Everything flows into the Ganga

All we were taught back in elementary school was that Columbus discovered America, because history is always written by the rich and the powerful, which the white supremacists were for a long time.  Not anymore, because the poor and the powerless are not poor and powerless as they were, though we have to live through the repercussions of the white supremacist actions over the centuries.

Salt Spring's story does not end with the white supremacist invaders and the natives.  The history over the past 150 years is multi-layered.  This post is about blacks in Salt Spring.

The lucky ones who were freed from the chains of slavery in the US, fled to a few states to lead better lives.  Some of them went to California, which did not have slavery. But, that did not mean that California did not have white supremacists.  Blacks felt threatened by some of the legislative shenanigans that were directed towards restricting the freedom.

Before you read on, pull up a map and familiarize yourself with the locations of California and Salt Spring Island.

And then think about the transportation systems of about 1850. No planes. No trains. No automobiles.

Now, consider the nightmarish logistics of getting from northern California all the way to Salt Spring Island, about 170 years ago.

Yet, blacks ventured out to a tiny island far away from anything they would have ever known.

When lives are in danger, people flee.  The logistics matter the least.  That was the story back in 1850, which is no different from what is unfolding in the waters between Africa and Europe, or on land at the US-Mexico border.

Many of Salt Spring's first settlers were Blacks who came from San Francisco. While some of these were former slaves or children of slaves, all were free citizens of the United States when they immigrated to British Columbia. They included a wide cross section of society?merchants, miners, farmers, educators, and others. What these Blacks all had in common was a desire to escape the discrimination they faced then under California law and to be able to function in society as free citizens. Like many other settlers, they had little money. Thus, it was the offer of free land that drew them to an island wilderness.

The governor of British Columbia, Sir James Douglas, welcomed them.  At least partly because of his own roots--his mother was black.

Charlotte Girard, a former University of Victoria professor who began researching the Douglas family tree in the 1970s, determined that Douglas’s mother was Martha Ann Telfer, a free coloured woman of mixed race living in British Guiana. His father was John Douglas, a white Scotsman.

Incidentally, Her fucking Majesty's Ship Ganges that wiped out the natives on Salt Spring Island was built with genuine Malabar teak in Bombay, India!  "Building began in May 1819, under the direction of master shipbuilder Jamsetjee Bomanjee Wadia."  Why a person in a colony of the white supremacists would gladly and proudly build a flagship with 84 guns is simply beyond me!

An unexpected series of lessons in an island that has the contemporary reputation of being home to hippies with artsy galleries, and aging Vietnam war draft dodgers.

An earthy life in a big city

I could see the Charles River from my room on the 28th floor of the hotel.  Yet, for two days I simply did not have the time to go say to the river.

As with most things in life, I knew I had to create time for it if it really mattered that much to me.  Often, we fail to do that; we "waste" our time on other things and then complain about not having the time to do what really would like to do.  We are one crazy bunch of species!

So, off I went towards the river on a cold and cloudy afternoon.

Maybe it was because of the growing up experiences in grandmothers' villages that I seek such comfort watching a river flow by.  Back when I was young, those rivers had water, and in plenty.  The last time I was there in that part of the old country, the rivers were barely trickles.

I walked along the banks of the river.  Despite the cold, there were joggers in plenty.  Almost all of them were women, which makes me wonder and worry yet again about the future of men.  And, of course, there were small sailboats and rowing teams practicing.

Living such a life, and experiencing such a life, how could I possibly complain about my life?

It was time to return to the world of work.  I decided to have an early dinner and then attend the evening session.  But, where to eat?

I took a chance and walked into a eating place with a name that I had never seen before: Sweetgreen.  Travel has always included experiences of new foods--even within my preferred vegetarian lifestyle.  I ordered a "spicy sabzi" and sat down with a glass of house-made cucumber/ginger/lemon juice (no sugar added.)

Hippie food has gone mainstream!

The hippies have won the (food) culture war:

Vegetarianism and veganism are on the rise; and kale, the bacon of the clean-eating moment, is now routinely heaped on salad plates across the land.
The hippies may not have won the election, but they are winning the plate. (Or rather, the bowl.)

Indeed.

A few days ago, when I ordered the featured kale-salad, my daughter said, "I knew you would order that!"  It is not the old-stereotype of hippies and their drug-culture.  The new and enlightened hippies are a new breed that is focused on a healthy body and mind.

“You’re not just selling food,” ... “You’re giving the promise of a healthier life, or a more enlightened meal.”

The river. The food. And then the talk.  It was a good day.

Crazies gather at Burning Man, and Venice

Chris Bodenner, guest blogging at Andrew Sullivan's, writes that Burning Man has begun.

And then throws in the following video about another cult gathering in Southern California's very own crazy place--Venice

via videosift.com