As an adventurer I am awakened by free fall, new heights, and daring challenges. As a student I am at a landlocked desk cataloging my musings and day dreams in this blog.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Christopher Columbus Hero or Villain?

Image
American public school teaches that Christopher Columbus and other “explorers” were benevolent “discoverers”, sailing the seas on behalf of their sovereigns, in search of knowledge and resources. As a young students we learned cute rhymes like, “In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue”.   Around Thanksgiving half our class donned tea stained fringed frocks and feather headbands and the other half buckled hats and loafers. We sat at the lunchroom table simulating the peaceful breaking of bread and cooperation between the indigenous people and European colonizers. While it is historically accurate that the settlers of Plymouth Rock celebrated the successful harvest of 1621 with members of the Wampanoag tribe, it is untrue that the “explorers” of the Americas treated the native peoples or their land with respect. Explorers invaded land, stole resources such as precious metals and jewels, massacred entire indigenous populations, and sold millions more into slavery. T...
Read more

Pirate Progressives

European monarchs inaccurately portrayed acts of violence committed by pirates disproportionate to the violence of 18 th century Europe during the Golden age of Piracy, thus creating a historical narrative that omitted the unprecedented and enlightened contributions of pirates. Painting a barbaric image of pirates benefitted the economic and political interest of governments as a way to distract from their own heinous acts. These governments and monarchies commissioned privateers to steal from opposing countries but denounce the pirates when they received political backlash. Pirates are vilified for using violence and torture though all governments, religious bodies, and citizens of the Golden Age of Piracy used equally cruel and gruesome methods. The egalitarian pirate code of conduct, cooperation among fleets, and contribution to the New World depict pirates as liberal patriots of a society much ahead of its time.
Read more

Blackbeard

Image
Journal of James Alexander October 14, 1717 I have been a shipmate on Hornigold's ship for about 8 months now.  A fierce lookin’ fella called  Edward Teach began as an apprentice today. I sketched him to the right. Bunking next to me but I don’t mind as he’s a quick study. We are heading to Delaware to meet another ship and sail around the Chesapeake Bay area to plunder trade and fishing ships coming into the area. Either way I have a mast to repair before we face winter. Almost lights out so I’ll be heading to bed now. November 7, 1717             We met up with Stede Bonny and crew. Solid to work with and we have more man power. Old Blackbeard is quite the character and Honrigold has taken to him as well. Tomorrow the crew votes on the destination of our new expedition. I am hoping we head south. Tis winter up here is much too windy and cold for me. I am not sure I can take another snow on deck. Plus ...
Read more